At the beginning of the 18th century, Vauban designed a global and massive plan for the defense of Briançon. His project focused on works on the upper town, the reconstruction and strengthening of the castle, the creation of a lower town and of a fort in Les Salettes, as well as the construction of other military buildings and of a trench camp on the Têtes mountain. If some elements never saw the light of day, Vauban himself did not witness the realization of the started works.