Villefranche-de-Conflent Fortress

Villefranche-de-Conflent, France

Built by Vauban in 1681 and fortified by Napoleon III, the fortress dominates the city of Villefranche-de-Conflent with its ramparts, counterscarp galleries, bastions, chapel, archaeology and caving museum and a 734 steps underground staircase. The ramparts - major site built by Vauban- are registered on the list of the Unesco World Heritage.

Address

Rue Saint-Jean 32, Villefranche-de-Conflent, France

See all sites in Villefranche-de-Conflent

Details

Founded: 1681
Category: Castles and fortifications in France

More Information

www.sites-vauban.org
en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Abbey of Saint-Martin-du-Canigou (7,1 km)
Fort Libéria (0,4 km)
Abbey of Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa (4,2 km)
St. Mary's Church (2,5 km)

St. Mary Magdalene Church (38,9 km)
Château de Peyrepertuse (35,1 km)
Château de Castelnou (27,7 km)
Alet Cathedral Ruins (46,4 km)
Château de Quéribus (34,7 km)
Serrabone Priory (18,8 km)
Château de Puilaurens (24,7 km)
Château d'Arques (40,7 km)
St. Mary's Abbey (26,4 km)

User Reviews

Timothy Lacroix (5 years ago)
You can take +700 steps from the village to the fort! Best cardio of the day

Pau GM (5 years ago)
Great castel! one of my favorite things to do at Villefranche-de-Conflent

Robert Bako (5 years ago)
Very nice place!

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Andy Hay

Historic Site of the week

Argos Theater

The ancient Argos Theater was built in 320 BC. and is located in Argos, Greece against Larissa Hill. Nearby from this site is Agora, Roman Odeon, and the Baths of Argos. The theater is one of the largest architectural developments in Greece and was renovated in ca 120 AD.

The Hellenistic theater at Argos is cut into the hillside of the Larisa, with 90 steps up a steep incline, forming a narrow rectilinear cavea. Among the largest theaters in Greece, it held about 20,000 spectators and is divided by two landings into three horizontal sections. Staircases further divide the cavea into four cunei, corresponding to the tribes of Argos A high wall was erected to prevent unauthorized access into the theatron and may have helped the acoustics, but it is said the sound quality is still very good today.

Around 120 CE, both theaters were renovated in the Roman style.