Furkels, Military fortress museum in St. Margrethenberg, Switzerland

Furkels is an artillery fort of the Sargans fortress group, built from November 1939 inside the St. Margrethenberg above Bad Ragaz. Two floors lie about 20 m of rock apart, linked by an inclined gallery, a transport lift and a parallel stair; a truck up to 7.5 t could drive in through the main entrance to a hall with a turntable set into the floor.

Built from November 1939, the fort was ready to fire by July 1940 with two 10.5 cm turret cannons; two more followed in 1941 and were operational in May 1942. Four 15 cm bunker cannons were added from January 1945 and ready between 1946 and 1947. Decommissioned in 1998, it was declassified on 31 October 2002 and opened as a museum in 2010.

The museum displays Swiss military engineering through its collection of large cannons, including four 15-centimeter artillery pieces manufactured specifically for this fortress.

Access to the fortress is only by guided tour, which takes visitors through the different sections and rooms. Wear comfortable shoes as there are stairs and uneven passages throughout the visit.

The fortress was kept secret until 31 October 2002, long after it was decommissioned in 1998. It was then sold by the Swiss Army and has housed a museum with a restaurant since 2010. Its crew of 420 men, including 70 fortress infantry, was the largest of any works in the Sargans region.