Fort de Bois-d'Arcy

Fort de Bois-d'Arcy is a military battery on elevated ground near Paris with thick stone walls and strategic positioning for defense. The site displays the typical layout of such 19th century fortifications with their characteristic bastions and underground passages.

The battery was built between 1874 and 1878 as part of the Séré de Rivières fortification system to strengthen Paris defenses after the Franco-Prussian War. This system was a response to military defeat and aimed to protect the city from future attacks.

The site has housed the French Film Archives since 1969 under the National Center for Cinema, preserving the country's film collection. Visitors can see posters and displays that reflect the ongoing connection between this place and French cinema history.

The entrance is located at 7 rue Alexandre Turpault with good access via local roads. Wear comfortable shoes as exploring the site involves stairs and uneven surfaces throughout the fortification.

The fortification stores thousands of film reels in temperature-controlled underground chambers, where cool conditions enable preservation of the national film treasure. This underground film vault demonstrates a remarkable transformation of a place from military to cultural purpose.