Longwy, Fortified commune in Meurthe-et-Moselle, France
Longwy is a fortified commune in Meurthe-et-Moselle in northeastern France sitting at 254 meters elevation near the borders with Luxembourg and Belgium. The town layout divides into Longwy-Haut on the plateau and Longwy-Bas in the valley along the Chiers river.
Following the Treaties of Nijmegen in 1678, Louis XIV commissioned military architect Vauban to fortify this location into a strategic stronghold. The town layout emerged in subsequent years following a strict geometric plan with bastions and casemates.
The production of faience ceramics began here in 1798 and developed a particular technique with enamel colors still visible in local workshops today. This pottery tradition continues to shape the townscape with its characteristic colorful patterns.
The local railway station connects travelers through regular train services to larger cities such as Luxembourg, Charleville-Mézières and Nancy. The upper town area can be reached by stairs or by roads climbing the hillside.
The new town on the plateau received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2008 for its military fortifications from the reign of Louis XIV. This geometric town layout is considered particularly well preserved among Vauban fortresses in Europe.
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