20 Forts to Explore in France

Checkout places to visit in France

France

France, including its overseas territories, has the most number of time zones with a total of 12 time zones. France has long been a global center of art, science, and philosophy. It hosts the world's fourth-largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is the leading tourist destination, receiving around 83 million foreign visitors annually.

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Forts to Explore in France

Château de Bussy-Rabutin

A simple fortified house built in the twelfth century by Renaudin lord of Bussy in a wooded valley near the archaeological site of Alesia. Historical Monument in 1862, it is owned by the state since 1929 and the building is managed by the National Monuments Center. Further restoration of the building has been carried out since the 1970s.

Château de Châteauneuf

The Château de Châteauneuf, also known as the Château de Châteauneuf-en-Auxois, is a 15th-century fortress in the commune of Châteauneuf, 43 km from Dijon, in the Côte-d'Or département of France. It is a vast stone building, 75 metres in length and 35 metres broad, situated on a rocky outcrop 475 metres above the surrounding plains. It dominates the valley of Canal de Bourgogne.

Château de Joux

The Chateau de Joux is one of the most impressive and interesting castles to visit in the Franche-Comté region. The chateau is also known as the Fort de Joux. It served as a prison for successive French governments between the 17th and the 19th centuries. In that capacity, the château is best known as the site of imprisonment for so many leaders.

Château de Montpoupon

One of the majestic castle which was located in the Loire Valley which was richly furnished and open for a free narrated visit. The Veneur museum has 25 rooms dedicated to art, hunting, and horses, and a newly restored kitchen and also a forest walk with its interactive terminals allow visitors to discover the fauna and flora of our woodlands are the main features of this area. Originally a medieval fortress, the castle was altered by the lords of Prie and Buzançais. The postern was constructed

Château de Sully-sur-Loire

A beautiful 14th-century medieval fortress, complete with towers, keep rampart walk and moats. It is the former residence of the dukes of Sully. there are so many painting and tapestries are being displayed in this castle. One of the iconic buildings in this area and is famous for its architecture.

Citadelle de Besançon

One of Vauban’s masterpieces registered as a UNESCO world heritage site, remarkable example of the 17th century military architecture covering nearly 12 hectares, the Citadel of Besançon is considered one of the most beautiful fortress in France. As it surely rose to be the first unique, cultural and touristic site in the central-eastern part of France, the Citadel houses no less than three museums certified “Musées de France” nowadays: the Museum of Resistance and Deportation, the Museum of Fra

Fort Boyard

A majestic fort which was located between the Île-d'Aix and the Île d'Oléron in the Pertuis d'Antioche straits. the construction of the fort is decided because of the need to lock the passage between Aix Island and Oléron Island. The building started in 1801 and was completed in 1857. It was one of the unique forts in this area and it has a lot of history to say.

Fort Cépérou

Fort Cépérou is a historic fort that is located on a hill overlooking the Cayenne River and the capital city of Cayenne. Most of the site is now a restricted military zone, but you can still wander around the ruins for good views of Cayenne and the river. The fort was first named Fort Cépérou, then Fort Saint Michel and then Fort Saint Louis before returning to its original name. It was one of the main attractions in this area and also a main historical site.

Fort Delgrès

Fort Delgrès is a strong French overlooking the town of Basse-Terre in Guadeloupe. It was a high place of the Franco-English struggle in the West Indies than that of the Guadeloupeans led by the mulatto officer and resistant Louis Delgrès against the reestablishment of slavery by Richepanse. It was classified as a historic monument by decree of November 21, 1971.

Fort Diamant

The Fort Diamant is a hard whose construction began in 1840 and ended in 1849 in the municipality of Rémire-Montjoly in Guyana. This military building was entirely classified as a Historic Monument by decree dated May 14, 1980. consists of three pieces of artillery including a recess shaped "V" with two walls a meter thick, a cross casemated with nine cells, cells that had thick door wacapou clad in iron and a half-moon battery which had five guns. One of the main historical places in this area

Fort Douaumont

Fort Douaumont was the largest and highest fort on the ring of 19 large defensive works that had protected the city of Verdun built in the late 19th-century. The heavily armed fortress was designed to be the most strategically important of Verdun’s mighty defenses. It was protected by two layers of concrete over a meter thick and surrounded by a seven-meter-deep moat and 30 meters of barbed wire. It was one of the famous attractions in this area and the view from the fort is truly impressive.

Fort Fleur d'épée

Fort Fleur d'Épée is located in the hills of Bas-du-Fort, in the municipality of Le Gosier which was listed on the supplementary inventory of Historic Monuments. It was built from 1750 to 1763 to a polygonal plan by Vauban in the heights above the town of Gosier. It is composed of underground passages leading to small rooms. The powder magazine and the kitchen with its oven are still clearly visible. The vast corridors occasionally host various art exhibitions throughout the year.

Fort la Latte

Fort La Latte is a coastal defense fortress with a clear view of the English Channel and the Emerald Coast. The Castle was built between 1340 and 1370 by Étienne III Gouyon, Lord of Matignon. At present Fort la Latte can be visited for a fee. This impressive castle was built on a small piece of land at the Bay of the Fresnay in the 13th century. Various films have been shot at this site. This is a great castle with a unique keep in a beautiful location. But as it is a well-known tourist destina

Fort Napoléon des Saintes

Fort Napoléon is located on Terre-de-Haut Island, in the Îles des Saintes, Guadeloupe Perched some 400 feet above Les Saintes Bay. It was restored in the 1980s and houses a museum showcasing the history of Les Saintes. This superb fortress did not serve as a fortress either but as a penitentiary. On the ground floor, the four rooms of the main building are located above an enormous 350,000m3 cistern, designed to provide water autonomy in the event of a siege.

Fort National

Fort National is a beautiful fort that was located on a tidal island a few hundred meters off the walled city of Saint-Malo. The great military architect Vauban had built it in 1689 to protect Saint-Malo's port. It was originally called Fort Royal. In 1789 Its name became Fort d'Îlette or Républicain, then Fort Impérial and, after 1870, Fort National. This was originally the site of a beacon that was lit at night to act as a lighthouse. One of the main attractions in this area which attracts a

Fort Saint Louis

A majestic seaside fortress that was witness to the history of Martinique and the founding of Fort de France. It is located in the city center a short walk from Savannah Park and the ferry terminal. Today, It is an active base for the French National Navy. Sections of the historic fort can be toured. There are so many things to see in and around this place and it also offers a spectacular view of the sea also.

Forteresse Royale de Chinon

A majestic royal fortress which was Overlooking the River Vienne which was built by the Count of Blois. Used as a residence by Charles VII in the 15th century and also served as a prison in the 16th century. This beautiful building also has a museum that gives light to the history of this castle. This building is listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.

Le Fort Carré

Fort Carre was built in the late 16th century by King Henry II of France. It was used to guard the nearby border with the County of Nice and to defend the town of Antibes. it is now classified as a historic monument.

Ouvrage Schoenenbourg

The fortifications of the Maginot Line, built in the 1920s by the French government to deter invasion from Germany. It was the largest of the Maginot line forts and was designed to accommodate a garrison of about 500 men. It is the largest such fortification open to the public in Alsace. Officially recorded as a historical monument. It has faced so many wars and has a lot of history to say.

Rue du Petit Bé

Located in the middle of the Bay of Saint-Malo with an exceptional panoramic view on the city of Saint-Malo. The fort was part of the defenses that Vauban designed to protect Saint-Malo from British and Dutch fleets. It consists of a horseshoe-shaped battery on the seaward side that has 19 embrasures for guns. The French army occupied the fort until 1885. Later, the army turned the fort over to the city of Saint-Malo.

Map of Forts to explore in France