Louis XIV -- the Sun King -- ordered that fortresses be built at the edges of his kingdom. The Citadel at Blaye was completed in 1689, at a wide section of the Gironde Estuary.
A wide moat surrounds the fortifications.
The citadel was designed by Vauban, the king's lead engineer, who designed many other fortifications in France. The citadel's role was to protect the city of Bordeaux, 50 kilometers upstream, from enemy attacks. The Vauban fortifications have been a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008.
3 comments:
Lovely to see these ancient fortifications. They are now of historic interest.
Fascinating post and lovely photos. Your blog header is beautiful.
Nice bit of history to walk through.
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