Today, they stand as irreplaceable documentation of the represented sites and serve as valuable educational tools.
Mont-Saint-Michel in Musee des Plans-Reliefs.
Others were created after the completion of works, likely intended for convenient analysis and instruction.
The king developed a strong enthusiasm for these models, resulting in the construction of fifty during his reign.
King Louis XV continued what his predecessor had started, and during his reign many new models were added.
But the King intervened and transferred the models to the Hotel des Invalides where it remains to this day.
However, during the transfer, many models were damaged.
Regrettably, only two of them have survived, as the majority were destroyed during the bombings of 1944-45.
Aside from the actual fortified area, the surrounding terrain was also included and to a large extent.
As a result, many of these models were enormous.
The base of the models were made of wood, and so were the houses and buildings.
Trees were made of iron wire and silk, and cardboard and sand were used to create natural features.
All in all, some 260 plans-reliefs were created between 1668 and 1870, representing about 150 fortified sites.
A little more than hundred survive of which only 28 plans-reliefs are displayed at Musee des Plans-Reliefs.
Fort Saint-Nicolas de Marseille.
Photo credit:Tom Hilton/Flickr
Reference:# George A. Rothrock, The Musee des Plans-Reliefs,JSTOR
