Porte de Quirieu

Historic site and monument

Boulevard de la Porte Neuve
38460 Crémieu

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The Quirieu gate is part of the second rampart wall. It was walled up in 1535 and replaced by a new gate, Porte Neuve. Quirieu gate was reopened in 1930 following renovation work.

The gate leads to the road running between Lagnieu and the ancient port of Quirieu in the north, to the banks of the Rhône. Indeed, river transport was considered safer than road transport, especially where wine was concerned. The original paving which has been uncovered outside the gate features a central channel which was used in the Middle Ages to drain wastewater, as opposed to the side channels used nowadays. The approach was arranged in a double slope with a curved channel running down the middle. When people crossed one another, the person with the higher social status stayed on the dry, upper part of the pavement, leaving the other person to take the lower path.