Visit Alsace Rhin Brisach

Vauban created Neuf-Brisach in 1699, his ideal city.

It was an opportunity for this great engineer to show off his defensive genius. The fortifications, which are still intact, are freely accessible. Here's what you can discover!

The must-see places to visit in Neuf-Brisach

The Place d'Armes and its fountain

The city is organized on a grid plan of 48 blocks. The Place d'Armes which is located in its center served as a training and parade ground for the military.

The main military buildings can still be found there today. The fountain served as a reservoir in case of fire and as a watering place for horses. The 4 wells built at the 4 corners of the Square provided drinking water to the inhabitants.

Our guided tours

Are you intrigued by this star-shaped city located in the Alsace plain?

Take a guided tour accompanied by a guide in period costume. Vauban, his wife and other characters... tell you the history of the town of Neuf-Brisach and its fortifications.

End your visit by going through one of the city's bastioned towers, which is inaccessible to the public, but your guide has the keys to!

The arsenal

It served as both a warehouse and a repair shop for weapons. On the first floor were stored rifles, bladed weapons and ammunition. The ground floor was occupied by gun carriages, wheels, cannonball oven, etc.

Suzonni Barracks

Vauban invented the principle of barracks, to separate civilians from the military who until then had been housed in the homes of the inhabitants. He planned 4 of them, all located on the edge of the rampart. Each was named after a distinguished officer: Suzonni, Serano, Berckheim, Abatucci. They could house two infantry regiments and two cavalry regiments (3 of them still present).

The governor's office

The building housed the apartments of the Governor of the Fortress. This is where the soldiers' recruitment office was located. Today it houses the Tourist Office.

City Hall

This building was made of half brick and half wood. Just like it was then, the square now houses the city's markets.

The Royal Church of Saint Louis

All of Vauban's strongholds had a Catholic church, and every soldier was in principle required to attend Sunday service. Built in 1731, its bell tower served as an observation post. Destroyed in 1945, it was restored over the next 30 years and rebuilt identically.

The Belfort Gate and the Vauban Museum

The city has 4 named gates: Belfort - Strasbourg - Basel and Colmar. They indicate the directions of these large cities. All were designed by Jules Hardouin Mansart. The one in Belfort houses the Vauban Museum. It presents the history and architecture of the city of Neuf-Brisach. At the foot of the stairs leading to the ramparts, there is a barge. It was used to transport stones on the Rhine during works on the river. Sculpted by Helmut Lutz (German sculptor), it currently serves as a stage area.

The MAUSA Vauban

The MAUSA Vauban is a museum of Urban Art and Street Art of nearly 1200m2. It is located in old casemates (vaulted tunnels). Internationally renowned urban artists have succeeded one another to cover the walls with modern works.

Climb the pincer, observe the defensive system

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 with 8 bastioned towers and curtain walls. The second enclosure, known as the combat enclosure, includes defensive works such as counterguards, tenailles and half-moons.

The "American hole"

This is a shell trace from 1945. The Americans thought the city was occupied by the Germans and bombed the inside of the city. The city was free at that time, and they could accessed the fortifications but fired a 10-meter shot on the wall. Why that? Well... they wanted to check if the walls were strong enough... we will let you be the judge!

The Colmar Gate

This Gate has changed its function several times. First a bakery and kitchen for the army. It was transformed into a police station and prison by the Germans. The upper floor also served as a casino for the German garrison.