Discover a masterpiece by Sébastien Vauban. On the Neuf-Brisach city tour, you’ll encounter a truly special gem of early modern fortification history. Neuf-Brisach is a charming little town in Alsace where German and French cultures blend. The walls of the fortified Vauban fortress, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, clearly illustrate just how fierce the struggle between the Habsburg emperors and the French crown was along the Upper Rhine.
Neuf-Brisach owes its existence to the irony of history. After the Thirty Years’ War, (Old) Breisach was expanded—under French leadership and with Vauban’s guidance—into the strongest fortress on the Upper Rhine. But after losing a war at the end of the 17th century, King Louis XIV was forced to return Breisach to the Habsburgs. This was particularly painful for him because it left a gaping hole in his line of fortifications along the Rhine. In addition, within just a few years, Vauban built a new fortress for his king on the banks of the Rhine across from Breisach: Neubreisach—Neuf-Brisach. It was his final work and reflects the great skill of the genius Vauban’s long career; he died just a few years after its completion. On a guided tour of Neuf-Brisach, you’ll learn interesting facts about the construction of the fortress and the lives of the soldiers. But the later history of Neuf-Brisach also plays an important role—not least because of its recurring shifts between German and French sovereignty. And the town’s civilian life also offers many stories that you can discover on a guided tour of Neuf-Brisach.
Place de Porte de Bâle (Google Maps)
On a two-hour walking tour of Neuf-Brisach, you’ll discover:
