Life and biography of Vauban
Sébastien Le Preste Marquis de Vauban was born in 1633 in Saint Léger de Foucheret, in Burgundy. At the age of 18 he began as a cadet in the army. Vauban quickly rose in the service of King Louis XIV, as a military architect.
He build no less than 160 fortified cities, a real “iron belt” all around the Kingdom. Fine strategist, Vauban also led 53 sieges.
Throughout his career, he was constantly on the road to inspect places, dictate his projects, supervise their execution... Which left him little time to enjoy his Château with his wife and daughters in Bazoches (Nièvre), Vauban died in 1707 and is buried on his lands in Burgundy.
The origins of Neuf-Brisach
First of all, it is the “Old Brisach” - Breisach am Rhein, which was built and fortified in the Middle Ages. The city was the best fortress along the Rhine, also a major bridge over the Rhine. In 1661, Louis XIV became aware of the strategic importance of the city. It became a base of operations for the French armies in 1664. The fortification works were then launched by Vauban. He improved, consolidated and strengthened the city which remained French until the Treaty of Ryswick in 1697, where the King returned this stronghold on the right bank of the Rhine to the Austrian crown.
Following his loss, he ordered Vauban in 1698 to find a place that could face Breisach.After some hesitation, Vauban decided to build his stronghold a few kilometres from the Rhine, far enough away to be out of range of the cannons of Breisach.
He presents three projects to the King who chooses the most expensive one. In 1699, Neuf-Brisach was built from scratch, on flat ground. The construction site was entrusted to the engineer of fortifications of Alsace Jacques Tarade. 1500 to 2000 men carried out the work daily. For faster transport of the stones, the engineer decided to dig the Vauban canal, built in 6 months. The Vosges sandstone was then transported by 120 barges. This titanic project, whose story is told at the Vauban Museum, lasted 4 years.
During the wars
The declaration of war on Prussia in 1870 changed the fate of Neuf-Brisach. The city, poorly equipped, is invested. These battles were violent, and more than 6000 shells fell on the city. The city is rebuilt by more than 75% in less than 5 years and will undergo modifications, by the Germans.
The city became French again in 1918 and regained its strategic position. From September 1939, Neuf-Brisach is located in the operational zone of the Maginot Line and the entire civilian population was evacuated. The city was occupied by the Germans in June 1940, became a prison camp where more than 40 French soldiers were transferred. In 1945, the Americans, poorly informed and thinking the city was still occupied, bombed Neuf-Brisach, while the Germans had left. The city was more than 85% destroyed while the fortifications remained intact.
Discover Neuf Brisach
When you arrive, stop at the Tourist Office! A map of the city with a discovery tour is available free of charge. It allows you to visit the city, completely independently and at your own pace. This 1h/1h30 tour route covers 2,4 km. It includes a passage through the city and then around the fortifications. Explanatory panels are present all along the way.
Follow a guided visit of the city, all the historical facts are told to you by Vauban or his wife!
