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Origin and history

Fort Pernante is an Italian military facility built in 1883 to defend the Tende Pass, a strategic point between France and Italy. Located at 2,017 metres above sea level, it was equipped with 4 guns and equipped with 120 soldiers. This semi-entered fort was part of a network of five defensive structures (Pernante, Giaure, Tabourde, Pépin, Marguerie) around Fort Central, the main bastion of the system.

The Tende Pass, the gateway to the Roya Valley, represented a major military issue, comparable to the defences of the Menton-Vintimille border. Fort Pernante, connected by a yaw road to Fort Central (2 km away by bird flight), was designed to block any French advance towards the Mediterranean. Today, an ex-military road allows access, although the structure shows signs of degradation.

This defensive system illustrates the geopolitical tensions of the late 19th century between France and Italy. Fort Pernante, with its counterparts, bears witness to the Alpine military architecture of the time, designed to withstand extreme mountain conditions. The sources mention local studies, such as those of Christian Corvisier, to document this fortified heritage.

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