Porte de Mars, Reims

Porte de Mars is an ancient Roman triumphal arch dating back to the third century that was the access point to Durocortorum, the Gallo-Roman town. The Arch is 32 m (105 ft) long and 13 m (42.6 ft) high. Named after a nearby temple to Mars, the arch has many highly detailed carvings on its exterior and on the ceilings of its three passageways. Original sculptures that are still intact are "Romulus and Remus," "Farm Works, and "Leda and the Swan." Local folklore says that the inhabitants of Reims built the arch in gratitude when the Romans built major roads throughout their city. It served as a city gate until 1544, and in 1817, the buildings around it were removed, bringing the arch into full view. For Porte de Mars and beyond, use our Reims trip builder app to get the most from your Reims vacation.