City Gate (Porte de la Ville)

The Porte de la Ville, also known as the Porte des Tourelles, is a 15th-century medieval gate and the only surviving entrance of the seven original gates that once protected Dieppe. Built in stone and flint, this impressive structure features two circular towers topped with conical roofs flanking a vaulted passage. The gate served as a prison until 1825 and was classified as a Historic Monument in 1886. A commemorative plaque on the south side marks this as the departure point for the 'Filles du Roy' - young women sent to Quebec by Louis XIV in the 17th century to help populate New France. Today, the building houses the headquarters of the International Kite Festival association. While the interior is not open to the public, the gate can be viewed from Boulevard de Verdun and provides a picturesque connection between the beach and the historic city center.