Journées européennes du patrimoine
Les 16 & 17 septembre 2023, les douze fortifications de Vauban inscrites sur la Liste du patrimoine mondial de l'UNESCO vous proposent de nombreux événements. Découvrez-les vite !
Fortifications of Vauban
Arras
In Vauban’s "Pré Carré"
In 1659, the town of Arrras came under the authority of the King of France for good and was incorporated into Vauban’s "pré carré", a double line of fortified towns built to protect the north-eastern border of the kingdom.
The citadel was one of Vauban’s first constructions and took two years to build, from 1668 to 1670. It was set at the confluence of two streams so that the surrounding areas could be flooded in case of attack. This pentagon-shaped citadel, built around a rectangular courtyard, forms the finest example of a citadel on the plain according to Vauban’s first system. The buildings, constructed to an orthogonal plan, bear witness to the meeting between the classical architecture of the “Grand Siecle” and local traditional brick and stone decoration. However, the citadel soon became known as “the useless beauty” as it was not located in a good strategic position but set too far back from the border.
Today, the area around the citadel forms a green belt at the gates of the historic town and is changing into a proper city park. The Arras City Council now owns the citadel and plans to make it a true district of the town.
Inscribed Property
the citadel of Arras
Outstanding Universal Value
new plain citadel of the first system
Date of construction
between 1668 and 1670
Altitude
239 ft
Department
Pas-de-Calais
Region
Hauts-de-France
GPS coordinates
50.282977, 2.759999
The Porte Royale
The chapel of Saint-Louis
The citadel ramparts
A shared celebration to celebrate the 15th anniversary of "Fortifications of Vauban" as a World Heritage Site
On July 7th 2023, 15 years to the day after the Fortifications of Vauban were inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List, the twelve major Vauban sites proudly celebrated this anniversary in ceremonies...
15th anniversary of the inscription of the Vauban Fortifications on the UNESCO World Heritage List
The year 2023 marks the 15th anniversary of the inscription of Vauban's Fortifications on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This is an opportunity to celebrate World Heritage and Vauban's work of genius...
Tourist information
Communauté urbaine d’Arras
La citadelle
Boulevard du général de Gaulle
BP – 10345
62 026 Arras cedex
Phone number: + 33 3 21 21 87 00
www.cu-arras.fr
Arras Pays d’Artois Tourisme
Hôtel de ville
Place des Héros
62000 Arras
Phone number: +33 3 21 51 26 95
www.arraspaysdartois.com
How to visit / Access
Access by the boulevard du Général de Gaulle: free parking at the citadel, opposite the Arras Memorial and the British cemetery in the Faubourg d'Amiens. Free access. Main entrance through the Royal Gate (Turenne district).
Things to see and do:
- The historical exhibition and the relief plan in the Salle des Familles, free access from 9 am to 7 pm.
- Walks: Tour of the bastions and Tour of the moats and the citadel wood. 6 remarkable viewpoints.
- The Wall of the Fusillés, free access from 2pm to 7pm.
- The Cit'Loisirs accrobranche.
- The Cit'abeilles honey factory.
Ressources