Porte Saint-André

The Porte Saint-André is one of the two Roman gates of Autun that still stand, and it is among the best-preserved Roman gateways in France. Autun was founded by the emperor Augustus around 15 BC under the name of Augustodunum, the fortress of Augustus, as a showpiece city for the Aedui, the Gaulish people who were among Rome's most loyal allies. The city was laid out on a grid, with a great circuit of walls about six kilometres long, and gates in the walls gave access to the main roads. The Porte Saint-André stood on the road to the east, and the Porte d'Arroux, on the north, is the other survivor.

The gate is a rectangular block of local limestone, which dates from the first century AD. At ground level, it has four openings. The two large central arches were for carts and chariots, and the two smaller flanking arches were for pedestrians, so traffic could flow in both directions without chaos. Above them runs a gallery of arcaded windows, with pilasters between the arches, forming a loggia from which guards could watch the road and which gives the gate a graceful, light appearance. The structure was once part of a larger fortified entrance with towers, and a medieval tower on one side, added later, was used as a lookout and later as part of the town defences. The gate was later incorporated into the medieval town and used for centuries, so it survives in remarkably good condition.

Standing in front of it, you can imagine the traffic of the Roman city, with merchants and travellers entering through the arches, and the gate invites comparison with the gateways of other Roman cities in the south of France. It is open to view at any time, with no entry charge, since it stands in the street, and it is best seen in daylight, when the detail of the stonework is visible. The crowd is generally small, so you can look at it quietly. Pets are welcome, and information boards are in several languages.

Autun is rich in Roman remains and in medieval art. The Roman theatre, one of the largest in Gaul, the so-called Temple of Janus, a tall tower that is the remains of a Gallo-Roman temple, and the Musée Rolin, which has Roman and medieval collections, complete the picture. The Cathedral of Saint-Lazare, with its Romanesque sculpture by the artist Gislebertus, is among the great works of the Middle Ages.

The gate suits lovers of Roman history and architecture, and it can be seen in a few minutes, as part of a day in the town. The Église Saint-Nazaire and the Parc de la Combe à l'Orme are other places to visit.