Porte de Roubaix

About

The porte de Roubaix or porte Saint-Maurice, is a town gate of Lille, inscribed in the former Spanish enclosure built between 1617 and 1621. Inaugurated in 1625, it was pierced by two side arches and restored in 1875 to allow the tramway to pass. It was listed as a historic monument in 1929. This site is served by Gare Lille-Flandres and Gare Lille-Europe metro stations.

History: Built during the extension of the city's enclosure under the golden age of archducs Albert and Isabelle, governors of the Netherlands, the gate of Roubaix was built by master masons Michel Watrelos and Jean Lesur in 1620. It replaces the Reignaux gate of the enclosure built towards the end of the 13th century which included the parishes of Saint-Maurice and Saint-Sauveur. This gate was removed during the construction of the 1617-1622 rampart which enlarged the city to the northeast, was located north of the Place des Reignaux, approximately at the corner of the rue du Vieux-Faubourg and the rue à Fiens, and gave access to the road towards Roubaix. The Roubaix gate was then preserved by Vauban, during the reconfiguration of the fortifications...