Fortifications of Vauban
Cultural
1283
2008
Cultural
Description
Fortifications of Vauban consists of 12 groups of fortified buildings and sites along the western, northern and eastern borders of France. They represent the finest examples of the work of Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban (1633-1707), a military engineer of King Louis XIV. The serial property includes towns built from scratch by Vauban, citadels, urban bastion walls and bastion towers. There are also mountain forts, sea forts, a mountain battery and two mountain communication structures. This property is inscribed as bearing witness to the peak of classic fortifications, typical of western military architecture. Vauban also played a major role in the history of fortification in Europe and on other continents until the mid-19th century.
Inscription details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| WHS ID | 1283 |
| Inscribed | 2008 |
| Category | Cultural |
| Criteria | (i)(ii)(iv) |
| State party | France |
| Transboundary | No |
| French name | Fortifications de Vauban |
Protected monuments
| Monument | Commune | Protected |
|---|---|---|
| Eglise paroissiale Saint-Martin | Maillé | 1962 |
| Ancien couvent des Ursulines | Tours | 1941 |
| Moulin Boutard de La Membrolle-sur-Choisille | La Membrolle-sur-Choisille | 1951 |
| Hôtel particulier de Baugé | Baugé | 1991 |
| Maison de Richelieu | Richelieu | 1932 |
| Restes du château de Neuvy-Saint-Sépulchre | Neuvy-Saint-Sépulchre | 1939 |
| Maison du 15e siècle dite Maison Saint-Martin | Vendôme | 1923 |
| Château du Fresne de Auverse | Auverse | 1999 |
| Temple de la Fortune (ruines) | Jublains | 1912 |
| Usines de porcelaine Gaucher et Vincent-Blin | Vierzon | 1999 |
| Logis du Fief Mignoux | Saint-Maurice-des-Noues | 1996 |
| Château de Huillé | Huillé | 1975 |
| Parc et maison de la Bizolière | Savennières | 2022 |
| Eglise paroissiale Saint-Pierre | Villiers-au-Bouin | 1994 |
| Préfecture de la Vendée | La Roche-sur-Yon | 1991 |
Loire appellations
| Appellation | Avg score | Reviews | Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sancerre | 89.3 | 554 | White |
| Muscadet Sèvre et Maine | 88.6 | 237 | White |
| Pouilly-Fumé | 89.6 | 153 | White |
| Vouvray | 88.4 | 153 | White |
| Touraine | 86.3 | 85 | White |
| Chinon | 88.7 | 72 | Red |
| Menetou-Salon | 87.3 | 69 | White |
| Crémant de Loire | 87.5 | 54 | Sparkling |
| Val de Loire | 85.6 | 41 | White |
| Saumur | 88.4 | 40 | White |
| Anjou | 87.6 | 36 | White |
| Rosé d'Anjou | 84 | 35 | Rosé |
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Updated: April 14, 2026.