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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Fort Fleur d'Épée, located on the heights of the Gosier in Guadeloupe, is the most important fortification of Grande Terre. Built between 1750 and 1763 according to the plans of Vauban, it overlooks the Grande Baie and was designed to protect the anchorages, especially in the face of English threats. Its architecture, adapted to the relief of the morne, gives it an oblong shape, with underground casings, a powder box and kitchens still visible today.

In 1794, the fort was taken by the English on 2 April, then taken over by the French on the night of 6-7 June under the direction of Victor Hugues and General Charles Étienne Rouyer, with the help of former freed slaves. The English troops were permanently rejected from Guadeloupe on 11 December 1794. The fort was strengthened in 1801-1802 during the revolts against the restoration of slavery by Napoleon Bonaparte.

In the 19th century, despite work of reinforcement (fossed, wall of enclosure, drawbridge), the fort is considered vulnerable due to its proximity to the morne Mascot. Declassified in 1854, he was abandoned before being listed in 2003 for his historical engravings (1812-2002). Today, its corridors host art exhibitions, and its name remains mysterious, perhaps linked to the nickname of a soldier.

The fort is distinguished by its absence of external defensive elements, unlike the traditional forts. It houses remains such as a barracks, shops, two tanks and an underground. Its monumental entrance and gateway recall its military past, although its construction was done hastily to respond to the strategic emergencies of the time.

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