Louis XVI Gate

Turn around and take a moment to admire the gate in front of you. This is the northern entrance to the Citadel.

During the Genoese era, this was the only entrance into the fortified town. In front of this gate once stood a large public square where townspeople would gather and where executions were carried out.

Just a few metres to the left, above the last shop, you can still spot the old gallows that were once used for public hangings… .a grim reminder of a darker chapter in the city’s history.

This monumental gate was rebuilt in 1775 and given its current appearance in honour of King Louis XVI, king of France at the time. Back then, the gate was painted bright red.

Today, it’s officially listed as a Historic Monument, just like the surrounding ramparts, which are clearly visible from here.

The first defensive walls were built in the 15th century and destroyed and rebuilt several times throughout Bastia’s turbulent past. Some sections of the ramparts are still accessible today and connect the remaining bastions, offering a rare opportunity to walk along the city’s old fortifications.