Citadelle de Strasbourg, Military fortification in Strasbourg, France
Citadelle de Strasbourg is a pentagonal fortress in Strasbourg, France, featuring five bastions and two main gates built according to Vauban's fortification design. The structure includes defense elements and ramparts that remain visible today as you walk along the perimeter.
After France took control of Strasbourg in 1681, engineers Vauban and Tarade directed the fortress construction between 1681 and 1685. It became a key defense installation for the newly acquired territory.
The citadel displays French military engineering and serves as a place where locals walk and spend time outdoors. The pentagonal walls tell of strategic planning and shape the city's character as a green space within the urban area.
You can enter the citadel at Place du Troisième-Régiment-de-Tirailleurs-Algériens, though some areas remain closed due to private restrictions. Check ahead to learn which sections are open during your visit.
A special canal called the Bruche was dug specifically to transport building materials to the construction site. This ambitious project employed over three thousand workers and reveals the enormous effort France invested in building this fortress.
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