BRIANçON

'Briançon' (Latin: 'Brigantium') is a town and commune in the French ''département'' of Hautes-Alpes (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur), of which it is the ''sous-préfecture''. At 1,350 meters it is the second highest city in Europe after Davos. It is built on a plateau which dominates the junction of the Durance with the Guisane.

Contents

History

Sights

Miscellaneous

Natives of Briançon

Twin Towns

Sport

The Tour de France

References

External links

History

Briançon was the ''Brigantium'' of the Romans and formed part of the kingdom of King Cottius. Brigantium was marked as the the first place in Gallia after Alpis Cottia (Mont Genèvre). At Brigantium the road branched, to the west through Grenoble to Vienna (modern Vienne), on the Rhone; to the south through Ebrodunum (modern Embrun), to Vapincum (modern Gap). Both the Antonine Itinerary and the Table give the route from Brigantium to Vapincum. The Table places Brigantium 6 M.P. from Alpis Cottia. Strabo (iv.) mentions the village Brigantium, and on a road to the Alpis Cottia, but his words are obscure. Ptolemy mentions Brigantium as within the limits of the Segusini, or people of Segusio (modern Susa), in Piedmont; but it seems, as D'Anville observes, to be beyond the natural limits of the Segusini. Walckenaer (vol. i. p. 540) justifies Ptolemy in this matter by supposing that he follows a description of Italy made before the new divisions of Augustus, which we know from Pliny. Walckenaer also supports his justification of Ptolemy by the Jerusalem Itinerary, which makes the Alpes Cottiae commence at Rama (near modern La Roche-de-Rame) between Embrun and Briançon.
About 1040 it came into the hands of the counts of Albon (later dauphins of the Viennois) and thenceforth shared the fate of the Dauphiné. The Briançonnais included not merely the upper valley of the Durance (with those of its affluents, the Gyronde and the Guil), but also the valley of the Dora Riparia (Césanne, Oulx, Bardonnèche and Exilles), and that of the Chisone (Fénestrelles, Pérouse, Pragelas)—these glens all lying on the eastern slope of the chain of the Alps. But by the treaty of Utrecht (1713) all these valleys were handed over to Savoy in exchange for that of Barcelonnette, on the west slope of the Alps. In 1815 Briançon successfully withstood a siege of three months at the hands of the Allies, a feat which is commemorated by an inscription on one of its gates, ''Le passé répond de l'avenir''.

Sights

The historical center is a strongly fortified town, built by Vauban to defend the region from Austrians in the 17th century. Its streets are very steep and narrow, though picturesque. Briançon lies at the foot of the descent from the Mont Genèvre Pass, giving access to Turin, so a great number of other fortifications have been constructed on the heights around it, especially towards the east. The Fort Janus is no less than 4000 ft. above the town.
The parish church, with its two towers, was built 1703-1726, and occupies a very conspicuous position.
The Pont d'Asfeld, east of the town, was built in 1734, and forms an arch of 131 ft. span, thrown at a height of 184 ft. across the Durance.
The modern town extends in the plain at the southwest foot of the plateau on which the old town is built and forms the suburb of Ste Catherine.
Briançon is located close to the Parc National des Ecrins.

Miscellaneous

Natives of Briançon

★ Oronce Fine (1494-1555), mathematician and cartographer

★ Luc Alphand (born 1965), professional alpine skier, won world cup (overall title) in 1997; won French Paris-Dakar as race driver in 2006

★ Starting with Jacques Challiol, members of the Challiol family served as the Vice Bailiffs of the region of Briançonnais for more than 400 years.

Twin Towns

Briançon is twinned with:

★ - Rosenheim, Germany

★ - Susa, Italy

Sport

★ Briançon Alpes Provence Hockey Club

The Tour de France

Briançon has featured regularly as a stage start or finish in the Tour de France and is thus a popular base for cyclists. Since 1947, the town has been the start point for a stage of the tour 22 times, and has also been the stage finish 22 times.
In 2007, the town was the finish of the 159.5 km stage 9 on 17 July from Val-d'Isère crossing the Col de l'Iseran, the Col du Télégraphe and the Col du Galibier with a 37 km downhill finish in Briançon.

References

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External links

★ About the city of Briancon (in French & German)

★ Tourist office website

★ Unofficial town website

★ Webpage about the fortifications

★ Briançon dans le Tour de France