--- title: "Porte Saint-André: How to Visit and What to See" description: "The Porte Saint-André was the eastern gate of Augustodunum, on the road to Langres." url: https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/porte-saint-andre-autun lang: en updated: 2026-10-08 generated: 2026-10-08 image: https://www.cote-privee.com/og/things-to-do/porte-saint-andre-autun.png --- # Porte Saint-André > Porte Saint-André: the best-preserved Roman gate of Autun, with its arcaded gallery and a tower that is now a Protestant church. Porte Saint-André is in Autun (Saône-et-Loire), 47 min by road (53 km) from Beaune. Allow 15 to 20 minutes · Private driver from Beaune: €165 one way for the whole car, up to 4 guests. The Porte Saint-André was the eastern gate of Augustodunum, on the road to Langres. Its four arches and the gallery of ten arcades above them make it the best-preserved of the Roman gates of Autun. One of its flanking towers survives and has served as a Protestant church since 1945. ## Key facts - Type: Heritage - Where: Autun · Saône-et-Loire - Location: 40 km west of Beaune · Saône-et-Loire - Coordinates: 46.9577, 4.3060 - 47 min from Beaune - Allow 15 to 20 minutes - Autun - Official website: [autun-tourisme.com](https://www.autun-tourisme.com/decouvrez/une-cite-gallo-romaine/) - From Beaune: ≈ 47 min · 53 km - €165 one way from Beaune with a [private driver](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver) ## Getting there - [Private driver from Beaune](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver): 47 min by road (53 km), €165 one way for the whole car. Coming by train or plane? [Transfers from stations and airports](https://www.cote-privee.com/transfers) Estimates per vehicle for up to 4 guests, tolls included. Your price is confirmed when you book. ## History Under Augustus, Augustodunum received a wall about 6 kilometres long with four main gates. The Porte Saint-André, also called the Porte de Langres, opened the road east towards Andemantunnum, today's Langres. Two wide central passages served carts and riders, and two narrower side passages served people on foot. Above them ran a gallery of ten arcades carrying the wall walk, and two massive towers about 10 metres wide stood on either side. The gallery was rebuilt in Roman times in a different stone, an arkose quarried about ten kilometres east of Autun. By 1250 the northern tower had become a church, and a chapel blocked the passage beside it. Sold at the Revolution, the tower was bought back by the State in 1844, and Eugène Viollet-le-Duc restored the whole gate to its Roman appearance, rebuilding the most damaged parts. The gate was classified as a historic monument in 1846; the southern tower has disappeared. ## What you will see Stand back from the gate to see its four round arches and, above them, the ten arcades of the gallery, whose capitals come close to the Ionic order. The lower part is built of pale limestone, while the gallery uses a darker arkose, a sign of the Roman rebuilding. Beside the gate, the surviving tower, rounded on the outside and flat on the town side, now houses the Protestant church. ## Planning your visit The gate stands on the eastern edge of the old town and can be seen from the street at any time, free of charge. Allow 15 to 20 minutes. The Roman theatre is a short walk away, so the two make an easy pair, and the Porte d'Arroux, on the northern side of town, makes a good comparison. ## Did you know? With its gallery, the gate stands 14.6 metres high, and its central passages are just over 4 metres wide, made to fit Roman carts. ## Around Porte Saint-André What to combine with Porte Saint-André on the same day, nearest first. ### Villages - [Maranges](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/maranges) (27 km away): Three villages on the last slopes of the Côte de Beaune, sharing one appellation for bright, fruity reds. ### Châteaux - [Château de Sully](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-sully) (14 km away): A moated Renaissance château where Marshal Mac-Mahon was born, still home to his family. - [Château de Morlet](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-morlet) (15 km away): A fortified manor near Épinac with a striking Renaissance gatehouse of 1584. - [Château d’Épinac](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-d-epinac) (16 km away): Nicolas Rolin's castle above the Drée valley, which gave its name to the town of Épinac. ### Things to do - [Roman Theatre of Autun (Théâtre romain d’Autun)](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/theatre-romain-autun), 1 km away: One of the largest theatres of Roman Gaul, still used for performances on summer nights. - [Arroux Gate (Porte d’Arroux)](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/porte-d-arroux-autun), 1 km away: A Roman city gate from the reign of Augustus, with its four arches still standing. - [Temple of Janus (Temple de Janus)](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/temple-de-janus-autun), 1 km away: Two towering walls of a Gallo-Roman temple standing alone in the meadows outside Autun. ## Questions about Porte Saint-André ### How far is Porte Saint-André from Beaune? Porte Saint-André is about 47 min from Beaune by road (53 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €165 for the whole car, up to 4 guests. ### How long does a visit to Porte Saint-André take? For the visit, allow 15 to 20 minutes. ### When is Porte Saint-André open? Opening days and times change during the year, so check the official website (autun-tourisme.com) before you go. Your driver can plan the day around them. ### Can a private driver take us to Porte Saint-André? Yes. Your driver collects you in Beaune or at your hotel in an electric Polestar 2 (up to 4 guests), waits while you visit and plans the rest of the day with you. The driver speaks English, French, Mandarin Chinese and Arabic. → [Private driver from Beaune](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver) ## Book - [Book a driver here](https://www.cote-privee.com/book?service=driver&place=sight:portesaintandre): €165 one way from Beaune · up to 4 guests ## Sources - - - --- Canonical page: