SISTERON CITADEL
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A citadel in Sisteron offering children an age-appropriate game trail to discover the monument.
Between the ancient counties of Provence and Dauphiné, the Citadel stands out high in the sky and controlled the passage into the Durance valley below thanks to its walls, bastions and keep. It overlooks the town of Sisteron from the top of the rock that bears it. Of its first inhabitants, the Sogiontii, a small people of the powerful Voconces federation that Augustus subjugated in 27 BC, and of their oppidum, no trace remains. The Roman castrum that was built afterwards was no more fortunate.
From the5th to the 17th century, the city of Sisteron was constantly under attack, hence the decision, taken in 1372 by the City Council, to protect it with a wall, adorned with powerful towers. But the Wars of Religion ravaged Provence and the town was reduced to ashes. So Jehan Erard, military engineer to Henri IV, undertook reconstruction work from 1590 to 1597 by devising a system of sawtooth fortifications. These works were perfected by Vauban in 1692. Much later, the Citadel was damaged by bombing on 15 August 1944.
Nowadays, the Citadel has been admirably restored and invites you to visit it through its audio tour which tells its prestigious history in six different languages. A game trail is available for children, allowing them to discover the monument through riddles adapted to their age. A museum also brings it to life, with one room evoking Napoleon's return from Elba.
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Vue imprenables sur la Haute Provence au sud et le Dauphiné au nord !