Tours Vauban, Gate towers in Pfaffenthal, Luxembourg.
Towers Vauban consist of two identical defense structures on opposite banks of the Alzette River, joined by a fortified wall forming a single defense unit. Together they create a substantial barrier controlling the river passage and valley below.
These defense structures were built in 1685 following an assessment by a French military engineer who identified gaps in the city's fortifications. They were constructed to establish permanent control over the river crossing in this valley.
The towers formed part of a defensive system that shaped how the city protected its river crossing and controlled movement through the valley. They stand as visible reminders of how military needs influenced the layout and character of this neighborhood.
Access is available during standard daytime hours, and one structure houses a screening room for documentaries about the neighborhood's past. Plan time to explore both sides of the river and walk along the connecting wall that links them together.
The lower levels contain doorways opening onto a rampart walkway within the fortified wall, creating a passage way directly across the river bed. This reveals how the defense system doubled as a means of transportation across the valley.
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