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Origin and history

La Porte de la Cavalerie is an old gate to the ramparts of Arles, located in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. It owes its name to the neighborhood that it had served since the Middle Ages: the Bourg-neuf, originally possession of the Baux family, where the Knights of the Temple had settled. This neighborhood, located east of the city, was a strategic and symbolic place, marked by the presence of these military and aristocratic orders.

The building of the gate dates back to the 13th century, but it was entirely rebuilt in the 16th century, then rehabilitated in the 18th century. Its two lateral round towers, characteristic of the defensive architecture of the time, suffered partial damage during the French Revolution, then in 1877. These changes reflect the changes in military and urban needs, as well as the political upheavals in the city.

Ranked as historical monuments since 2 February 1928, the Gate of the Cavalry is now protected for its emblematic elements: the two towers and a strip of adjoining land. Although partially damaged, it remains a major testimony of the medieval and modern history of Arles, mixing Templar heritage, seigneurial power of the Baux and successive architectural adaptations.

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