Porte Saint-Denis

first      previous      next      last     

This large arch, the Porte Saint-Denis, was built in the seventeenth century by the City of Paris to commemorate war victories of Louis XIV. Until the Arc de Triomphe was built two hundred years later, this was the tallest arch in Paris. It has recently been restored to its original glory.

The arch straddles the rue Saint-Denis, a street best known for the prostitutes that frequent it. This arch seems to divide the area containing the prostitutes (to the south, where the camera was in this photo) from the area that is pure garment-district to the north. The area around this arch is called Strasbourg-Saint-Denis and is a bit dicey late at night, although I wouldn’t call it dangerous.

Photographed on June 20, 2000.