Fort Barraux



Fort Barraux overlooks the valley connecting Chamberey to the north and Grenoble to the south.  Near Montmelian this valley connects with the Isere River valley flowing west from modern Albertville.  Montmelian was made into a major fortress by the Savoyards, but the Savoyards decided to advance further.  On French territory, construction of Fort Barraux was began on this strategic location by the Savoyards in the late 1500s incroaching on French territory.  The king of France was not immediately provoked by this but instead waited until the fort was nearly complete before seizing it in 1598.  In French hands, the fort was a valuable counter to the Savoyard Montmelian.  In 1705, the French captured Montmelian and destroyed the fortifications there.  

In the 1630s, improvements had been made to Fort Barraux.  In 1692, Vauban was sent south to improve defenses in the Alps, and as with other forts, Vauban ordered improvements made at Fort Barraux.  In the valley below he also wanted a fort built at Pontcharra, a bridge across the Isere that would hinder enemy movement on either side of the river.  This fort was never built, but improvements were made to Fort Barraux.

During the Second World War, Vichy used the fort for internments and deportations.  The army abandoned the fort in 1988, but it has been made into a historical site in the early 21st century.  






From the Valley Below











From Lunette D'Entree

Vauban's redesign straightened the curtain wall on this face and moved the entrance here from the north side.  A demi-lune and lunette were added to protect the entrance.










Demi-lune de Savoie


The demi-lune was connected to the curtain wall with a caponier.





Vauban had two lunettes built on the east facing part of the fort.




Demi-lune No. 13





Lower Fort Covered Way

Vauban improved the south face with additional lower levels.




Lower Fort Ditch With Traverse




 

Model of Lower Fort





Entrance

Alterations in the 1700s included modification of the entrance bridge by turning the arched sections into casemates.








Interior

Vauban's redesign largely eliminated existing buildings and replaced them.





Well



 

Chapelle



Copyright 2015 by John Hamill



Back to John's Military History Tour of Europe