Fort du Mont Verdun, Military fortress in Lyon, France
Fort du Mont Verdun stands at 630 meters altitude with a pentagonal structure, surrounded by covered trenches and accessed through a drawbridge system.
The construction of Fort du Mont Verdun began in 1874 as part of Lyon's second defensive belt, with barracks reinforced using specialized concrete in 1886.
The fort reflects the evolution of French military architecture, transforming from a 19th-century defensive structure into a modern air force command center.
The fortification contains two floors of barracks that accommodate 500 personnel, 14 artillery platforms, and two separate ammunition storage areas.
The facility now houses Base aérienne 942, featuring a radar dome visible from Lyon and serving as a national center for air operations control.
Location: Poleymieux-au-Mont-d'Or
Inception: 1874
Capacity: 500
Part of: second belt of Lyon
Address: 69250 Poleymieux-au-Mont-d'Or, France
GPS coordinates: 45.84920,4.77950
Latest update: December 4, 2025 08:18
This collection brings together underground military sites, strategic bunkers, and highly secured installations across the world. Many of these places were built during the Cold War, when nuclear threats pushed governments to create protected command centers deep under mountains or in remote areas. Some remain active today, serving national security purposes, while others have been decommissioned but preserve their massive concrete structures and tunnels. Though their existence is known from public sources, access remains strictly forbidden. The sites include the Raven Rock Mountain Complex in Pennsylvania, carved deep into the Appalachian Mountains with tunnels stretching for miles through solid rock, and the Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station in Colorado, where rooms rest on massive springs inside the Rocky Mountains to absorb shocks from potential attacks. In Russia, the Skalisty submarine base serves nuclear submarines through underground piers carved directly into rock along the Barents Sea. RAF Menwith Hill in North Yorkshire spreads across a wide area marked by white geodesic domes that protect satellite antennas, while the Svalbard Global Seed Vault lies embedded in arctic permafrost, storing millions of plant seeds behind thick concrete walls. These places show how governments sought to protect command systems, military operations, and even biological reserves by building deep into mountains or along remote coastlines, creating installations that remain largely hidden from public view.
Mont Thou
1.6 km
Château de la Barollière
1.1 km
Monts d'Or Aqueduct
3.3 km
Musée Ampère
1.6 km
Château de Machy
2.2 km
Château de Lissieu
3.4 km
Château de Saint-André du Coing
3.4 km
Fort du Paillet
3.7 km
Château de Bois Dieu
2.8 km
Mont Narcel
1.2 km
Château de la Guerrière
3.6 km
Château de Sandar
2 km
Croix-Rampau
2.7 km
Saint-Fortunat chapel
2.9 km
Église Saint-Martin de Limonest
1.6 km
Église Saint-Romain de Saint-Romain-au-Mont-d'Or
3.6 km
Église Saint-Victor de Poleymieux-au-Mont-d'Or
2 km
Église Saint-Christophe de Lissieu
3.4 km
Église Saint-Martin de Chasselay
2.8 km
Monument à Ampère
1.7 km
Mémorial du 19 juin 1940
3.4 km
Mémorial du 10 juin 1944
3.2 km
Ancienne église Saint-Victor
2.1 km
Madone de Couzon
3.5 km
Château du Plantin
2.4 km
Chapelle de Bois Dieu
2.8 km
Château de Montluzin
3.1 km
Réservoirs d'aqueduc du Vallon d'Arche
3.3 kmReviews
Visited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
Discover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes