Vauban and military architecture

Vauban and military architecture in Les Plus Beaux Villages de France

Watchtowers, ramparts, forts, bastions: these are typical defensive features of military architecture, of which Vauban – whilst not the sole architect – is probably the most illustrious exponent.

As Louis XIV’s military architect, Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban (1633–1707) applied his strategic genius both to structures built from scratch and to pre-existing fortification systems. He left his mark on military architecture far beyond Europe, a distinctive style that can be found in some of our Les Plus Beaux Villages de France.

Other defensive styles are also worth exploring in this section for enthusiasts of the genre!