Paris - Porte St Denis – 10me

Plate LXXX1V - Porte St Denis…

The construction of triumphal arches is, it seems, a way of life in Paris, and the Arc de Triomphe de la Porte St Denis is one of two erected by Louis XIV (the other being the Porte St Martin) to commemorate certain notable military victories, this time in the Rhine and Holland. Said to be inspired by the Roman Arch of Titus and in turn itself the inspiration for Napoleon’s more famous Arc de Triomphe at Etoile  in central Paris, Porte St Denis is located at the site of one of Charles V’s earlier gates in the destroyed city fortifications. The early 1670’s monument was designed by the renowned architect François Blondel and carved by sculptor Michel Anguier. In 1848 Porte St Denis was the site of a workers barricade and bloody conflict with the National Guard, a scene documented by the Marxist, Engels.

With a frontage almost 25 metres square, and a depth of five metres, the arch is an imposing sight on the intersection of the Boulevard and Rue St Denis. Having become somewhat neglected over time, the Porte was fully restored in 1988 (unusually, they didn’t wait for my visit) and the gilt lettered inscription 'Ludovico Magno' once again proclaims the victorious Louis’ military prowess. The last recorded ceremonial procession to pass beneath the arch is said to have been that of British Queen Victoria during her visit to the Exposition of 1855.