La Mothe-en-Bassigny

A citadel of the Duchy of Lorraine, La Mothe-en-Bassigny was built up over centuries to fight back intermittent waves of French invaders, by whose hands it was besieged in 1634 leading to its surrender, temporary return to the Duke, three further sieges and ordered destruction in 1645.

In the 17th century, the Duke of Lorraine Charles IV lost all his possessions to cardinal Richelieu except La Mothe.

Contrary to the agreement, Mazarin destroyed not only the fortifications, but the entire city.

French authorities, conscious of this, divided as France into its departments so that La Mothe forms a projection of Haute-Marne.

The ruins were classified as an "historical monument" in 1923 and large-scale restoration work was undertaken.