Fort de la Redoute Ruinée, Military fort in Montvalezan, France

Fort de la Redoute Ruinée stands at about 2,400 metres on the Col de la Traversette, above the Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard in the commune of Montvalezan, Savoie. Its lower part is a long curving retaining wall of rough grey stone blocks topped by a flat parapet; above it rise brownish-grey ruins with an arched gateway, jagged broken wall tops and a rectangular tower remnant at the highest point, with a thin metal mast behind.

A Savoyard redoubt stood at the Col de la Traversette from 1630; the French took it in 1794 and renamed it Fort Libre. New barracks were built from 1891, and President Félix Faure inaugurated the renamed Redoute-Ruinée in August 1897. In June 1940 about 70 men under Sub-Lieutenant Henry Desserteaux held the fort against Italian assault until 3 July, marching out with the honours of war.

The fort's name comes from the ruined redoubt it replaced, and its Italian name is Forte di Traversette. Since 1945 it has been called Baraquement Capitaine Desserteaux after the officer who commanded the 1940 garrison. It now forms part of La Rosière ski area and lies on hiking and trail-running routes.

You can reach the fort by taking the Roches Noires Express chairlift to Roc Noir, then hiking approximately 40 minutes to reach the structure. Bring weather-resistant clothing and sturdy hiking boots since conditions at this altitude change quickly.

The garrison did not surrender until 3 July 1940, a week after the Franco-Italian armistice of 24 June. The roughly 70 defenders, commanded by Second Lieutenant Henry Desserteaux, then marched out between two ranks of Italian Alpini, who presented arms in an honor guard.