Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The fort of Bellegarde found its origins in the 13th century under the kingdom of Majorca, when King James II built a surveillance tower over the Perthus to defend himself against Peter III of Aragon. This tower, 20 metres high with 1.5 metre thick walls, was initially used for independent monitoring. In the 14th century, after Aragon took over the territory, it was abandoned by the crown and used locally to collect customs duties.

The Perthus became French after the Treaty of the Pyrenees (1659). During the Dutch War, the fort was taken by the Spaniards in 1674 and taken over in 1675 by Count Frédéric-Armand de Schomberg after a ten-day siege. In 1679 Vauban visited the site and validated an expansion project proposed by his engineer Christian Rousselot de Monceaux, adding a double fortification. The works, approved by Louvois in 1680, continued until the 18th century.

During the war of the Roussillon (1793), the Spanish seized the fort, which remained under their control until 1794, when it was taken over by General Dugommier. He was temporarily buried there after his death in 1794. During the Revolution, the fort was renamed "Fort of Midi-Libre". In the 20th century, he served as an internment camp for the Spanish Republicans in 1939 (Retirada), then as a prison for the Gestapo during World War II.

Architecturally, the fort has a pentagonal shape with five interconnected bastions, a 1 km glacis, and three levels of protection: bastions, ramparts and interior wall. The heart houses buildings for 600 men, a chapel (amended in the 19th century), a hospital, a bakery and buried powder shops. The "Porte de France", the only entrance, is protected by a half-moon fort. A well of 62 metres deep, dug in 1698, ensured water autonomy.

Ranked a historic monument in 1967, the fort is now owned by the municipality of Perthus. Open to the public from June to September, it offers exhibitions on its history and archaeology of the Col de Panissars. The municipality carries out progressive restoration work, while organizing cultural events.

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