Many visitors to the city and even some of the locals don’t know that Marseille has a triumphal arch just 20 minutes walk from the Old Port.
It is often overlooked by tourist guides which is a pity because Porte d'Aix marks the old entry point to the city on the road from Aix-en-Provence. It was designed by Michel-Robert Penchaud who was inspired by the triumphal arches of the Roman Empire. The project was conceived in 1784 to honour king Louis XIV and the end of the American war of independence. However, the triumphal arch was completed only in 1839 due to delay of local officialdom and political upheavals. With the intervening political changes in France, the monument could no longer just celebrate its primary dedications, but instead the more general theme of French victories.
Porte d'Aix
Place Jules Guesde, Porte D'Aix, 13003 Marseille, France