Belfort, Administrative division in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France
Belfort is a town in northeastern France nestled between the Vosges mountains and the Swiss border. The 17th-century citadel rises above the old town and provides sweeping views over the surrounding plain and hills.
The town remained French after the Franco-Prussian War, while Alsace-Lorraine was ceded to Germany. The territory gained status as a standalone department in 1922.
The red sandstone lion was carved between 1875 and 1880 by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and commemorates the defense of the town during the siege from 1870 to 1871. This monumental lion measures 22 meters (72 feet) in length and 11 meters (36 feet) in height, dominating the hillside beneath the citadel.
The citadel sits on a hill above the old town and can be reached through several paths and staircases. Visitor centers and orientation panels are located at the base of the climb and around the main square.
The citadel was designed by Vauban, the famed military architect of Louis XIV, and served for centuries as a frontier fortress against Habsburg territories. Its star-shaped outer walls remain largely intact today and are open for walks.
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