Fort Risban, Sea fortress at Calais port entrance, France.
Fort Risban sits at the harbor entrance of Calais with thick stone walls built to control ships entering and leaving the port. The structure includes multiple bastions and fortified sections added during different periods of construction and renovation.
English forces constructed an initial wooden fortification in 1346 to cut off supply lines during their lengthy siege of the city. Over centuries, the structure was rebuilt and reinforced by different powers that controlled the territory.
The fort witnessed multiple power transfers between England and France, and its structure reflects how military building methods changed over time.
The fort is located along Avenue Raymond Poincaré and easily accessible from the harbor and waterfront areas of Calais. Walking paths connect the site to the port district and offer views from various angles along the walls.
Military engineer Vauban visited the fort in 1680 and wrote sarcastically that it functioned more as an owl residence than as a real defensive structure. His observation revealed that the fort had become nearly obsolete for military purposes by that era.
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