Vauban forts at the World heritage of the Humanity |
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Collection title
JT soir Marseille
First broadcast date
07/07/2008
Abstract
The forts of Briançon and Mont-Dauphin, designed by Vauban, are now listed as World heritage of humanity by UNESCO. This classification will result in an additional tourist frequentation, of which the President of General Concil of Hautes-Alpes and the mayor of the small town - 140 inhabitants - of Mont-Dauphin rejoiced themselves.
Production companies
-
France 3 - Own production
Personalities
- Dusserre Jean-Yves
- Fiorletta Gil
Primary theme
Architecture
Secondary themes
- Historical heritages
- Tourism and cultural sites / Tourist sites
Credits / Cast
- Miara Paul-Serge - Journalist
Map locations
- France - South East - Briançon
- France - South East - Mont-Dauphin
Context
Mediterranean Landmarks
On the 7th of July, 2008, the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), convened in Quebec City, has registered twelve of the fourteen sites of the Major Vauban Sites Network, on the List of the World Heritage of Humanity. Among these sites, two are located in the High Alps, Briancon and Mont-Dauphin. Since the Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage adopted in 1972, the UNESCO has worked on selecting exceptional sites on the basis of ten criteria, one of which - providing an outstanding example of a type of building or an architectural or technological ensemble or a landscape which illustrates one or many significant stage(s) in the human history – that entirely corresponds to the work of Vauban. Briancon and Mont-Dauphin are added to two other sites selected in the region of Provence Alps French Riviera, the ancient theater and the Triumphal Arch of Orange and historic center of Avignon, around the Palace of the Popes, added respectively in 1981 and 1995.
Briancon, sub-prefecture of the High-Alps, perched at 1326 meters above the sea level, is known to be the highest town in Europe. Border town, at the foot of the Col de Montgenevre, it is located in a disputed area between the kingdom of Piedmont and the Kingdom of France, and also well known for its fortified Upper Town and the fortifications which crown the heights. This unique ensemble holds the fingerprints of Vauban (1633-1707) who had submitted his Structure Project to be implemented on the city and the castle of Briancon, on the 22nd of November 1692. The fortified constructions developed by Vauban aimed at protecting the kingdom of Louis XIV, whose war enterprises were taking a critical and sometimes devastating turn. Vauban returned to Briancon in 1700, where the border was still close to the city. The upper town and the Fort of Salettes date back to his era, while other constructions are posterior. Since 1721, during thirteen years, the Marquis of Asfeld, his successor who served as a director general of the fortifications in France, has built a strong barrier, that to say six structures "at Vauban" (Forts des Trois-Têtes, the Randouillet, Dauphin, Anjou, Redoute du Point du Jour, Communication Y and Asfeld bridge). These fortifications were classified among the Historical Monuments between 1979 and 1989. Since 1978, the association "Le Club du Vieux Manoir" took charge of the restoration of the Fort Salettes (see restoration of Fort Salettes Briancon). The restoration was intensified starting 1987. The city has been awarded the title "Cities and Countries of Art and History" in 1990.
The fortress of Mont-Dauphin, at the mouth of the valley of the Guil (the Queyras), was built according to the plans of Vauban in 1693. Intermittently occupied by different troops, and regularly used to temporarily housing refugees, it was restored by the army in December 1965 and classified as "historical monument" in October 18, 1966. While paving the way for the candidacy of Vauban at the UNESCO, the sites, including those of the High-Alps, had celebrated the "Year Vauban" in 2007. Thus, this classification is crowning a collective and long-term work. It adds an additional asset to the tourism which falls within the main income sources.
Bibliography:
ROUTIER Jacqueline, Briançon throughout history, (Briançon à travers l'histoire) Gap, Research Company of the High-Alps, 1997, 563 p.
BODIN Bertrand and BRUNO Corinne, Briançon : Vauban and his footprint,( Briançon : Vauban et son empreinte) Grenoble, Libris, 2006, 95 p.
