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Origin and history

The citadel of Longwy was built between 1679 and 1690 by order of the king of France, after annexation of the city by the Treaty of Nijmegen (1678). Trusted to Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban and Choisy, the project involved the destruction of the old Lorrain castle and Longwy-Haut to build a new fortified city on a plateau overlooking the valley of the Chiers. Organised in quadrilaterals around a central square, the hexagonal fortress included a church, an arsenal, eleven barracks and five wells, with two access doors: the Burgundy gate (destroyed in 1914) and the French gate (classified in 1913).

The citadel suffered damage during the bombings of 1914 and 1944, but more than half of its ramparts and bastions (château, du Bourg, Notre-Dame, Saint-Martin) remain intact today. Ranked a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 as a major work by Vauban, it retains defensive elements added between 1730 and 1884, such as glasses from Burgundy and France, or casemates. Subsequent modifications (1822-1958) partially altered its course, including the destruction of the horned structure (1958) and the drilling of roads in the bastions.

Originally, the fortress met a strategic need: to control the northern border of the kingdom after the Dutch War. Vauban applied his principles of offensive/defensive military architecture, with star works and half moons. The site is now home to the Longwy Enamel Museum, which is housed in the former military bakery and bears witness to local artisanal heritage. The original buildings (city hall, barracks, central wells) still illustrate the urban organization designed for an autarchic garrison.

The north and west fronts were dismantled in the 20th century for urban expansion, but the east and south fronts, as well as the French gate (restored in 1859), remain emblematic. The vestiges classified in 1933 (bastions, courtines, work at Cornes) underline the ingenuity of the defensive system, designed to withstand the seats. The dread of the old castle (1789-1792) and the reinforcements of 1827 reflect the continuous adaptations to military developments.

Longwy, a Lorrain city historically disputed between dukes and kings of France, became a territorial lock under Louis XIV thanks to this citadel. His hexagonal plan, eleven barracks and his arsenal made it a model of plain stronghold, distinct from mountain citadels. Partial destruction (1921-1954) did not alter its status as a jewel of the Vaubani heritage, now open to the public and valued for its military history and unique architecture.

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