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Origin and history

Fort National, located on Islet Island at Saint-Malo, was built in 1689 on the orders of Louis XIV to strengthen the defences of the corsair city. Designed by Vauban and designed by engineer Simeon Garangeau, it replaced an old lighthouse and a seigneurial execution site. Integrated into the system of fortifications between Fort Latte and the point of the Varde, he was initially named Fort Royal, then Fort Imperial under the Empires, before adopting his current name.

The fort, squared with a double enclosure, housed a barracks, a powder shop and artillery batteries. He played a key role in the English attack of 1693 and was never taken, except during World War II, where he served as a German prison. In August 1944, 18 prisoners died under allied bombardments, an event commemorated by a plaque. Ranked Historic Monument in 1906 (strong) and 1913 (premises walls), it now belongs to a Breton family.

A symbol of Vauban's genius, Fort National illustrates the alliance between military strategy and adaptation to rocky terrain. Its history reflects the maritime conflicts of Brittany, from the wars of Louis XIV to the Occupancy, while remaining an emblematic visual landmark of Saint-Malo. His nickname for Fort Chameleon comes from his many successive denominations, marked by political regimes.

The building, which began in 1689 and was completed around 1693, was enlarged in 1697 and remodeled in the 18th and 19th centuries. The structure combines a high battery and a south-facing front, with a monumental door and a drawbridge. The covered path between the two enclosures protected enemy fire and complicated assaults. Today, the fort remains a major testimony of Breton military history.

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