Bourtange, Netherlands
Located in northeast Netherlands, near the German border, Fort Bourtange was built in 1593 as a military fortification to guard the only road connecting Germany and the city of Groningen. Converted into a village in 1851, it retains its iconic pentagonal shape and geometric street pattern. Today, the entire site serves as a museum, preserving its historical and architectural significance.Palmanova, Italy
Palmanova, which lies in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region in northeast Italy, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Built by the Venetians to defend the Republic’s northeast border, it is a quintessential example of a Renaissance star fortress and is one of the largest and best preserved geometric towns. Palmanova’s radial design extends from a central hexagonal square, the ‘Piazza del Duomo’, with concentric rings crossed by straight avenues. This internal area is surrounded by a star-shaped double perimeter of fortifications.Almeida, Portugal
Situated on a high plain in northeast Portugal, close to the Spanish border, lies the fortress of Almeida. It played a crucial role in defending Portugal’s border during its early years of independence. As seen in the image, its old town is surrounded by striking star-shaped ramparts.Neuf-Brisach, France
Located in the Alsace region of France near the German border, Neuf-Brisach was built in 1697 on the French side of the Rhine, after the loss of Breisach on the opposite bank. The town’s name ‘Neuf’, meaning new in French, reflects its origins. Designed for both civilian and military use, Neuf-Brisach has a central octagonal layout with streets arranged in a square grid. It is part of the UNESCO listed network of fortifications created by Louis XIV’s famed engineer, Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban.
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2024/12/Earth_from_Space_Star_cities
More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastion_fort
I’m fairly sure neuf means “nine”, and nouveau {or nouvelle, depending) means new.
Edit: I was apparently also fairly wrong about this. Learned something today!
“Neuf” is both “nine” and “new”. The two forms of “new” - neuf/neuve and nouveau/nouvelle - descend from different declensions in Latin. We have an echo of this in English too with new and novel
Neuf can mean new in the sense of a product or thing, like a new car/oven: une voiture neuve, un four neuf.
verify when you’re “fairly sure”, it’s easier when you’re online!
funny thing is “pont neuf” is the oldest bridge in Paris