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Origin and history

The Medes battery is a military fortification located on the island of Porquerolles, dependent on the town of Hyères (Var). In 1757, its construction began in 1794 after the evacuation of Toulon by the English, as part of a strengthening of the Mediterranean coastal defences. The original structure, consisting of a masonry escarp and a curate, was completed by a test barracks and a powder shop in the 19th century.

Under Napoleon I, an extensive fortification program was launched in 1810 to secure the coasts. However, the battery of the Medes, which was rebuilt in 1811, was put on standby between 1815 and 1841. From 1847, major works transformed the site: a two-storey vaulted barracks and a tower were added, as recommended by the Coastal Defence Commission. The whole was declassified in 1884 but retained as a monitoring post for maritime dams.

Architecturally, the battery is distinguished by its tenacious enclosure, a bastionnet on the ground side, and a fortified entrance preceded by a bridge. The spacer, designed to withstand seats, consists of four arched bays in a cradle and two end spaces. The site, owned by the State, was listed as a historical monument on 20 January 1989, demonstrating its key role in the defensive system of the Hyères and Toulon rade.

The Medes battery illustrates the evolution of coastal military strategies, from a simple artillery position in the 18th century to an integrated structure in a modern defence network in the 19th century. Its gradual abandonment after 1884 reflects technological changes (scratch artillery, battleships) making traditional forts obsolete. Today, it remains an emblematic vestige of the Mediterranean military heritage.

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