Fort Liberia, 17th-century military fort in Villefranche-de-Conflent, France.
Fort Liberia stands on a hilltop above Villefranche-de-Conflent with two nested hexagonal structures and thick defensive walls designed for maximum protection. The entire complex is carved into the rocky terrain, with sturdy bastions controlling every approach.
The military engineer Vauban built this fort between 1681 and 1683 under King Louis XIV's orders following the Treaty of the Pyrenees. Its construction formed part of France's defensive strategy against Spain along its eastern border.
The fort served as both a military garrison and a detention facility. Inside its walls, people held for political reasons found themselves confined alongside soldiers.
Access to the fort requires climbing an underground staircase with around 700 steps built in 1850, or you can take the minibus from town. Wear sturdy shoes and budget extra time to explore the layered fortification system.
An underground magazine within the fort was designed to store large quantities of gunpowder safely. The complex employed an ingenious defense system on its mountainside that was concealed within the natural terrain itself.
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