Fort Queyras, Medieval fortress in Château-Ville-Vieille, France

Fort Queyras is a mountain fortress perched on a rocky ridge in the French Alps, overlooking the narrow gorges of the Guil River. The structure displays different periods of construction with thick walls, bastions, and passages that follow the contours of the hillside.

The fortress was founded in 1265 and later transformed by the royal military engineer Vauban, who redesigned it with modern defensive techniques. This overhaul made it one of the strongest fortifications in the region.

The village below keeps the name Château-Queyras, and the fort served for years as a prison, notably holding women accused of witchcraft while they awaited the stake. Scenes of Philippe de Broca's 1997 film Le Bossu were shot within its walls.

Fort Queyras stands on a rocky spur above the village of Château-Ville-Vieille, 50 km from Briançon and 80 km from Gap, at the entrance to the Combe gorge. The climb from the village is on foot and steep, so wear sturdy shoes and allow time for the ascent and for the narrow, uneven paths between the ramparts.

In 2021 the fort was sold at public auction at the tribunal judiciaire of Gap for 661,000 euros, and for 2026 it is set to receive 500,000 euros through the Loto du patrimoine. The castle also appears in scenes of Le Bossu, directed by Philippe de Broca in 1997.