Three centuries ago, Briançon – situated at the confluence of five river valleys – was highly vulnerable to attack by France's Alpine arch-rival of the era, the Duchy of Savoy. Under Louis XIV and his successors, vast effort was expended on constructing hilltop fortresses to defend the remote town, marvels of military engineering that, along with a dozen other Vauban sites in France, were given Unesco World Heritage status in 2008.
Perched atop a rocky crag high above the Cité Vauban, the Fort du Château (1326m) can be visited on foot from late April to November. Across the 55m-high Pont d’Asfeld (erected 1720), a graceful stone bridge over the River Durance, Fort des Trois Têtes (1435m) can be seen on a walking tour in the warm season and on snowshoes in winter (€25; most Thursdays at 1.50pm). Also accessible on foot and by snowshoes is Fort des Salettes (1400m).
For details on tours, contact the Service du Patrimoine , inside the Cité Vauban's main gate.
