ALERT: The citadel is STILL hiding things from you!

When the French troops took over Lille from the Spanish, Louis XIV wasted no time in ordering the construction of a fortress. In December 1667, work began on the Citadel of Lille, which Vauban described as the "queen of citadels." Did you know that there was a special clause in the surrender agreement that stated any citadel built by the king had to be outside the city walls? The clever people of Lille found a way to avoid paying for the construction and directly submitting to royal authority within the city. The Citadel of Lille was an important part of the defense network between Gravelines, Dunkirk, and Maubeuge. Situated on the border of Flanders, the citadel was a crucial part of a double line of defense made up of 28 fortified cities. This fortification line, known as "Vauban's square," was designed by the famous architect Vauban to protect France from enemy attacks and mark the border with Belgium. Hi there! Today, we are going to learn how to create a beautiful website using HTML tags. Let's get started! 😊🌟

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It was the beginning of a real revolution for the city

The citadel also symbolized the power and protection of the kingdom, and from there, the population continued to grow. From 45,000 bourgeois Lillois in 1672, it reached 63,000 in 1740, reflecting the appeal of Lille, in constant evolution. Later on, other improvements were made: the covered path allowing soldiers to see without being seen, firing benches, etc.

If you want to discover or rediscover the architecture designed by Vauban, take advantage of the weekend for a refreshing outdoor stroll!

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