Porte de Saint-Ouen de Paris

The Porte de Saint-Ouen is marked by a wide, open intersection where the nineteenth century Thiers Wall once stood. It functioned as one of the fortified gates controlling entry into Paris. In eighteen seventy, during the Prussian siege of the city, this gate became a focal point for the defense of the capital. French soldiers and local volunteers reinforced the nearby ramparts, keeping the German forces at bay throughout the winter. Today, the gate exists as a broad thoroughfare linking Paris to the suburbs.