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Origin and history

Fort des Salettes is a military fortification designed to monitor the strategic road leading from Briançon to Italy. Located at 1,538 metres above sea level, it dominates the city and the first laces on the road to the Toulouse Cross. Its establishment reflects its defensive role in a border context marked by tensions between kingdoms.

Imagined by Vauban, the fort was built between 1709 and 1712 as a square tower surrounded by a ditch. Its architecture evolved significantly in the 19th century: between 1847 and 1854, a battery with the Haxo, bastions, and a vaulted powder shop were added. The structure thus combines elements from the 18th and 19th centuries, illustrating the adaptation of fortifications to the progress of artillery.

The fort is recognized for its heritage importance: it was listed as a historic monument in 1989 for its facades and roofs, and in 2008 it integrated the Vauban Major Sites network into the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, its preservation is ensured by Le Club du Vieux Manoir, a volunteer association dedicated to its restoration and protection.

The enclosure, in the form of an isocele trapeze, consists of four fronts, three of which are bastioned, preceded by ditches. The heart of the fort houses a small square tower with cut strips, covered with earth, as well as a three-level powder shop. These adjustments reflect Vauban's defensive principles, adapted to the topographical constraints of the Alps.

The front door, located on the south-west front, is protected by a drawbridge, while the northeast front features a battery of six casemates. These devices illustrate the fort's dual vocation: access control and seat resistance. Its architectural history, marked by successive changes, makes it a rare testimony to the evolution of military techniques over nearly 150 years.

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