Ten anecdotes about the fortified village of Mont-Dauphin

1) Before Mont-Dauphin was built, the area was called "Plateau des Millaures" (Mille Vents in Occitan). We'll let you guess why!

2) When he discovered the site, Vauban described it as "a plateau blessed by the gods". Why was this? Because it's a rocky promontory at the crossroads of several valleys, and because many of the materials needed to build fortifications were available in the surrounding area.

3) Mont-Dauphin is one of nine new towns (towns built from scratch) created by Vauban. The other eight were: Mont-Louis (66), Longwy, Neuf-Brisach (68), Phalsbourg (57), Sarrelouis (66), Huningue (68), Fort-Louis (67) and Mont-Royal (built near Traben in Germany and destroyed in 1697).

4) It was named in honour of the Dauphin, the King's eldest son. Having paid tribute to the king by naming four new towns (Mont-Louis, Sarrelouis, Fort-Louis and Mont-Royal), Vauban wanted to be original!

5) During the French Revolution, the village was renamed Mont-Lion.

6) The inhabitants of Mont-Dauphin asked King Louis XIV for the right to host a weekly market and two annual fairs in 1708... This right was granted to them by Louis XV in 1765, 57 years later!

7) At the beginning of the ^18th century, the village had four inns: "Le Lion d'Or", "La Chasse Royale", "Les Trois Lions" and "La Croix Blanche".

8) The number of inhabitants fell to thirty in the 1980s, when the stronghold was demilitarised. Today, 170 people enjoy this exceptional living environment!

9) The slopes of the rocky promontory are home to some very sociable marmots!

10) Two of the fortress's barracks now house craft workshops and shops, a cheese maturing cellar and an organic mushroom farm.