Neuf-Brisach is a fortress town built from scratch on the Alsace plain in 1697. After France lost Breisach, across the Rhine, Vauban designed a new stronghold, and Louis XIV himself chose the octagonal plan. It is the only complete example of Vauban’s “third system”, and since 2008 it has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list as part of the Fortifications of Vauban.
Why stay in Neuf-Brisach
It is a quiet, unusual base between Colmar and the German border, with a grid of streets inside the ramparts and easy access to both sides of the Rhine.
Things to see in and around Neuf-Brisach
The ramparts
Walk around the star-shaped bastions, moats and gates that still enclose the whole town – the plan is clearest from the outer paths.
The Place d’Armes
The large central square sits at the heart of the grid of streets, with the church and the former military buildings around it.
Breisach and the Rhine
The Rhine bridge and the German town of Breisach, with its cathedral on a rock, are about 3.5 km away.
Colmar and the Wine Route
Colmar and the wine villages of the Alsace Wine Route are a short drive west.
Best time to visit
April to October for walks along the ramparts and bike rides by the Rhine; December for the Christmas markets of Colmar and Breisach.
Getting there
Neuf-Brisach lies east of Colmar, whose station has TGV and regional trains, with buses on to the town. The nearest airports are EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse and Strasbourg. A car or bike makes it easy to combine Alsace and the Black Forest side of the Rhine.
What to eat
Alsace classics: flammekueche, choucroute, baeckeoffe, kougelhopf and Munster cheese, with Alsace white wines.
FAQ
Why is Neuf-Brisach a UNESCO site?
It is the most complete illustration of Vauban’s “third system” of fortification, built on an octagonal plan from 1697.
How far is Neuf-Brisach from Germany?
About 3.5 km from the Rhine bridge to Breisach.
