Fort Saint-Elme, Military fort on hilltop in Collioure, France.

Fort Saint-Elme is a military fort built of tan and grey stone on a hilltop at 170 metres above Collioure and Port-Vendres. Its walls form a star with six re-entrant angles and sloping faces, designed by the Italian architect Benedetto of Ravenna from 1538 to 1552. A tall cylindrical tower with slit windows and a flat top stands at one end of the crenellated wall, and a square tower rises at the centre of the enclosure.

The site began as a watchtower in the 8th century during Arab-Berber occupation. Between 1276 and 1344, the kings of Majorca rebuilt it as a signal tower. In 1537 the Italian architect Benedetto of Ravenna pointed out the weaknesses of the position, and Charles V had it transformed between 1538 and 1552 into a star-shaped fort with six re-entrant angles.

The name Saint-Elme refers to Erasmus of Formia, a 4th-century martyr later confused with the Spanish saint Peter González and taken as patron of sailors; the electrical glow on ships' masts was called Saint Elmo's fire. Since 2008 the fort has housed a museum of medieval and Renaissance arms with temporary exhibitions.

The path to the fortress passes through Parc Pams and takes about 40 minutes uphill from Collioure's art museum. Comfortable shoes and patience with the climb are worthwhile for reaching the top.

The watchtower was rebuilt between 1276 and 1344 under the kings of Majorca and linked by smoke signals to the Madeloc and Massane towers. Dry wood was burned at night to alert garrisons as far as Perpignan, while green wood produced a broad smoke plume by day.