The gate of Saint-Denis called the arch, located at the intersection of Saint-Denis, Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis, Boulevard de Bon Nouvelle and the Boulevard Saint-Denis. In fact it is a triumphal arch, erected in honor of military victories.

Gates were installed here to commemorate the victories of Louis XIV's Dutch war of 1672-1678. This war has spread throughout Europe and at first was completely victorious for the king: less than two months in Flanders and on the Rhine, he took more than four dozen Dutch fortresses. Just then Louis and ordered the construction of a Porte Saint-Denis.

Built gate project Director of the Royal Academy of architecture françois Blondel, who took a sample of the triumphal Arch of Titus in Rome. The site for the building was selected historical: during the reign of Charles V there was a gate-a Bastion of the medieval city wall.

The gate turned out magnificent: height – 25 m, total width – 24 meters, span width – 8m. Each of the facades are decorated with sculptures and reliefs describing the victory of the Sun King. On the side facing the East, you can see the symbols of victories on the Rhine, in the West – Flanders. North side has captured the capture of Maastricht, the South of the crossing of the Rhine. In the gate piers are special passes for commoners who could accompany the procession of the king.

The gate was built in 1672, when before the end of the war was still far away. In 1678, when he was signed Ningewance world, winner-France had suffered such losses that the fiscal balance of the country was broken, started riots. However, the gates were impressive monument of military glory of the country, one of the best examples of early French classicism.

In the history of the gate was another military page. During the June revolution of 1848 took place near them bloody battle the insurgent workers of Paris with the troops of the Republican guard. The fight was with the use of cannons and cavalry. Killed dozens of Parisians.