Arc de Triomphe

The Triumphal Arch of the door of Aix " L'Arc de Triomphe de la Porte d'Aix" was realized by the architect Penchaud. Started in 1823, it was not inaugurated until 1839.
It is inspired by the ancient arch of the city of Orange.
It marks the main entrance of the town and the starting point of a prestigious vista leading to Castellane Square. At that time, an obelisk also built by Penchaud stood in this square, about a decade earlier, and nowadays it stands at the Mazargues roundabout. The objective behind the construction of the Porte d'Aix was twofold: to evoke triumph through ancient symbolism and to be visible from afar.

The decoration was entrusted to David d'Angers and Jules Ramsey.

Eight figures of military virtues, now destroyed, dominated this ensemble. Started under Charles X, it was only finished under Louis-Philippe.
The decoration of the monument was affected by the change from the flag to the tricolour flag. And, afterwards, the successive regimes changed the dedication of the pediment.

Composed of the single arch and an attic supported by four corinthian columns, it has a harmony inspired by the arches of antiquity. But it would have benefited, no doubt, from being placed in the heart of the city, on a beautiful road, and not on this square which already has a suburban aspect. Its height and width are the same : 17m68. The arcade measures 6m13 of opening and 10m40 of height.

The Arc de Triomphe of Porte d'Aix was classified as a "Historic Monument" by decree on 2nd September 1982.