Set off to explore the ramparts and forts of Toul and its surroundings! (Re)discover the long military history of the region, a strategic crossroads of numerous battles…
Toul: fortified city since antiquity
Because of its strategic situation at the heart of western Europe and its singular topography, Toul was continuously fortified for centuries. Stroll along the city ramparts and discover that astonishing defence system, that shows Vauban’s (17th c.) and Général Séré-de-Rivières’ (1870) ingenuity.
One of the biggest strongholds in the world in the 20th century!
At the end of the 19th century, the Général Séré-de-Rivières began reinforcing the French defence system by building a set of modern forts that would prove to be useful during WWI, before being abandoned in favor of the Maginot Line during WWII. The system gathers no fewer than 15 forts around Toul, which means it was one of the biggest strongholds in the world in the 20th century! Some of these forts can be visited.