Porte Saint-Denis called the arch, located at the intersection of Saint-Denis, the Faubourg Saint-Denis, boulevard de Bon Nouvel and Boulevard Saint-Denis. In fact it is the triumphal arch erected in honor of military victories.

Gates were set here to commemorate the victory of King Louis XIV in the Dutch War of 1672-1678 years. This war has spread to the whole of Europe and at first was absolutely victorious to the king: in less than two months in Flanders and on the banks of the Rhine, he took more than four dozen Dutch fortresses. It was then that Louis and ordered to erect the gate of Saint-Denis.

Gates were built on the project director of the Royal Academy of Architecture Francois Blondel, who took a sample of the triumphal arch of Titus in Rome. Location was chosen for the construction of the historical: the Charles V is located in the bastion gates of the medieval city wall.

Gates turned majestic height - 25 m, overall width - 24 meters, width of flight - 8 meters. Each of the facade is decorated with sculptures and reliefs, describing the victory of the Sun King. On the side facing towards the east, you can see the symbol of victory on the Rhine, on the west - in Flanders. North side captured the capture of Maastricht, the southern - the crossing of the Rhine. The gate pillars are arranged special passes for the common people, who might accompany the king's motorcade.

The gate was built in 1672, when before the end of the war was far away. By 1678, when peace was signed Nimvegensky, winner-France suffered such losses that the country's budget balance has been broken, started riots. Nevertheless, Gates was an 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 1848 revolution took place near them bloody battle insurgents in Paris working with the forces of the Republican Guard. Boy walking with guns and cavalry. Killed dozens of Parisians.