Construction of first fort 1635-1640 (≈ 1638)
Order of Richelieu against the Spanish
1793
Destruction by the English
Destruction by the English 1793 (≈ 1793)
First fort destroyed during wars
1847
Resumption of work
Resumption of work 1847 (≈ 1847)
Project restarted after 33 years
1876
Completion of the fort
Completion of the fort 1876 (≈ 1876)
Completion of work after 60 years
fin XVIIIe siècle
Construction start very current
Construction start very current fin XVIIIe siècle (≈ 1895)
Replacement of the fort destroyed, interrupted in 1814
août 1944
Allied bombardments
Allied bombardments août 1944 (≈ 1944)
Damage during the landing of Provence
1989
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 1989 (≈ 1989)
Protection by decree of 20 January
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Fort de l'Eminence (Case J 913): inscription by order of 20 January 1989
Key figures
Cardinal de Richelieu - Initial sponsor
Ordonna built the first fort (1635)
Origin and history
The Fort of Eminence replaces a first fort destroyed in 1793 by the English, built around 1635-1640 on the order of Richelieu to counter the Spanish threat. This initial defensive system also included the Estissac, Moulin and Port-Man forts. The works of the present fort, which began at the end of the eighteenth century, were interrupted in 1814 before being completed in 1876, after resumptions in 1847.
The fort adopts a bastioned pentagonal plan, with a escarp enclosure surrounding a central courtyard, ditches, and artillery batteries placed on the ramparts. His castate barracks, on two vaulted levels, and his buried powder shop illustrate his major defensive role. Damaged during the Allied bombings of August 1944 during the landing of Provence, he was stripped of his equipment in 1914-15.
Today run by the Var Education League, the fort hosts educational and associative activities. Ranked a Historical Monument in 1989, it reflects the evolution of French military strategies from the Richelieu era to the Second World War. Its altitude (140 m) and central position make it a strategic point for the defence of the island of Port-Cros.
