Fort du Télégraphe, Military fort in Valloire, France
Fort du Télégraphe is a military fortification in the French Alps built on a mountain ridge at around 1500 meters elevation, with thick stone walls designed to withstand attacks. The structure contains multiple levels with gun emplacements and ammunition storage designed to control the valley below.
The fortification was built between 1886 and 1890 under General Berge as part of France's Alpine defense line against Italy. It represents one of many mountain strongholds constructed during that period to protect the border region.
The fort represents a prime example of Séré de Rivières military architecture, adapted specifically to the mountain terrain of the French Alps.
Access to the fort is available during summer months through guided tours that depart from the nearby Col du Télégraphe parking area. Visitors should be prepared for mountain terrain and cooler temperatures at this elevation.
The fort takes its name from a former Chappe optical telegraph station that connected Paris and Milan in the early 1800s. This visual signaling system was a groundbreaking technology before electrical communications existed.
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