Fort de Saint-Cyr

Fort de Saint-Cyr is a military fortress in Montigny-le-Bretonneux featuring thick stone walls, moats, and bastioned fortifications from the late 1800s. The structure displays the hallmarks of 19th-century defensive architecture with its carefully positioned gun emplacements and underground passages.

The fort was built between 1874 and 1879 as part of a comprehensive defense system around Paris following France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. This fortification represented a direct response to the need for protecting the capital against future attacks.

The fort houses a major film archive storing thousands of works from French cinema history. This unexpected use of a former military building shows how places can transform their purpose entirely.

The site is accessible year-round and allows visitors to explore the fortification's exterior and surrounding grounds. Guided tours help you understand the military design and spatial layout of the installation.

The fort was converted from its original military purpose and has served for decades as a film archive for French cinema. The underground vaults provide excellent conditions for film preservation, making this location a surprising repository of cinematic heritage.

Location: Montigny-le-Bretonneux

GPS coordinates: 48.79284,2.03124

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:02