Montmédy

Montmédy occupies a height above the Chiers valley, a strong position on the frontier of Luxembourg. The town was sold to the duke of Luxembourg in 1364 and later passed through Burgundian to Habsburg rule. From 1545 Emperor Charles V replaced its medieval castle with bastioned defences suited to artillery. In 1657 French forces besieged the Spanish stronghold; the young engineer Vauban took part and was wounded. The Treaty of the Pyrenees assigned Montmédy to France in 1659, after which Vauban strengthened its fortifications.