Sedan, Medieval fortress city in Ardennes, France
Sedan is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France, close to the Belgian border. The town spreads over several hills along the Meuse and is dominated by a fortress.
The fortress was built from 1424 onward and secured a strategic position at the border for centuries. In 1870, a decisive battle between France and Prussia took place here.
The name comes from the Latin Sedo and refers to a settlement area along the river. Inhabitants call themselves Sedanais and maintain a memory culture around past battles and wars.
The A203 motorway and regional trains connect the town with Paris and other cities in the north. The center and fortress can be explored on foot or by local buses.
The fortress extends across seven floors and is considered the largest medieval structure of its kind in Europe. Its dimensions reach an area of more than 30,000 square meters (323,000 square feet).
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