Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Porte Dauphine was built between 1694 and 1697 in La Rochelle, under the reign of Louis XIV, by architect François Ferry. It is part of the strengthening of the town's fortifications in the 17th century. The door is surmounted by a triangular pediment decorated with a radiant sun, the emblem of the Sun King, and an inscription to his glory. Originally, it was surrounded by a guard corps, destroyed after World War I when the avenue de la Porte Dauphine was drilled.

The work, which also included a triangular half moon with a front door built between 1697 and 1698, was designed according to the plans of François Ferry, preferred to those of Bullet. The drawings of the half moon were made by Masse. The gate was classified as a historic monument by order of 14 June 1909, while the forward gate and half moon were classified on 17 May 1924. After the decommissioning of the enclosure in 1902, only the entrance door, its frame and the door of the half moon remain.

Architecturally, the Dauphine Gate is distinguished by its arched passage, surmounted by a square floor that once housed the guard body. Two exterior staircases allowed access to this floor, while a spiral staircase served the basement. The guardhouse on the ground floor included stone porches and vaulted rooms. The door of the half moon, on the other hand, presents a vaulted passage in a cradle. These elements illustrate the ingenuity of modern-day urban fortifications.

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