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Key figures

Origin and history

The Troglodyte fortress of Gourdon is built on a cliffside, on the northeast slope of the plateau of Cavillore, in the Alpes-Maritimes. Its spectacular access, by a narrow 30 cm wide road overlooking 300 meters of vacuum, makes it an impressive and dangerous site, especially in rainy weather due to the risk of slipping. The vestiges visible today are mainly limited to a walled stone door and the remains of a stone oven, evoking an ancient bread oven.

The entrance door, described by Edmond Mari in The impossible builders, marks the beginning of a vire that widens over a hundred meters before leading to an inclined area without exit. No other construction is identifiable in 2012, except these elements. The site, although little documented about its origin or period of construction, is evidence of a human occupation adapted to steep terrain, probably linked to defensive or subsistence needs.

The strategic location of the fortress, dominating the Wolf gorges, suggests a role of surveillance or refuge. Its isolation and the difficulty of access indicate a desire for protection, characteristic of troglodyte or perched buildings in mountainous regions. However, no precise date or detailed historical context is mentioned in the available sources, leaving questions about its exact use and its occupants.

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