Briancon

Briancon stands at about one thousand three hundred and twenty-six metres, the highest town in France, on a spur commanding the routes to Italy. After the frontier was redrawn in 1713 Vauban designed a complete system here: a walled upper town with gates and bastions, plus separate forts on the surrounding heights, the Trois-Tetes, Randouillet, Salettes and Dauphin, linked by the Asfeld bridge, a single stone arch thrown across a gorge in 1734. It is one of the twelve Vauban sites inscribed by UNESCO in 2008. The walled town, the Cite Vauban, is steep and narrow with a channel of running water down the main street.

What you actually see

• The Cite Vauban - a complete walled upper town with gates and bastions.
• The satellite forts - fortifications on the surrounding heights.
• The Asfeld bridge - a single stone arch across a deep gorge.
• The gargouille - a channel of running water down the main street.

When to go

June to September for walking and the forts; January to March for skiing at Serre Chevalier next door. Passes to the north close in winter, leaving one main approach.

Honest expectations

The Cite is steep and cobbled throughout. The satellite forts are separate and some are only accessible on guided visits. High passes into the area close for months.

Nearby

The Ecrins park lies west; Italy is over the Montgenevre pass.