Porte de Vitry

Porte de Vitry is a historic gate in the 13th arrondissement positioned at the intersection of Boulevard Masséna and Boulevard du Général-d'Armée-Jean-Simon. The area functions as a major traffic junction where several important routes converge.

This gate was built in 1860 as part of Paris's southern fortifications during the city's major expansion period. It served as a control point where taxes on goods entering the city were collected.

The gate takes its name from the nearby municipality of Ivry-sur-Seine and marks how Paris historically separated itself from surrounding areas. Today it stands as a memory of where the city's authority began and its suburban connections started.

The gate area is best reached by using the Bibliothèque François-Mitterrand station, which provides access to both Metro Line 14 and RER Line C. The intersection is busy with traffic, so allow extra time when crossing on foot.

The location marks where the grand Boulevards of the Marshalls meet the modern Paris ring road, creating a layering of different transport eras. This junction reveals how the city physically connects its 19th-century urban design with contemporary traffic infrastructure.