The gate was built by the Engineers, who wanted to avoid military convoys having to pass through the town centre. To this end, a bypass boulevard - now boulevard De-Lattre - was built as far as the Porte des Moulins.
This double-exit gate had a double drawbridge over the moat. The Poncelet drawbridge, named after its inventor, operated a heavy chain with links that acted as a counterweight. As the bridge deck was raised, an increasing length of chain rested at the bottom of the ditch, thus balancing the weights. Some of this equipment is still visible.
The machicolation on the top of the bridge adds a neo-medieval touch to the structure.
Porte des Terreaux ou Porte Neuve
