Porte Dauphine, La Rochelle, City gate in La Rochelle, France
The Porte Dauphine stands as a monumental entrance with three separate gates divided by gardens and decorative plantings along the fortification wall.
Built in 1694 during a period of urban expansion, the Porte Dauphine represents the northern entrance of La Rochelle's defensive system against potential invaders.
The gate displays characteristic elements of French military architecture from the late 17th century, combining defensive functionality with formal design principles.
Visitors can access the site free of charge throughout the year and explore the surrounding English garden that occupies multiple levels around the fortifications.
The structure maintains its original three-gate configuration, with each passage separated by carefully maintained flower beds integrated into the historic fortifications.
Location: La Rochelle
Inception: 1694
GPS coordinates: 46.16812,-1.15055
Latest update: November 2, 2025 20:40
La Rochelle documents over seven centuries of French maritime history through its medieval fortifications and Renaissance architecture. The old port is guarded by three stone towers from the 14th and 15th centuries - the Saint Nicolas Tower, the Tour de la Chaîne, and the Lantern Tower - which once controlled access to the sea. The Great Clock Gate from 1476 connects the harbor front to the old city streets. The city center preserves buildings from the 16th through 18th centuries, with arcaded passages along Rue du Palais and Rue des Merciers. The Fontaine des Pilori dates from the 16th century, while the City Hall features Renaissance facades from 1595. The Musée du Nouveau Monde examines La Rochelle's transatlantic trade connections. The Les Minimes marina now serves more than 5,000 boats, making it one of the largest yacht harbors on the French Atlantic coast. The modern Passerelle Nelson Mandela, opened in 1993, carries pedestrians across the main harbor. Beyond the city center, the bridge to Île de Ré extends roughly 2 miles (3 kilometers) across the Bay of Biscay.
Café de la Paix
626 m
Muséum d'Histoire naturelle de La Rochelle
372 m
Église Notre-Dame-de-Cougnes de La Rochelle
576 m
Lycée Eugène-Fromentin, La Rochelle
452 m
Comédie La Rochelle
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Fontaine du Pilori
621 m
Hôtel de Craon
588 m
Jardin des plantes de La Rochelle
336 m
Église Saint-André-et-Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc de La Rochelle
557 m
Hôtel du Commerce
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Maison, 43 rue du Minage
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Grande-maison de Lhommée
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Église du couvent des Dominicains de La Rochelle
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Maison, 5 rue Albert 1er, La Rochelle
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Chapelle de la Sainte-Trinité de La Rochelle
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Chapelle Fromentin de La Rochelle
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Hero and Leander
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Maison, 50 rue Chaudrier, La Rochelle
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Maison, 15 rue Albert 1er, La Rochelle
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Maison, 64 rue Chaudrier, La Rochelle
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Maison, 66 rue Chaudrier, La Rochelle
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Maison, 60 rue Chaudrier, La Rochelle
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Maison, 11 rue Albert 1er, La Rochelle
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Maison, 3 rue Albert 1er, La Rochelle
560 mReviews
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