Tour Vauban
Encyclopedia
The Tour Vauban initially known as the tour de Camaret, is an 18m-high polygonal defensive tower built to a plan by Vauban
on the Sillon at Camaret-sur-Mer
, as part of the fortifications of the goulet de Brest
. It has three levels and is flanked by walls, a guardhouse and a gun battery which can hold 11 cannons as well as a cannon-ball foundry added in the French Revolution
period.
Drafted in 1683, the tower was designed in 1689 by Vauban and construction was supervised by the military engineer Jean-Pierre Traverse from 1693 to completion in 1696. The 11 cannons in the battery are believed to have been forged with those for the battery on pointe du Grand Gouin
, for the Quélern
defensive-lines and the many neighbouring batteries. In the French victory in the battle of Camaret on 18 June 1694, the battery and its two guard houses were only armed with nine 24-pounder cannon and three mortar
s firing 30 cm balls.
Camaret-sur-Mer is a member of the network of major Vauban sites
. Since 7 July 2008 the tour Vauban and 11 other sites have been classed as a World Heritage Site
.
Vauban
Sébastien Le Prestre, Seigneur de Vauban and later Marquis de Vauban , commonly referred to as Vauban, was a Marshal of France and the foremost military engineer of his age, famed for his skill in both designing fortifications and breaking through them...
on the Sillon at Camaret-sur-Mer
Camaret-sur-Mer
Camaret-sur-Mer is a commune in the Finistère department in northwestern France, located at the end of Crozon peninsula.-Sights:Camaret-sur-Mer is home to the Tour Vauban or Tour dorée , a historic fortification guarding the harbor and built in 1669-94...
, as part of the fortifications of the goulet de Brest
Goulet de Brest
The Goulet de Brest is a 3 km long strait linking the roadstead of Brest to the Atlantic Ocean. Only 1.8 km wide, it is situated between the Pointe du Petit Minou and the Pointe du Portzic to the north and the îlot des Capucins and the Pointe des Espagnols to the south.At each turn of...
. It has three levels and is flanked by walls, a guardhouse and a gun battery which can hold 11 cannons as well as a cannon-ball foundry added in the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
period.
Drafted in 1683, the tower was designed in 1689 by Vauban and construction was supervised by the military engineer Jean-Pierre Traverse from 1693 to completion in 1696. The 11 cannons in the battery are believed to have been forged with those for the battery on pointe du Grand Gouin
Pointe du Grand Gouin
The pointe du Grand Gouin is a rocky promontory with vertical cliffs to the west of the inlet of Camaret-sur-Mer. It protects a port which, in Vauban's era, was vulnerable to possible landings...
, for the Quélern
Quélern
Quélern is a hamlet in Roscanvel, in the department of Finistère , in western France.-Fortified lines:The Quélern lines defended the entrance to the goulet de Brest against capture from behind the defences of the Roscanvel peninsula. They are 1.22 km long and form the only surviving non-urban...
defensive-lines and the many neighbouring batteries. In the French victory in the battle of Camaret on 18 June 1694, the battery and its two guard houses were only armed with nine 24-pounder cannon and three mortar
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
s firing 30 cm balls.
Camaret-sur-Mer is a member of the network of major Vauban sites
Fortifications of Vauban
Fortifications of Vauban consists of 12 groups of fortified buildings and sites along the western, northern and eastern borders of France. They were designed by Vauban , and were added in 2008 to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites....
. Since 7 July 2008 the tour Vauban and 11 other sites have been classed as a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.