Labeled as a City of Art and History, Briançon is on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its Vauban Fortifications that shape the landscape and bear witness to the adaptive genius of Louis XIV's military architect. These examples unique in Europe of mountain military architecture have contributed to shaping the borders of Europe and influenced world military architecture for several centuries. They were consecrated by UNESCO in 2008. Acting as a keeper of the borders, the town of Briançon is surrounded by ramparts and crowned by seven defensive structures, most of which were executed according to his principles after Vauban's death in 1707.