Porte de la Cavalerie (Cavalry Gate), Arles

The Cavalry Gate stands as one of Arles’s most evocative medieval gateways, marking what was once the northern entrance to the old city. Its name links back to the Bourg‑Neuf district-later known as “Cavalry”-where, from as early as the 12th century, the Knights Templar were established nearby. Originally part of Arles’s fortified medieval wall system, the gateway embodied the city's expansion and strategic importance during the Middle Ages.

Constructed in the 13th century, the gate was rebuilt in the 16th century and received further enhancements during the 18th century, including a semicircular defensive bulwark in front. Its two side towers, the most prominent surviving elements, endured damage during the French Revolution and again in 1877. Though the original gate and segments of wall were lost over time, these towers-along with fragmentary sections of the eastern and northern walls-still mark the gateway’s historic presence.

Classified as a Historic Monument since 1928, the Cavalry Gate remains integral to Arles’s cultural heritage. Today, it anchors the revitalization of the Cavalry district-Arles’s historic northern threshold-addressing both preservation and urban renewal efforts.