Vestiges of the fortifications of the town of Bitche

The vestiges of the fortifications are located in the Commune Frenchwoman of Bitche and the department of the the Moselle.

History

Mentioned at the 16th century like a palisade, the enclosure of the town of Bitche is built in 1563 by the count of Deux-Ponts - Bitche. During the Winter 1673 - 1674, Turenne takes its districts of Hiver in the Palatinat and comes to visit Bitche. Impressed by the strategic importance of the site, it finishes by convincing Louis XIV to strengthen this point and in 1679, the king load Vauban of this work. Work takes place of 1683 with 1697 and costs the France 2 500 000 pounds of Gold, an enormous sum for the time. The Citadelle is dismantled in 1698 in consequence of the clauses of the Traité of Ryswick which yields the town of Bitche to Léopold I {{er}}, duke of Lorraine. The new frotifications must be shaven and a Régiment originating in the Flandres takes care of this work of the Automne 1697 with the be 1698. In 1701 bursts the War of succession of Spain and, once again, a French Garnison comes to occupy Bitche. The soldiers endeavor at once to rebuild the fortifications built by Vauban and shaven little front time.

In 1735 and 1736 are signed agreements specifying that the duke of Lorraine François Stephan gives up the duchies of Bar and Lorraine to the profit of the king de Pologne in exile Stanislas Leszczyński, whose girl married the king de France Louis XV. The deposed king thus comes to settle with Lunéville and takes the title of duke of Lorraine. In 1738, Louis XV authorizes to rebuild the fortified town of Bitche, integrated into the defensive system of the French Frontière S , under the direction of the Maréchal of Bournay. When this one dies in 1740, it is replaced by a providential man for the town of Bitche, the count de Bombelles. This one puts at the work as of 1741 and when in 1744, the Mercenaire S guerroyant for the Austria approach Bitche, it are pushed back. Work of fortification lasts until in 1765, as the plate indicates it that Louis XV makes pose at the entry citadel. The layout of Vauban is respected and reinforced by other works.

Demolished again 1788 with 1795, it is increased of 1844 with 1852. A ministerial Décret of the February 28th 1850 raises the city with the row of place-strong of first class before the end of work in 1857. After the Franco-German War of 1870, the fortified town of Bitche, far from the Border, does not have any more a strategic value . Its fortifications being adapted to the progress of the Artillery to striped gun, the extremely is downgraded by the German in 1880 and the fortifications are partially demolished by the German of 1872 with 1914. At the be 1984 are put at the day and stopped the vestiges of a Bastion located street of the Général de Gaulle, at the time of the installation of the garden of the Stadtweiher as in 1957 already were put at the day the foundations of two enclosing walls of 1844, cutting the way of the Moulin S. the vestiges of the fortifications are registered with the topographic inventory of the area Lorraine.

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