La Porte de gand
A Past Full of History
The Bleu Guide Nord-Pas de Calais reminds us the history of the Porte de Gand: « Between the 11th and the 19th Century, the city of Lille underwent 7 periods of growth. Each of these periods corresponds to an extension of its fortifications. The vestiges of the fortifications, including la Porte de Gand, date from the 17th century.
This military heritage now forms a major tourist attraction. »
La Porte de Gand, originally called La Porte de la Madeleine, was built in 1620 as was La Porte de Roubaix. This was the fifth period of growth (1617 – 1621), in which the city expanded 30 hectares towards the northeast.
The glazed and coloured bricks lend a lot of charm to the wall facing the city center.
On the outside, many aspects of its original features have been preserved like its moats, its arched bridge…