Fort d'Arches, Military fortification in Pouxeux, France

Fort d'Arches is a Séré de Rivières fortification on a 475-metre height above Pouxeux, built of grey stone with red-brick arches around its openings. Its roofless interior forms a U-shaped corridor open to the sky, with a large rear archway above a smaller central arch. A projecting stone frame carries a plaque inscribed "FORT D'ARCHES".

The fort was built between 1875 and 1877 as part of the Séré de Rivières fortification system designed to protect the Haute-Moselle region. It was later incorporated into the broader defensive network around Épinal.

The fort displays 19th-century French military engineering and reflects the defensive strategy of the region during that era. Its placement alongside other fortifications shows how communities organized their protection.

The fort is not open to casual visits but guided tours can be arranged through local heritage organizations in the Grand Est region. Plan ahead by contacting these organizations to schedule an authorized visit.

The fort's underground sandstone chambers shelter three bat species in winter, including a small colony of Greater Mouse-eared Bats and hibernating Vespertilionidae. Four species are listed under Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive and the 1979 Bonn Convention, among them the Western Barbastelle. A 30-year lease signed on 4 July 2013 gave the Conservatoire d'espaces naturels de Lorraine management and monitoring of the site.