Porte du Pré-Saint-Gervais

Porte du Pré-Saint-Gervais is a city gate on the eastern edge of the 19th arrondissement and stands as one of the last preserved sections of the fortification wall built in the 1800s. The stone structure displays the typical design of these entry points with arched openings and defensive features.

The gate was built in the 1860s when Paris expanded eastward and constructed new fortification walls to protect the growing city. It functioned as an official checkpoint where authorities monitored goods and collected duties on items entering the capital.

The gate takes its name from the farmland that once surrounded it and shows the design of the fortification system that enclosed Paris long ago. Today the structure still conveys how the city controlled movement and commerce at these crossing points.

The gate sits near Pré-Saint-Gervais Metro station on line 7bis, making it easy to reach without difficult navigation. The surrounding area is pedestrian-friendly and the structure stands right along the modern street where visitors can spot it without effort.

The Pré-Saint-Gervais Metro station contains a hidden track section in its northern area that has not carried passengers for many years. This abandoned space now serves as storage and a maintenance base for trains.