ancient fortress town, Ardennes département, Champagne-Ardenne région, northeastern France. It lies 4 miles (6 km) from the Belgian frontier. The great bastions surrounding the small town in the form of a pentagon have been preserved intact and offer an excellent example of 16th- to 17th-century military architecture. Begun in 1555, the ramparts were rebuilt in 1691 by Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, the French military engineer. The Duke d'Enghien (later called the Great Condé) defeated the Spaniards near Rocroi in 1643. Pop. (1999) 2,420; (2004 est.) 2,379.