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Origin and history

Fort de la Tête de Chien, or Fort Masséna, is a military fortification built between 1874 and 1884 under the direction of General Séré de Rivières. Located on a 550-metre high promontory, it dominates Monaco and played a strategic role in making Monaco's fortress obsolete in the 18th century thanks to the progress of artillery, notably that developed by Jean-Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval. This natural site, registered in 1969, was exploited for its marble and agate quarries, used notably in the church Saint-Michel de La Turbie.

Starting in the 1960s, the fort was assigned to the Centre national d'études des télécommunications (CNET), now France Télécom Research and Development, then Orange Labs. In 2016, the three-hectare estate was sold to the Principality of Monaco, which plans to set up activities that do not require to be in Monaco. The site, known for its climbing cliffs and sports facilities, is also a place of scientific research in partnership with the CNRS and the University Nice-Sophia-Antipolis.

The promontory, called testa di Can in Occitan and Monegasque, derives its name from a etymology discussed, probably linked to the pre-Indo-European root Kan (stone). Its spectacular relief, with at-pics of 400 meters, makes it a remarkable natural site, classified since 1969. The old quarries, now abandoned, have given way to sports infrastructures, while the rocks attract renowned climbers like Patrick Berhault.

Historically, the Doghead marked a turning point in Monaco's defence: in the 18th century, artillery installed on this high point could dominate and threaten the Monegasque fortress. Prince Honoré III of Monaco then reduced the expenses of maintaining his fortress, aware of its vulnerability. The fort, completed in 1884, was part of a network of fortifications designed to modernize French defence after the defeat of 1870.

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