New UNESCO site in Poitou Charentes

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Washington/Quebec City - The works of a 17th-century military engineer that helped defend France's western, northern and eastern borders have been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sebastien Le Prestre de Vauban (1633-1707) served under King Louis XIV to design towns, citadels and walls. The series of 13 sites included in the UNESCO nod represent the "finest examples" of his work, the panel said.

 

The locations include towns built from scratch, citadels in the middle of plains, bastions of city walls, mountain and sea forts, a mountain battery and two mountain communication structures.

 

Vauban also contributed to the history of fortification in Europe and as far away as the American continent, Russia and East Asia, the panel said.

 

His work bears "witness to the peak of classic fortifications, typical of western military architecture," the panel said.

The Citadel of St Martin de Re in Poiou Charentes is one of the sites recognised, and it was an important strategic point for protecting the Royal Armouries at Rochefort.  Vauban was brought in to overhaul the defences in 1674, and he re-built them with room to accommodate the 16,000 islanders in a siege situation.  The aerial view of St Martin de Re is of a star shaped town.