Porte des Sablons, city gate of Paris
The Porte des Sablons is a city gate in the 16th arrondissement of Paris located at the edge of the Bois de Boulogne. It is a solid stone structure with simple design that functions as a clear entrance point to the city and stands where a main road leads into the neighborhood.
The gate historically served as an important passage for travelers and traders moving in and out of the city. Over the centuries it marked the changing boundaries of Paris as the city expanded and transformed.
The name 'des Sablons' comes from an old sand extraction area where materials were quarried for construction work in Paris. This historical connection to the sand trade remains embedded in the place name, even though the quarrying activities ceased long ago.
The gate is easily accessible by public transportation, particularly the Metro line 1 which has a station of the same name nearby. The surrounding area has sidewalks and cycling paths that make it convenient to arrive on foot or by bicycle.
The gate was notably not included in the Thiers fortification system, which highlighted its special role as the main entrance to the Bois de Boulogne. This exception made it a distinctive landmark in Paris's defensive infrastructure of that period.
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