Vauban's fortifications

Vauban's fortifications
UNESCO world heritage
	Besancon Citadel
National territory:	France
Type:	Culture
Criteria :	(i) (ii) (iv)
Surface:	1,153.16 ha
Buffer zone:	4,341 ha
Reference No .:	1283
UNESCO region :	Europe and North America
	History of enrollment
Enrollment:	2008 (session 32)

Map of places

Fortifications of Vauban is the name of a World Heritage site that summarizes important fortress structures by the French builder Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban (1633–1707). In 2008, UNESCO decided to include twelve particularly exemplary and well-preserved facilities on the World Heritage List. While the French proposal was entitled "L'œuvre de Vauban" ( The Work of Vauban ), the World Heritage Committee chose the title "Les Fortifications de Vauban" ( The Fortifications of Vauban ).

The twelve French locations in which these buildings are located merged under the name Réseau des sites majeurs Vauban (network of the most important Vauban locations) in 2005 and pushed ahead with the application to the World Heritage Committee . The initial joint idea of an application by the French fortress town of Neuf-Brisach and the German town of Breisach am Rhein did not lead to success for the German partner. However, the city of Breisach is still trying to gain recognition for the Rheintor built by Vauban.

Two proposed privately owned investments were not included. Against Le Palais on the island of Belle-Île-en-Mer it was argued that Vauban's personal involvement in this citadel was minimal. In addition, with a hotel on the site there is a risk that its marketing will take precedence over monument protection. The castle of Bazoches , the residence of Vauban, was also deleted. It was also proposed to include other structures such as the citadel of Lille , Le Quesnoy and a facility outside the borders of France.

List of recorded structures

Citadel of Arras
Citadel, ramparts and Fort Griffon in Besançon
Citadel of Blaye , Fort Paté on an island in Gironde and the
- Citadel of Cussac-Fort-Médoc
Briançon fortress system (ramparts, four forts, signal tower and bridge)
Tour dorée (golden tower) in Camaret-sur-Mer
Fortified upper town of Longwy
Fortified city of Mont-Dauphin
Mont-Louis , consisting of a citadel and a fortified city
Fortified city of Neuf-Brisach
Saint-Martin-de-Ré fortress with city walls, port and citadel
Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue : Towers and fortifications in Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue and on the neighboring island of Tatihou
Fort Libéria , city walls and the fortified cave Cova Bastera in Villefranche-de-Conflent

Individual evidence

↑ ICOMOS evaluation report (PDF; 3.2 MB) , p. 143
↑ L'Unesco classe les “sites Vauban”, mais en oublie deux ( memento of January 30, 2016 in the Internet Archive ), article (French) in the Le Monde newspaper , July 19, 2008.

Web links

Network of Vauban's main towns
Entry on the UNESCO World Heritage Center website ( English and French ).

[1] ICOMOS evaluation report (PDF; 3.2 MB) , p. 143

[2] L'Unesco classe les “sites Vauban”, mais en oublie deux ( memento of January 30, 2016 in the Internet Archive ), article (French) in the Le Monde newspaper , July 19, 2008.