Citadelle de Laon, Military stronghold and city gate in Laon, France

The Citadelle de Laon is a fortified complex with gates, bastions, and ramparts that overlook the old town from an elevated position. The structure encloses an inner courtyard area containing various buildings and offers views across the surrounding landscape.

The citadel gate was built in 1595, after Henri IV retook Laon from the Ligue on 2 August 1595 following a three-month siege. Construction began with the Porte Saint-Georges, later walled up, and the citadel was reinforced with a turret in the southeast corner in 1621. In 1835 the houses inside were razed and the site returned to military use.

The gate's carved plaque above the arch records its construction; the gate is a listed monument historique since 1927. The former powder magazine and the underground passages can be visited today, while the citadel itself serves as an administrative centre.

You can walk through the complex and explore the ramparts and interior areas, which offer good vantage points for viewing the surroundings. Access roads are clearly signposted, and parking facilities are located near the main access points.

The gate is classified as a monument historique since 1927. Its facade, framed by rusticated pilasters, carries a carved stone plaque above the round arch, and two black metal chains hang on either side of the entrance.