A few kilometers from Colmar, in the heart of the Alsace plain, Neuf-Brisach surprises with its perfect geometry. Built in 1699 by Vauban, engineer of Louis XIV, this fortified town listed as a Unesco World Heritage is a unique example of military architecture.
Here, everything has been meticulously planned: a star plan, monumental ramparts, streets laid out with perfect precision. Walking through Neuf-Brisach is like stepping into a an ideal city imagined more than 300 years ago.
The Place d'Armes and its fountain
The city is organized on a checkerboard plan of 48 islands. In the exact center of the city, the Place d'Armes structures the entire plan. It occasionally hosts events and activities throughout the year.
Even today, you can still find the main military buildings.
The Royal Church of Saint Louis
All of Vauban's fortresses were equipped with a Catholic Church. In principle, every soldier was required to attend Sunday service.
Imposing and understated it testifies to the military and rational character of the city. Its reconstruction after the Second World War respected the original spirit.
The ramparts and the star-shaped plan
The tour of the fortifications allows you to understand the whole ingenuity of the defensive system. From the bastions, the view opens onto the Rhine plain and reveals the perfect star shape of the city.
On foot or on a bike, the walk along the ramparts is a must-see during your visit!
The gates and defensive structures
Unique example of Vauban's 3rd defense system, designed with the aim of delaying the enemy's approach as much as possible. The defensive principle of Neuf-Brisach is based on a main security enclosure equipped with 8 fortified towers and curtain walls. The second enclosure, known as the combat zone, includes defensive structures such as the counterguards, pincers, and half-moons.
The city has 4 gates named: Belfort, Strasbourg, Basel, and Colmar. They indicate the directions of these major cities. All were drawn by Jules Hardouin-Mansart.
Museums
The MAUSA Vauban is a museum of Urban Art and Street Art of nearly 1200m2. It is located in former casemates (vaulted tunnels). Internationally renowned urban artists have taken turns covering the walls with modern works.
The Vauban Museum housed in the Belfort Gate presents the history and architecture of the town of Neuf-Brisach. A sound-enhanced relief map explains the defensive system.
How to visit Neuf-Brisach ?
Several tour options are available to you!
- Self-guided tour with the discovery tour, our detailed city map is available free of charge at the Our Tourist Office
- De playful way, with our Escape Game surrounded by nature and our treasure hunts for young and old
- Do you prefer a comprehensive exploration and like to ask questions? Follow our guides during the guided tours !
A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Neuf-Brisach is one of the 12 major sites of the Vauban fortification network listed by UNESCO.
This ranking recognizes:
- The exceptional quality of the defensive system
- The remarkable state of preservation of the ramparts
- The universal value of the model imagined by Vauban
In Alsace, Neuf-Brisach is the most spectacular and the most readable Vauban site.
