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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Carignan fortifications, located in the Ardennes department in the Grand Est region, are a collection of military remains built between the 2nd half of the 16th century and the 2nd half of the 17th century. These fortifications belt the old city and consist mainly of courtines, bastions (including the bastions of Gouvion and Bourg, highlighting scauguettes), casemates and an old guard corps. The bastion of Burgundy partially retains its niches, while the door of Burgundy has disappeared, leaving its adjoining guard body to stand. Originally, the ramparts, dated 1681, consisted of 10 strongholds equipped with scaffolds, illustrating an ambitious defensive design for the time.

The whole is inscribed to the historical monuments in two stages: a first protection by decree of 1 December 1988 covers the courtesies, the remaining bastions, their casemates and the guard body of the door of Burgundy. A second decree, dated 26 September 1994, extends this protection to the old ditches surrounding the fortifications. The property is shared between the municipality of Carignan and private owners. The remains, although partially preserved, offer a tangible witness to the military planning of the 16th-17th centuries in this border region.

Located at approximately 93 Hablot Street (code Insee 08090), fortifications are part of a territory marked by historical conflicts, as evidenced by successive defensive developments. Their present state, though fragmentary, makes it possible to study the techniques of fortification of the modern era, including the integration of scaffolds and casemates into the bastions. Available sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum, Merimée base) highlight their heritage value, while indicating an imprecise GPS location (level 5/10).

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