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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Alicastre fort, located on Porquerolles Island in Hyères (Var), is a military building built under Richelieu around 1640. Originally, it was a square tower with pyramidal base, pierced with cannon-burning on an open terrace. This type of fortification reflected the defensive techniques of the time, adapted to coastal protection against maritime invasions.

Over the centuries, the fort has undergone several major modifications to adapt to the evolution of military techniques. Under the Empire (1811-1814), the tower was converted into a reduced for the soldiers, with a first floor vaulted in bricks and an elevated terrace. The outer wall, initially star-shaped, was thickened to protect the new artillery batteries placed in barbed wire. These developments illustrate the transition to defensive systems that are more resistant to enemy fire.

The history of the fort is also marked by episodes of destruction and restoration. In 1793, the English destroyed him before his retirement, requiring further repairs. Between 1811 and 1814, work was undertaken to raise the parapets, repair the tower and develop a ravelin protecting the entrance. Despite these efforts, the fort was finally downgraded in 1875, after losing its strategic utility. Today, its general condition is medium, affected by wind and hydraulic erosion, although a restoration was carried out in 1993 by volunteers of the association Building History and Medieval Architecture.

Ranked a historic monument since December 14, 1927, the Alicastre fort is now owned by the French state. Its complex architecture, the result of its multiple transformations, makes it a valuable testimony to the evolution of coastal fortifications in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, from the Richelieu era to the 19th century.

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