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The « Fortifications of VAUBAN » group

The « Fortifications of VAUBAN » group

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Fortifications of Vauban in the news...Fortifications of Vauban in the news...

1- In France, the UNESCO has just added 12 fortfications designed by Vauban to the to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

2- In Romania, in Alba Iulia is located a fortress using the Vauban system.

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Fortifications of Vauban in the news...Fortifications of Vauban in the news...

1- In France, the UNESCO has just added 12 fortfications designed by Vauban to the to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

2- In Romania, in Alba Iulia is located a fortress using the Vauban system.

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WHO WAS VAUBAN ?WHO WAS VAUBAN ?1) Sébastien Le Prestre, Marshal of Vauban (1633 – 1707), was Louis XIV 's military engineer. Under this king's reign, he improved the fortification system invented in the XVI century by Italian engineers : the Star Fort.2) VAUBAN directed the building of 9 fortresses and upgraded 160 others.3) About him, people used to say "Whatever he invested, fell; whatever he defended, held."

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What does the system look like ?What does the system look like ?1) Supervising the territory means

building enough fortresses at the borders to be able to control the lines of communication (major roads, rivers and passes) in case the country was invaded.

2) France would thus be able to conquer many territories which now belong to our country.

3) This defensive system is called the « pré carré »(The square or duelling field.)

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What is a STAR FORT ?What is a STAR FORT ?

1) The point was to avoid « dead zones » by replacing the rounded-shaped turrets by diamond-shaped towers (called bastions) that were not higher than the walls (called curtain) linking the bastions.

2) Each defensive element gives shelter to the other one : this is called the art of flanking, thanks to the Bastions.

3) Let's have a look at the following slide to understand the two previous defence issues.

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EXTRACT FROM HIS « TREATY OF FORTIFICATIONS »EXTRACT FROM HIS « TREATY OF FORTIFICATIONS »

GLOSSARYGLOSSARYto photocopy for European partnersto photocopy for European partners

BastionBastion : a structure projecting outward from the main enclosure of a fortification, situated in both corners of a straight wall (termed curtain), facilitating active defence against assaulting troops. It allows the defenders of the fort to cover adjacent bastions and curtains with defensive fire.Citadel Citadel : a fortress for protecting a town, sometimes incorporating a castle. It contains the supplies.Covered way Covered way : a corridor or banquette along the top of the counterscarp and covered by an embankment whose slope forms the glacis. It gives the garrison an open line of communication around the works, and a standing place beyond the ditch.Curtain Curtain : a defensive wall in between two towers or bastions.Half-moon Half-moon : a triangle-shaped moat, surrounded by a ditch and standing in front of the curtain. It allows the soldiers to protect the entries and curtains from the ennemies'fire.MoatMoat : a deep, broad ditch to provide it with a preliminary line of defence.Glacis Glacis : an artificial slope of earth with a low grade inclined towards the top of the wall. This gave defenders a direct line of sight into the assaulting force, allowing them to efficiently sweep the field with fire.City walls City walls : cities enclosed in fortifications.FortFort : military constructions and buildings designed to defend a territory.

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EXAMPLE IN FRANCE: ARRASEXAMPLE IN FRANCE: ARRAS

1) It was built between 1668 and 1672.2) Two neighbouring rivers were diverted in order to fill in the moats around

the fortress.3) Nowadays the buildings are still maintened and owned by the French

army.

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CourtyardCourtyard

STAR SHAPED PLAN WITH A PARADE GROUND IN THE CENTRESTAR SHAPED PLAN WITH A PARADE GROUND IN THE CENTRE

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EXAMPLE IN FRANCE WITH ROCROI.EXAMPLE IN FRANCE WITH ROCROI.

INFLUENCE OF WARFARE ON THE PATTERNS OF TOWNSINFLUENCE OF WARFARE ON THE PATTERNS OF TOWNS

1) Protected within the ramparts, the towns are organised along a grid plan or a concentric pattern with civic buildings and military areas (barracks, citadels, parade grounds, gunpowder store,s guardhouses...)

2) Around the fortress extra layers of defence, bastions and glacis are built.

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Plan reliefPlan relief

Built from scratch on the plain of the Rhine, this city was an entirely new town designed following an octogonal pattern – a layout which is supposed to have been chosen by Louis XVI himself. Inside the fortifications, the streets were designed on a grid plan, with a large square in the centre around which the most important civic buildings were built.

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SAINT MARTIN IN RE ISLANDSAINT MARTIN IN RE ISLAND

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SOMEWHERE ELSE IN EUROPE: ALBA IULIASOMEWHERE ELSE IN EUROPE: ALBA IULIA

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THE GATETHE GATE

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MOATMOAT

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PROTRUDING BASTIONPROTRUDING BASTION

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RETURNING ANGLE OF A BASTIONRETURNING ANGLE OF A BASTION

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VIEW ON OUTER FORTIFICATIONS AND FORWARD SLOPEVIEW ON OUTER FORTIFICATIONS AND FORWARD SLOPE

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SOURCES:SOURCES:

Website of  «  Musée des plans reliefs ».Website of The Express magazine (culture).Website of « Radio France Internationale ».Website of « Aube-nature.com ».Images from Google.