Fort des Têtes, Military fortress in Briançon, France

Fort des Têtes sits on a plateau at 1,440 meters (4,724 feet) overlooking the Durance valley with three main defensive frontages. The complex includes barracks, an arsenal, water storage, and multiple entrances arranged to support military operations.

Vauban planned a fort on the Plateau des Trois Têtes in 1700, but construction only began in 1721 under Marshal Claude-François Bidal d'Asfeld. The stone fort was completed and brought into service in 1734. It served as a barracks and arsenal for over two centuries, first seeing combat in 1940 when Italian 149 mm shells from Fort Mont Chaberton struck it.

The name comes from the Plateau des Trois Têtes, named for three rocks jutting from it. Inside stands the Chapel of Saint Louis, and the Royal Gate is shielded by a small outwork of two bastions joined by a crescent-shaped curtain. The fort has never been open for free roaming; it can be seen only on organised tours.

Access is only possible on organized guided tours; there is no free entry to the fort. The site stands at 1,440 m on the Plateau des Têtes above Briançon, reached via the Pont d'Asfeld, and links to the Fort du Randouillet by the bastioned gallery called Communication Y. Bring warm, weatherproof clothing and sturdy shoes for the altitude.

The fort features 72 gun ports designed to coordinate fire with neighboring fortifications across the region. An underground passage called Communication Y physically linked the fort to other defensive positions, creating an integrated defense system.