Briançon town & Cité Vauban
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Briançon, Vauban Fortress - by Maxime Mernikov on Google
Description
Briançon is a town at the confluence of the Durance and Guisane rivers, near the Italian border in the Haute Alpes department. Named Brigantium under the Romans, it was part of the Dauphiné from the 11th until the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 when it was swapped over to the County of Savoy. It is known for its fortified town with several surrounding forts designed by the famous military engineer Vauban in the 17th century to defend the region from the Austrians (Habsburg Empire); the town is part of the Fortifications of Vauban UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Highlights include the city walls, the Redoute des Salettes, the Fort des Trois-Têtes, Fort du Randouillet, the Asfeld Bridge, the fort Dauphin and La Communication Y. Briançon is also part of Serre-Chevalier, one of the Southern Alps largest linked ski resort.
Access & Transport
Briançon is the terminus of the train line coming from Marseille (4h30) via Gap (1h10m) and also links to the Rhone Valley in Livron (near Valence). By car, it is a 2h20 / 120km drive from Grenoble, 85km from Gap, 230km from Aix-en-Provence and 260km from Marseille.
Instructions & Recommendations
There are some weekly fort visits organized by the tourist office to the various forts, generally around 14h30 on Friday, Saturday or Sunday starting in May. See web link for the Fort de Randouillet for example: http://www.ville-briancon.fr/visite-du-fort-du-randouillet
Environmental & Social
The main activities in the town have a low carbon footprint. Tourism helps preserve the town's architectural and historical heritages and is a welcome injection of activity and revenues in the local economy
Conclusion
If it weren't for its isolated location, we might rank Briançon as one of the top regional sights, but then it would also very likely be over-run by tourist crowds. So this is one that travellers should deserve and that we highly recommend as part of a regional itinerary into the gorgeous Southern Alps.
Key positive
The most impressive set of fortifications in the French Alps
Key negative
Irregular visiting hours to the surrounding forts
Suitability
Suitable for all ages. The Cite Vauban is accessible for visitors with reduced mobility, although there are some steep streets, but most of the forts in the surrounding valley are not.
About this Rating
TYPE
Desktop
RESEARCHED IN
June 2024
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:2h
est. visit time:4h
Sunrise / early morningOk
MorningOk
Lunch timeOk
AfternoonOk
Sunset / eveningOk
Night – bef. midnightNo
Night – aft. midnightNo