A site visit was made recently to Fort Manoel as part of an international forum to mark the tricentenary of Sebastien le Prestre Vauban's death and his influence on the development of the fortifications in Malta during the 18th century.

Vauban was a Marshal of France and the foremost military engineer of his age, famed for his skill in both designing fortifications and in breaking through them.

Various internationally acclaimed architects, mostly French and Italian, were led throughout Fort Manoel, to appreciate the restoration work that has taken place by aoM on behalf of MIDI plc, the developers of Tigné Point and Manoel Island. The leader of the restoration team, Architect Alex Torpiano said of Fort Manoel, “We have been working on the fort for four years and the first phase will be finished in 2008, which consists of the fort itself. The bastions and the outworks will be completed in another five years.” Fort Manoel was very interesting for the architects who took part in the seminar because although Vauban himself did not build it, it was designed on the principles written down by him. “We are extremely lucky to have this fortification survive in relatively good condition and I look forward to visitors experiencing what this fort was meant to look like when it was constructed in the 18th century,” Mr Torpiano said.

MIDI plc is the consortium carrying out the e30m restoration works as part of the obligation to their lease agreement, in conjunction with aoM and FWA as heritage monitors.