ROCROI

ancient fortress town, Ardennes dpartement, Champagne-Ardennes rgion, 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 Sbastien Le Prestre de Vauban, the French military engineer. The Duke d'Enghien (later called the Great Cond) defeated the Spaniards near Rocroi in 1643. Pop. (1990) 2,565.