Porte Noire

The Porte noire, in Besançon

The Porte noire is a Roman triumphal arch of the second century, a major vestige of the ancient town of Vesontio. The Besançon audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this exceptional monument, a witness of the Gallo-Roman past of the town.

The Roman triumphal arch of Vesontio

The Porte noire is one of the most precious vestiges of antiquity in Besançon. This Roman triumphal arch, erected in the second century, at the time when the town was called Vesontio and was a prosperous town of Roman Gaul, stands at the foot of the hill of the cathedral, on the layout of the former road. Richly adorned with sculptures, partly eroded by time, it testifies to the grandeur of the ancient town. Its name of Porte noire is said to come from the stone blackened over the centuries. Restored, this two-thousand-year-old monument neighbours the Castan Square, which keeps other Roman vestiges. The Porte noire is a precious witness of the rich Gallo-Roman past of Besançon.

What to see

You admire the second-century Roman triumphal arch, richly adorned with partly eroded sculptures, at the foot of the hill of the cathedral, a major vestige of the ancient town of Vesontio, neighbour of the Castan Square. The Porte noire testifies to the Gallo-Roman past of Besançon. It is a must-see stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Porte noire lies at the foot of the hill of the cathedral, at the end of the Grande Rue, in Besançon, reachable on foot. It is an open-air monument, freely accessible from the public space. You discover it during a walk in the old town.

What is the Porte noire of Besançon?

A Roman triumphal arch erected in the second century, at the time when the town was the prosperous town of Vesontio, richly adorned with sculptures; it is a major vestige of the Gallo-Roman past of Besançon.

Where is the Porte noire?

At the foot of the hill of the cathedral, in Besançon, in France.