Paris, France
1806
Paris, France
1806
Arles, France
300-400 AD
Vimy, France
1936
Thiepval, France
1932
Calais, France
1889
Beaumont-Hamel, France
1925
Longueval, France
1926
Montsec, France
1932
Arras, France
1916
Amboise, France
1775-1778
Soissons, France
1928
Douaumont, France
1967
Neuve-Chapelle, France
1927
Courcelette, France
1916
Wimille, France
1804/1841
Sommepy-Tahure, France
1937
Maisoncelle, France
1415
Crécy-en-Ponthieu, France
1346
The historical centre of Briançon is a strongly fortified town, built by Vauban to defend the region from Austrians in the 17th century. Its streets are very steep and narrow, though picturesque. Briançon lies at the foot of the descent from the Col de Montgenèvre, giving access to Turin, so a great number of other fortifications have been constructed on the surrounding heights, especially towards the east.
The Savoyards made two raids into French territory in 1691 and 1692. As a result, Vauban was dispatched to inspect the frontier defences, which had been ill-equiped to deal with the attack from Savoy. He returned to the area in 1700 to check on the progress that had been made since his first visit. When Vauban visited Briançon, work on the defences had already started under a local engineer, Monsieur d"Angrogne in 1692.