Fort de l'Éguillette, Military fortress in Toulon, France.
Fort de l'Éguillette is a square military work on the Corniche Bonaparte in La Seyne-sur-Mer, guarding the roadstead of Toulon. It has a tower and two oblique wings, originally open-air parapets with embrasures for 22 cannons, plus a low battery for grazing fire at the waterline. A long light-brown stone retaining wall with a row of round arches faces the water, and a low pale building with a reddish tiled roof stands behind it.
Built between 1674 and 1685 to protect the roadstead of Toulon and the Seyne shore, the fort was decommissioned on 5 February 1877 and then housed Marine infantry troops. It was transferred to the French Navy on 10 August 1924, which used it for workshops and stores of underwater defence equipment. A major restoration began in 1997.
The name Éguillette probably comes from the Provençal ayguade, a freshwater point where ships took on supplies. The fort's square plan, with a tower and two oblique wings, differs from the round Tour Royale and Fort de Balaguier. A boulet furnace for heating cannonballs is recorded in 1775.
The fort stands on the corniche Bonaparte in La Seyne-sur-Mer, facing the roadstead of Toulon. It is still owned by the French Navy and is used for exhibitions and cultural events, so access depends on those openings rather than regular visiting hours. From the shore below, the long retaining wall with its row of round arches and the pale building with a reddish tiled roof above it can be seen clearly.
The name Éguillette likely comes from the Provençal word ayguade, a freshwater point used to supply ships. A boulet furnace, used to heat cannonballs red-hot, is mentioned at the fort in 1775. The fort was decommissioned on 5 February 1877 and handed to the French Navy on 10 August 1924.
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