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Origin and history

Tournoux Fort is a monumental defensive complex built between 1843 and 1865 under the direction of General Haxo, under the July monarchy, to secure the upper Ubaye valley against Italian invasions. Located at 2,000 metres above sea level, it consists of three superimposed forts (battery XII, strong medium, strong upper) connected by stairs and galleries, as well as a barracks at the foot of the cliff. Its spectacular architecture, partly carved into the rock, earned it nicknames such as the "19th century military Versailles" or the "Ubayan Great Wall".

The strategic position of the fort controls the Ubaye and Ubayette valleys, historical routes to Italy via passes such as Larche (1,991 m), Longet or Mary. These passages were borrowed as early as 1515 by François I for his campaign in Marignan, stressing the lasting military importance of the region. The site was chosen to lock this axis after the exchange of the valley between Savoie and France in 1713.

The fort experienced successive reinforcements: battery of the Caures (1880), fort of Serre-de-l'Aut (1890), and integration into the Maginot line in 1940. He was occupied by the Germans in 1943, released in 1945, and then served as an ammunition depot until 1987. Now demilitarized, it is partially open to the public and is the subject of cultural and tourist projects, supported by the Bern Mission.

Its architecture combines works in elevation and underground galleries, with technical innovations such as lifts and troglodytic stairs. The Pellegrin Barracks, destroyed in 2008, and the Caron Barracks (transformed into a military centre in 1964) reflect its evolution. The fort, classified as a Historic Monument in 2016, is now managed by the community of communes Vallée de l'Ubaye Serre-Ponçon.

The device was complemented by a network of optical communications works (Viraysse battery, Vallon Clos fort, etc.), illustrating its central role in the Alpine defence. Its history reflects military adaptations to technological advances, from striped artillery to telecommunications, to its permanent occupation from 1890.

A symbol of French military genius, the Fort de Tournoux also embodies the logistical challenges of the mountain: 700 meters of elevation, constructions on cliffs, and resistance to climatic conditions. Its gradual abandonment after 1948 and its civilian re-appropriation make it a unique testimony to the strategic history of the Alps.

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