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Founded: 1195-1202Category: Castles and fortifications in France
Historical period: Late Capetians (France)
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The construction of White Tower (La Tour Blanche) was started by Richard the Lionheart in 1195 and completed 1202. It was built in the middle of the war between Plantagenet and Capetian dynasties but never conquered. Today it is restored and open to the public offering a beautiful panoramic scene over Issoudun and the surrounding countryside.
References: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.