Fort Carré, Military fort in Antibes, France
Fort Carré is a fortified stronghold in Antibes built on a rocky promontory and dominated by four arrow-shaped bastions that form a distinctive star configuration above the Mediterranean coast. The structure was designed as a defensive military installation to guard the French borders.
The fortification was commissioned by King Henry II in 1553 to defend the French border against threats from the County of Nice. It served as a crucial defensive position along the frontier for centuries.
The fort takes its name from a chapel that previously stood on this location before military construction transformed the site. Walking through today, visitors can still sense the layers of different purposes the place has served over the centuries.
The fort can be reached on foot via a pathway that starts from the waterfront and leads to the entrance. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes as the climb is steep and the stairways inside narrow and demanding in places.
Napoleon Bonaparte was imprisoned here for ten days in 1794 during the political upheaval of the French Revolution. This brief captivity is an overlooked chapter in his rise to power.
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