Initial preliminary draft 1723 (≈ 1723)
Proposal for a round tower not completed.
1724-1734
Construction of dread
Construction of dread 1724-1734 (≈ 1729)
Directed by Asfeld.
21 octobre 1986
Registration Historic Monument
Registration Historic Monument 21 octobre 1986 (≈ 1986)
Official protection of the site and land.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Redoute du Point du Jour and all the adjacent bare land (Case C2 266, 267): inscription by order of 21 October 1986
Key figures
Marquis d'Asfeld - Director General of Fortifications
Supervises construction between 1724 and 1734.
Origin and history
Although described as dread, this construction actually presents itself as a square tower with cut strips, raised on two levels of masonry, supplemented by a living space under the frame. An exterior staircase allows access to the upper floor, arched in a cradle, while the whole is surmounted by an eight-paned roof. This type of structure reflects the fortification techniques in force at the beginning of the 18th century, adapted to the topographical constraints of the Alps.
A preliminary draft dated 1723 initially proposed a round tower, but the final construction, carried out between 1724 and 1734, adopted a square plan. The work is carried out under the supervision of the Marquis d'Asfeld, then general director of fortifications. The latter played a key role in modernizing the border defences of the Kingdom of France, particularly in the Alps, where Briançon held a strategic position.
The building has been included in the inventory of Historic Monuments since 1986, including adjacent bare grounds. Its state of conservation and its integration into the urban landscape of Briançon testify to the historical importance of the Vauban and post-Vauban fortifications in this border region. The approximate location, noted as "a priori satisfactory", suggests limited accessibility for visitors, without clear indication of its openness to the public.
