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Origin and history

The bastion du Petit-Haut is a former defensive military structure located in the commune of Châtillon-sur-Seine, Côte-d'Or. Built in 1671, it is part of the fortifications of the city, originally dating back to the twelfth century. These fortifications were gradually dismantled after the French Revolution, but some elements, such as this bastion, survived. The bastion has a prominent angle of rampart, pierced with skylights and surmounted by a scauguette overlooking the Seine bed.

The bastion of the Petit-Haut is part of the latest major evolution of the fortifications of Châtillon-sur-Seine, which initially included two independent enclosures built in the 12th century around the neighborhoods of Chaumont and Bourg. In the 17th century, changes and the construction of bastions, including that of the Petit-Haut, strengthened these defences. After the Revolution, most fortifications were destroyed, but this bastion, inscribed as a historic monument on December 12, 1925, remains a testimony of this military history.

The bastion is located on Rue Saint-Jean, in the Bourg district, and bears the date of 1671 engraved on its structure. Today it is a private property, but its inscription to historical monuments in 1925 allowed its preservation. Other remains of the fortifications, such as the Dijonnaise gate or the Saint-Christophe tower, also remain in the city, recalling its defensive past and its strategic importance over the centuries.

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