Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The ramparts of Seletat, also known as Vauban ramparts, are the remains of a fortified enclosure built in the 17th century. In 1673, after the annexation of Sélestat by France, Louis XIV ordered the destruction of the medieval ramparts and the construction of a modern fortification. Directed by Vauban and Tarade between 1675 and 1691, the work resulted in a enclosure with eight bastions and three doors: Colmar, Brisach and Strasbourg. Most of the structures were destroyed in 1875, but elements still remain today.

The current remains include two bastions (the stronghold of the Manège and the bastion of the Capuchins), connected by a courtine, as well as decorative elements such as the pediment of the Colmar gate, moved on the bastion of the Capuchins. A powderbox, a portion of the half moon of the Brisach Gate and the Strasbourg Gate complete these remains. The stones come mainly from the quarries of Châtenois. Between 1806 and 1829, restorations altered the top of the ramparts and pierced an opening in the south.

Ranked a historic monument in 1947, the ramparts now house a contemporary art work: Meeting point: the dream (1993) of artist Sarkis, installed on the east side, along the Ill. This site illustrates both the military heritage of Vauban and the cultural appropriation of the heritage. The ramparts are located between Quai Albrecht, Boulevard Vauban, and Rue de la Brigade Alsace-Lorraine, south of the city center.

The original enclosure, designed to modernize Selestat's defences, reflected the military strategies of the time, combining strongholds and courtesies to resist seats. Its partial destruction in the 19th century is part of a context of urbanization and declining defensive utility of fortifications. The current remains provide an overview of Vauban's engineering, marked by the use of local materials and subsequent adaptations.

The property of the ramparts belongs to the commune of Sélestat. Their preservation allows to transmit a part of Alsatian history, between French heritage and regional influences. The site, accessible to the public, combines historical heritage and artistic creation, highlighting the diversity of contemporary uses of ancient monuments.

External links