Fort des Têtes

The Fort des Têtes, also known as the Fort des Trois Têtes, is a fortification in the vicinity of Briançon in the Dauphiné region of southeastern France. Partially designed by Vauban, the fort was first established as a permanent fortification in the 1720s and was used by the French army until 1940. Owing to its testimony to the advancement of military fortifications and Vauban's influence in military architecture, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.[1]

Fort des Têtes
Briançon, France
Fort des Têtes from the Croix de Toulouse
Fort des Têtes is located in France
Fort des Têtes
Fort des Têtes
Coordinates44.89528°N 6.65°E / 44.89528; 6.65
TypeFort
Site information
OwnerFrench Army
Controlled byFrance
ConditionPreserved
Site history
Built1721 (1721)

History

It was first surveyed by Vauban in 1700. In 1709 the Marshal Berwick established a fortified camp on the plateau, overlooking the valley of the Durance from a height of 1,440 metres (4,720 ft). The position controlled the high valleys of Fontenil and Fontchristiane. A permanent bastioned triangular fort was built between 1721 and 1723 to designs by Tardif and Nègre.[2] The position was used by the French Army in the defense of Briançon until 1940, when it was part of the Fortified Sector of the Dauphiné.[3]

Description

The fort is connected to the main town by the Pont d'Asfeld, designed by Vauban. The fort has three principal frontages and a lower fort covering the approaches. The garrison comprised about 1,250 men serving 70 artillery pieces. The Fort des Trois-Têtes is linked to the nearby Fort du Randouillet by an enclosed, fortified gallery known as "Communication Y".[4] In the 1880s two ammunition magazines were excavated, one within the rock, the other trenched and covered with earth.[5]

World Heritage Site

The Fort des Têtes, along with Communication Y, the Fort du Randouillet and other military works of Briançon, was designated a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2008, as part of a network of Vauban-related sites.[6]

References
  1. "Fortifications of Vauban". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  2. "Le fort des Têtes, Briançon ( 05 )" (in French). Chemins de Memoire. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  3. Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques (2009). Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 5 (in French). Histoire & Collections. pp. 22–23. ISBN 978-2-35250-127-5.
  4. "Le Fort des Tetes". Le patrimoine fortifie de Briancon. Ville de Briancon. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  5. Puelinckx, Jean; Aublet, Jean-Louis; Mainguin, Sylvie (2010). "Têtes (fort es Trois)". Index de la fortification française 1874–1914 (in French). fortiff.be. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  6. "Fortifications of Vauban". World Heritage. UNESCO.
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