This Castle of Cannons Built on the Ocean Took Over 100 Years—Used to Guard Against English Fleet

This Castle of Cannons Built on the Ocean Took Over 100 Years—Used to Guard Against English Fleet
Francois BOIZOT/Shutterstock; Inset: Muriel HERVE/Shutterstock
Michael Wing
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Before the days of hypersonic missiles, Old World kings and emperors built castles on the open seas.

Such fortresses make no sense strategically today. But centuries ago, stacking thousands of tons of stone on artificial reefs made perfect sense, though sometimes it was nearly impossible to accomplish. As for why they were so crucial along the coasts in places like 17th-century France, the answer can be summed up in a word: cannons.
Michael Wing
Michael Wing
Editor and Writer
Michael Wing is a writer and editor based in Calgary, Canada, where he was born and educated in the arts. He writes mainly on culture, human interest, and trending news.
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