Fort de Bicêtre, Military fort in Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
Fort de Bicêtre is a fortification in Le Kremlin-Bicêtre with a five-sided layout surrounded by ramparts, ditches, and defensive walls. The roughly 25-hectare site contains underground passages, gun emplacements, and several barracks buildings from the mid-1800s.
The fort was built between 1841 and 1845 under Louis-Philippe as part of a defensive ring around Paris. During World War II, German troops added concrete bunkers and an underground hospital within the fortification.
The fort displays typical 19th-century military construction with its sandstone walls and vaulted casemates inside. You can observe how soldiers' quarters and ammunition storage were integrated into the fortification's design.
The fort is controlled by the Ministry of Defense and typically opens to the public only during special events like European Heritage Days. Visitors should bring identification and check opening dates in advance.
The fort contains a well-preserved network of underground tunnels that allowed defenders to move unseen between different areas. These passages showcase advanced 19th-century engineering techniques beneath the surface.
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