Porte Bazée

Porte Bazee is the remains of a Roman city gate in Reims featuring carved stones and architectural elements from the Gallo-Roman wall of the ancient city Durocortorum. The pillar remnant stands near the University College refectory and can be reached from Rue de l'Université.

The gate was built between 180 and 230 CE and originally reached about 13 meters in height. It served as the southern entrance to the Roman city and was a key part of the defensive walls protecting Durocortorum.

The name comes from 'porta Basilicaris', referring to its role as a passage toward the churches located in the city's outlying areas. For centuries, residents used this gateway as a key connection between the urban center and the religious sites beyond the walls.

The remains are located near the university campus where they are easy to see. The position on Rue de l'Université makes it simple to reach on foot and combine with other sights in the city.

A carved stone relief once decorated the gate with a mythological scene showing a triton, Cupid, and Venus. This artistic detail is a rare example of the decorative sophistication that adorned such fortifications across the Roman Empire.