Mars Gate

The Porte de Mars, the largest known Roman arch, in Reims

Here you stand before the largest known arch of the Roman world. You do not necessarily expect such a monument in Reims, and yet the city has more than two thousand years of history. The Porte de Mars recalls the time when the city was called Durocortorum and shone over Gaul. The Reims audio-guided tour stops here to bring this ancient grandeur back to life.

A monumental arch of ancient Reims

Dating from Roman times, the Porte de Mars owes its name to the proximity of a temple dedicated to Mars, god of war. About thirty metres long and more than ten metres high, it is one of the largest arches inherited from Antiquity. Reims, then Durocortorum, was a prosperous city; legend even has it that it was founded by Remus, brother of Romulus, the founder of Rome.

What to see

The arch impresses by its dimensions and by the remains of carved decoration adorning its vaults. Restored and showcased, it stands north of the centre and is a major landmark of the ancient trail of Reims. Before it, you measure the age of the city and the scale of its Gallo-Roman past, often eclipsed by the glory of the cathedral.

Practical information

The Porte de Mars lies north of the centre of Reims, near the High Promenades, reachable on foot. It is an open-air monument, freely visible from the public space at any time, with no ticket office. The area is flat and open; it is mainly admired from the outside, walking around it to observe its arches and sculptures.

Why is the Porte de Mars famous?

Because it is regarded as the largest known arch of the Roman world, a monumental vestige of ancient Durocortorum, today's Reims.

Where does the name Porte de Mars come from?

It comes from the proximity of a former temple dedicated to Mars, the Roman god of war, near which this monumental arch stood.