September 08, 2009

Vauban - Between 1667 and 1707, Vauban upgraded the fortifications of around 300 cities in France, and some of his finest work is on the World Heritage list.
  • Wouldn't it be great to be allowed to go round designing huge fortifications- though probably the novelty wore off after the first 100. He sounds a sensible bloke - opposing the revocation of the Edict of Nantes and advocating radical tax reform. If they'd listened there might never have been a Revolution...
  • These are absolutely amazing. I want to visit every one of them--and live in one. (with my own private army, preferably)
  • Although he never crossed the Atlantic, Vauban was also involved in the design of French fortresses in Canada. The fortress at Louisbourg incorporated his design principles as did La Citadelle of Quebec City, which is part of a World Heritage site itself.
  • There's a big citadelle on the edge of Lille. The entire quartier is called Vauban. Now I know why :-)
  • I need this guy as a Great Engineer in Civ IV.
  • ++ briank BlueHorse - flying deadly attack Horned Toads surely, dropping clogged Thomas Friedmans (hmmm, what else is on the sidebar...) oh yeah, lead by Generalissimo Bigfoot.
  • I could use this guy for some landscape upgrades. My yard isn't nearly secure enough.