Fort Lucotte de Saint-Antoine, 19th century military fortification in Saint-Antoine, France.
Fort Lucotte de Saint-Antoine is a military fortification from the 19th century set on a ridge between Lake Saint-Point and the Métabief ski area in eastern France. The structure is built from solid stone and features deep moats along with defensive corners.
The fort was built between 1879 and 1882 as part of the Séré de Rivières defense system, designed to guard the route coming from Lausanne. It was intended to house several hundred soldiers at a time.
The fort takes its name from General Edme Aimé Lucotte, honored by a government decree in 1887. Visitors today can walk through the cellars and see how the thick stone walls create the cool, steady conditions that shape the local Comté.
The fort sits on a ridge and can be reached on foot or by car from the surrounding villages. A visit to the cheese cellars is possible, but it is worth checking opening conditions in advance since access may vary by season.
Since 1965, the underground vaults of the fort have been used to age Comté cheese, with up to 100,000 wheels stored at one time. The thick stone walls that once sheltered soldiers now maintain the steady cool temperature that the cheese needs to ripen.
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