Thursday, July 17, 2025

Latest:

Top.Flanders - The top of what tourist Flanders has to offer

The photographically most beautiful and interesting places of French, West and Zeelandic Flanders

360°Historical sites Park Topper UNESCO

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Vauban fortifications

May 16, 20252249 Views Ypres, West Flanders 2 min read

Vauban' s fortifications consist 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 to King Louis XIV. Several of his works can be viewed in our region, including the fortresses of Ypres. See also our pages on the fortified town of Bergues or for example Fort Vauban, both in northern France. Gravelines and Montreuil-sur-Mer also have beautiful fortress walls.

Indication of the location of Lille Gate on the tourist map of Top.Flanders.
Indication of the location of Fort Vauban on the tourist map of Top.Flanders.
Indication of the location of Montreuil-sur-Mer on the tourist map of Top.Flanders.
Indication of the location on Google Maps: Ypres, Bergues, Montreuil-sur-Mer, Grevelingen ...
UNESCO web site
Info on Vauban fortifications on Wikipedia
Info on Fortress cities on Wikipedia

360° photo of the Ypres Fortifications - Lille Gate
Google Maps.

360° photo of the Ypres fortifications - near the Youth Stadium

360° photo of one of the towers in Bergues

Detail of one of the stairs of the Ypres fortifications

The Ypres Fortress is also particularly attractive as a park area.

When it freezes hard enough, as it did most recently during the winter of 2009, the Ypres fortresses freeze completely shut and skating is possible.

When snow falls, the Ypres fortifications are particularly photogenic (photo taken near 't islet).