France submits citadels and forts to be World Heritage sites

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France has chosen to submit 14 citadels and fortifications built by the 17th century military engineer Marshal Vauban for a place on UNESCO's list of World Heritage sites, the culture ministry said Friday.

Vauban's legacy, chosen over some 30 projects including the work of the modernist architect Le Corbusier, will be put forward alongside the lagoons of New Caledonia for a coveted spot on the heritage list.

The French culture ministry said it had chosen Vauban's work to mark the tricentenary of his death, which is being celebrated this year with a range of exhibitions across France.

The 15 sites include a royal fort on the Brittany island of Belle Ile, renovated by Vauban in 1689, the citadel in the eastern town Besancon and a mountain fort in southeastern Briancon.

They were selected out of some 150 built by Vauban and still preserved across France, in a formidable legacy of walled towns, as well as bridges and coastal observation towers.

The ministry will put its case to the UN's educational, scientific and cultural organisation on January 31 with a final decision expected next year.

Vauban, who was born Sebastien Le Prestre, lived from 1633 to 1707, and was the foremost military engineer of his age.

He was also known for his strategy in attacking places and won high honour from the Sun King, Louis XIV. But he was also a great thinker and humanist, and sought to minimise losses and the sufferings of soldiers in battle.

The World Heritage list includes 830 properties which form part of the cultural and natural heritage of outstanding natural value. Among them are such sites as the Giza pyramids in Egypt, the Angkor Wat temples in Cambodia and the Great Wall of China.

The ministry said Le Corbusier's work -- which had been shortlisted by the French national heritage committee -- will be submitted to UNESCO in 2008.

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Heritage-France-UNESCO

AFP 051916 GMT 01 07