The Porte Saint-Pierre is a gatehouse and triumphal arch in the classic style, built between 1771 and 1773 in Pontarlier. It was constructed following the fire of 1736 that devastated the town and its fortifications. Modeled after the Porte Saint-Martin in Paris, the gate commemorates the reconstruction of the town and the Treaty of Nimègue in 1678, which marked the end of the conquest of Franche-Comté by Louis XIV.
The gate was originally a defensive structure near the church of Saint-Bénigne, part of the town's primitive fortifications with walls and moats. Because it was built before 1848, the inscription on the stone only includes the first two values of the republican motto - Liberté et Égalité. The word Fraternité was not added until 1848 during the start of the Second Republic.
The silhouette of the gate changed between 1895 and 1898 when the upper part was restored. During this time, a campanile, a clock, and a bell that tolls every quarter hour were added, along with two side fountains. Today, the gate serves as an emblem of the city of Pontarlier.
A complete restoration of the gate is currently underway, starting in November 2024 and lasting until the second half of 2025. This project includes changing the roof, replacing certain stones, restoring the original colors, and repairing the campanile.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
Discuss this with the author and others
No comments yet. Be the first to start the conversation.