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Origin and history

Fort du Randouillet is a fortification built in the 1st quarter of the 18th century, overlooking the town of Briançon at an altitude of 1,604 metres. Designed to lock the passage through the left bank of the Durance and monitor the Cervières valley, it integrates into a defensive system including the Fort des Têtes and the work of Communication Y. Its name would come from rangs, a local term for swallows nesting on its rocky walls.

The original project was designed by Vauban in 1718, although its construction started only in 1724 and was completed in 1734. The fort consists of a dungeon housing the batteries and a low enclosure housing the infrastructure. The upper battery, the heart of the dungeon, includes a vaulted barracks, a powderbox and five casemates served by a gallery. Between 1833 and 1890, changes were made, such as replacing the central battery with a Haxo model and adding powder shops.

The fort has been listed as a historic monument since 1989 for its facades and roofs and was also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. In contemporary times, it was connected to Briançon by a military cable car. Today, the Heritage Service organizes guided tours for the public.

The story of the fort dates back to 1709, when the Berwick Marshal occupied the hill of the Randouillet under the direction of engineer Tardif. The final work, based on the plans of 1718 and 1722, marked the conclusion of a strategic project for the defence of the Alpine border. The fort gradually lost its central role with the construction of new fortifications, passing in second line at the end of the 19th century.

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