Porte de Gand

The Porte de Gand, or Porte de la Madeleine, was built by Pierre Raoul in 1620 during the Spanish period, when the city was expanding. Its exterior has lost its crenellations and decoration, but its severity reminds us that ramparts and gates were meant to impress potential enemies, and that the city was the object of much covetousness at the time. In the 17th century, Vauban added horn elements, the remains of which are still clearly visible in the gardens. The interior facade, in polychrome brick with a herringbone pattern, is more attractive, with a high pavilion roof, windows framed by stone stringcourses, and a "gresserie" that blends in perfectly with an old quarter occupied by numerous religious communities. It was listed as a historic monument in 1929.