French King Louis XIV had hundreds of scale models made, showing key defensive landscapes across France made. These strategic tools at 1/600 scale, are accurate representations of the towns and surrounding countryside, making it possible to plan changes to military fortifications. They are precise, large-scale jigsaws, carefully made by hand showing bastions, military sites, castles and other military infrastructure. There are over 100 maps in the collection today and others in museums across France.

Since Louis’ time this particular site on the outskirts of Paris has witnessed a tumultuous history, notably during the French Revolution and also when it was used by the Nazis during the Second World War. The site is now a national memorial and also a military cemetery.