Briançon is one of the highest cities in Europe. It lies in the Alps at an altitude of 1350 m above sea level and is a well-known ski and tourist center. It is famous for perfectly preserved fortifications designed in the 17th century by Sebastian de Vauban.
Due to its strategic location, the settlement in the place of today's Briançon was fortified in Roman times. In the Middle Ages, the city was surrounded by walls, but the most important works were carried out in the second half of the 17th century under the direction of the famous Sebastian de Vauban. A bastion fortress was built with forts scattered around the surrounding mountains. Briançon fortifications are on the UNESCO list.
The vast majority of the seventeenth century fortifications have survived to this day. The main part of the city is the Vauban Briançon Fortress, within which there is the historic church of the Virgin Mary, stone houses and steep, narrow streets. In the vicinity you can also visit several forts, such as Fort des Têtes, Fort du Randouillet, Fort Salettes and Fort Dauphin. Due to their location, they are good vantage points of the area.
The area around Briançon is conducive to active tourism. You can ski here and in the summer walk in the mountains. There are many hiking trails here, and in recent years a network of bicycle routes has also developed.
