Neuf-Brisach

Visit Neuf-Brisach, Alsace

Neuf-Brisach is a fortified town 18km south-east of Colmar in the Haut-Rhin department of the Alsace region, close to the Rhine River. It is best known as being a masterpiece of military design by Vauban.

Vaubans fortifications and Neuf-Brisach

The defensive layout of Neuf-Brisach is best understood from the aerial photo (above) which clearly shows the octagonal layout of the town, with its borders heavily fortified with two further rings of fortifications (the inner ring is octagonal while the outer defences are in the form of an eight-pointed star, and yet more regular fortifications outside the 'star'.

The town was designed by the renowned military engineer Vauban, under Louis XIV, in order to defend the border from Hapsburg, and built starting in 1698 - there was previously no town at all in the location, which was intended to replace the town of Vieux-Brisach which had recently been lost to the Hapsburgs as part of a peace treaty signed in 1697.

Work on the defences was complete by 1702 and the buildings in the town were constructed over the following 40 years.

It was to be a long time until Neuf-Brisach was to see military action, with the Prussian invasion of 1870 - the French troops here were unable to prevent the Prussians from advancing, and the occupying Germans subsequently linked the town with an important bridge across the Rhine nearby. The town was also damaged during the Second World War (and subsequently repaired).

It is the unusual, carefully planned, design that is of foremost interest in the town - it is unusual to see a town so carefully planned unless we look back to the 13th century bastide towns of south-west France, and is considered to be one of Vauban's greatest achievements.

Consequently Neuf-Brisach is a magnet for historians and engineers as much as tourists. Vauban enthusiasts will also want to visit the small museum in the town (Porte de Belfort, open may to september only).

Neuf-Brisach town

The town itself is pleasant to explore, much less 'military' than you might expect and centred around the large Place d'Armes which occupies a large open area in the centre of the town.

Around the square you can see the 18th century town much as it was originally built, with the town hall and the church among the main monuments of interest, and lots of other interesting houses and architectural features in the surrounding streets.

If possible visit Neuf-Brisach on a saturday morning when the market is held in the main square.

The neighbouring town, across the Rhine river in Germany, is called Alt-Breisach (or Vieux-Brisach in French.

Note: aerial photo is copyright.

Suggested places to visit near Neuf-Brisach, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Ungersheim 23km; Riquewihr 24km; Kaysersberg 24km; Hunawihr 24km; Bergheim 24km; Ribeauville 25km; Ottmarsheim 26km; Guebwiller 27km; Soultz-Haut-Rhin 27km; Selestat 27km; Kintzheim 28km; Chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg 29km; Munster 29km; Murbach 30km; Ebersmunster 33km; Mulhouse 33km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Neuf-Brisach

Neuf-Brisach tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Marckolsheim - ville fleurie 4* (16km) : Parc du domaine de Schoppenwihr - remarkable garden (21km) : Soultzmatt - ville fleurie 4* (23km) : Parc de la Marseillaise - remarkable garden (27km) : Parc du château de Kintzheim - remarkable garden (28km) : Sausheim - ville fleurie 4* (28km) : Diebolsheim - ville fleurie 4* (32km) : Parc botanique de Mulhouse - remarkable garden (34km) :

French version: see Neuf-Brisach (Francais)