Belfort is a beautiful commune situated in northeast France. It falls in the
Franche-Comté region and serves as the capital of the district of Territoire de Belfort.
Belfort is predominantly known because of its tactical location in the plateau known as Belfort Gap. This area has a number of important routes that were used for trade purposes during the Roman era. Over the years,
Belfort has continually attracted people due to it being a link between the Rhone and Rhine rivers.
The history of
Belfort dates back to the Gallo-Roman era. The first mention of this town was made in a charter that was created in the 13th century and granted during the 14th century. Originally a part of Austrian territory,
Belfort was finally surrendered to France in the 17th century after the cessation of the Thirty Years’ War.
Till the late 19th century,
Belfort did not belong to the district of Territoire de Belfort. Instead, it was part of the district of Haut-Rhin. The town is also historically significant because of the role it played in World War II. During the time,
Belfort was attacked and captured by the Germans. After a brief struggle, the French reclaimed the town.
Belfort is a culturally prominent French locale and offers various sights of attraction to its visitors. One of them is the Lion of
Belfort, a 22 meter long and 11 meter high stone lion sculpted by the famous sculptor Frederic Bartholdi. The structure is made of pure red sandstone and is essentially a tribute to the struggle between the French and the Prussians.
Other important sights in
Belfort include the
Belfort Cathedral and La Citadelle de la Liberte. Built during the 18th century, the cathedral was recognized as a monument of national importance in the 20th century. La Citadelle de la Liberte was opened to the public in 2007 and is equipped with audio visual technology to inform and entertain visitors.
