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… out at the start of the 16th century. Besieged multiple times during the Thirty Years War, the castle became the … siege of 1673, during the War of Holland, as a strategic site facing Switzerland. The modernisation included the … hill. As for the medieval keep, a floor was removed to accommodate an artillery platform and its thick walls housed a …

… Fort de Bouc History and description The site of the tour du Bouc has been occupied since the 13th … twenty-one metres in height, and with five floors. People went in and out on the first floor via a ladder. The … vaulted and linked by a spiral staircase. The garrison accommodated here included ten men and their captain. This …

… the Haute Meuse, Mézières gets its name from the first castle established under Charlemagne in 812 (Macerianae). This … by a new one which enclosed them. This urban wall was completed in around the 16th century. The 1500s years thus … de Rivières style and a battery were constructed on the site of Ayelles, some kilometres from the town, in 1877. …

… a coastal defence. This fort was replaced by a medieval castle from the 12th century. Up to the 16th century, the … given the difficulties of developing what was a steep site, situated in the estuary of the river Penfeld, in the … became silted up. In 1667, the Knight of Clerville, Commissioner-General of the fortifications, set up a project …

… origin (Tullum), situated on a confluent of the Moselle and the Ingressin, Toul had its first fortifications … resisted multiple French or imperial sieges and survived up until 1689. This urban wall was partially modernised in the … porte de France. However, the projects of Vauban remained incomplete. The decoration of the counterscarp only took place …

… Cammazes History and description The site of Cammazes is linked to the canal du Midi between the … to link the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean. The problem of how to ensure an adequate water supply arose very … the output in Bas-Languedoc. Louis XIV finally decided to commence construction including drilling from 1666. The …

… Avesnes-sur-Helpe is the product of two older urban centres coming together, which first emerged around the 10th century and merged to form a single fortified agglomeration from the 12th century. The first …

… prompted the Viscounts of Béarn to construct a first castle fort to control access to the peaks of Somport and … 1316, the initial castle was replaced by a walled town. The site was prominent due to the presence of a rocky spur above … a master mason from Bayonne. These constructions were completed around 1547 and were contemporary in comparison to …

… Lille History and description Coming into existence along a meandering stretch of the … was not finished until between 1672 and 1673. The choice of site was dictated by the topohydrography: the presence of …

… Le Quesnoy History and description A town founded around … ever since it first came into being. The first urban wall comprised crenelated walls with a protected walkway and … ponds. The engineer Génédot, commissioned to come on-site, criticised it but did not offer any alternative …

… Valenciennes History and description Situated on the confluent … of Valenciennes appeared during the Roman period, on a site previously occupied by the Gauls. The first … castle at the start of the 9th century, on the site of the future fortress of the Modern Era. In the 12th century, the …

… Toulon History and description A site occupied since prehistoric times, Toulon (Tholus … its inclusion in the Roman Provence in 120 AD. In the middle Ages, the town had its first fortifications built in the … the project in 1589 and directed the construction up to its completion in 1595. This urban wall was extended into the …

… military intention. All that surrounded the town was a single urban wall of earth and wood. However, the Religious wars … constructions during the period from 1628 to 1640, the on-site management of which fell to the engineer Pierre de … would be channelled back to a part of Brouage, remained incomplete. Only the southern half of the town was able to …

… Grenoble History and description Founded in Isère of a Gallo-Roman … was implemented to the south-east by the addition of two complete bastions, connected to the urban wall by two … the work was overseen by Francis de Créqui. Vauban visited Grenoble on two occasions: in 1692 and 1700. During …

… 1164. The first modern constructions took shape under Charles Quint, who added four orillon bastions at the upper town … and constructed a barracks and a powder keg. In 1682, he recommended downgrading Bouchain, considering it of no use. … galleries, two rooms under the Timothée Trimm square, a site of the 19th century and the old moats of the …

… Bitche La citadelle de Bitche au XVIIe siècle Construite à l’emplacement d’un … approuvé par Vauban en date du 4 novembre. Le chantier commence après l’annexion officielle de Bitche par la France … du traité de Rijswick. La citadelle de Cormontaigne Le site reste dépourvu de fortification jusqu’en 1737, année de …

… Hébihens Les origines de la construction de la tour Site stratégique pour la protection de la baie de la … visant à créer un asile aux navires de pêche. Le comte Louis de Pontbriand, capitaine garde-côte, commandite …

… those most exposed to attacks. During 1590-1596, the site was occupied by those from Savoy supporting the catholic League against Henri IV. During this occupation, a brick … the July Monarchy, the ramparts underwent a restoration completed to repair the damage caused by their abandonment …

… Fort-les-Bains History and description Situated on a hill that … was constructed from 1670 on the orders of the Count of Chamilly to defend the town of Amélie-les-Bains and … Vauban made some improvements but did not consider the complex to be a top priority. A project was set out in 1888 …

… Située au débouché d’une vallée sur la plaine du Pô, la ville de Pignerol apparaît au Moyen Âge et reçoit alors ses … à transformer l’enceinte urbaine et l’enclavement complet du château médiéval, construits en terre et … célèbre Masque de Fer. Les interventions de Vauban Vauban visite les lieux pour la première fois en 1669. Il signe un …

… In medieval times, a further urban wall including multiple round towers, which was repaired around the 14th century, … excesses. On each occasion, the town was conquered and completely devastated. To guard against any repeat, Francis … of the same name, in order to protect the mooring. Vauban visited Antibes in 1679 and 1682. He had completed an …

… History and description Situated in the Haut Vallespir, near the sources of the Tech, Prats-de-Mollo was … around the tour de la Guardia. In April 1670, Vauban visited Prats-de-Mollo. Deeming the destruction of the city … Louvois, the War Minister, persuaded Louis XIV against completing the project but the medieval defensive walls were …