Located in the historical centre of Muret, the Clément Ader museum, a State-controlled establishment, invites visitors to discover the rich local heritage.

The city, 25 km south of Toulouse, former capital of Comminges, pays homage to the "Father of Aviation" and to the most famous local inhabitants, such as Nicolas Dalayrac, Adolphe Niel and Vincent Auriol. Associated with the municipal archive department and the library, it is a place dedicated to discovery, research and exchanges.

At the end of the 19th century, a few local scholars donated a number of items to the town of Muret, thus constituting the base of the first collections. Vincent Auriol, Mayor of Muret from 1925 to 1940, set up a museum programme to promote the cultural and historical heritage of the town and its surroundings. He decided to carry out an acquisition campaign to complete the initial collection. He pushed a policy in favour of donations and State deposits. This is how the Ader and Niel collections came to join the museum, and in 1928, the new museum acquired two paintings by François Louis Dejuine (1786-1844): Simon de Montfort and Guy de Lévis Mirepoix.

After being renovated, Château Saint-Germier was used as the setting for the first Muret museum: the "Musée du Bas-Comminges", inaugurated on 21st September 1930. The collections are presented in four areas: the rooms of Bas-Comminges, Dalayrac-Fons, Niel and Ader. During the Second World War, one of the ceilings collapsed, destroying part of the collections and causing the establishment to close. It was rehabilitated in the 1950s by Robert Mesuret, curator of the Toulouse museum. The institution was thus set up in the town hall. The second museum was inaugurated on 9th December 1954 and was named the "Musée Clément Ader".

The first inventory was carried out by Marthe Moisserand, voluntary curator between 1956 and 1973. Between 1971 and 1983, due to a lack of suitable premises, the museum was closed to the public, pending completion of work to build the new Muret Town Hall, at 27 rue Castelvieh, where the rooms were arranged to house the collections on a temporary basis.

In 1992, the archaeological gallery showed the wealth of the Muret's heritage.

On 29th June 2002, at last, the Musée Clément Ader opend at 58 rue Clément Ader.

The permanent exhibition then developed on one level covering 200 m2. When they first arrive, visitors meet the region's celebrities, before becoming familiar with local archaeology. The collection of Clément Ader (1841-1925), the "Father of aviation", includes furniture from the inventor's office, patents and plans of some of his inventions, personal objects and his library. This collection comes entirely from the donation made by Mrs Clémence de Manthé, Ader's only daughter, to the town of Muret.

The collection of Adolphe Niel (1802-1869), Marshal of France and war minister of Napoleon III, brings together photographs, drawings and etchings, a military atlas, a bust of Gustave Crauck, furniture and personal belongings. It was made from donations from the Marshal's descendants. 

The Vincent Auriol (1884-1966) collection was donated to the museum by his son, Paul Auriol, in 1966. In particular, it presents personal belongings, portraits, medals, etc. The Dalayrac family added to the museum's collection by donating different objects from their ancestor, Nicolas Dalayrac (1753-1809), known for his light operas. It consists mainly of busts, etchings,

instruments, booklets and musical scores. The museum is proud to be able to present, thanks to a State deposit in 1928, two paintings by François Dejuine (1786-1844), who won second prize in the Prix de Rome and was decorated with the Legion of Honour. They are exhibited

in the Salon: Simon de Montfort and Guy de Lévis, lord of Mirepoix. The archaeological area is dedicated to archaeological discoveries in the region of Muret: Bourdaya,

St-Marcet, Cabouillet, La Peyrère. It shows, in chronological order and by theme, artefacts ranging from the Lower Palaeolithic period to the 19th century.

By appointment, the museum's reserve presents other archaeological items and local historical collections. One example is the Guillaume Jbos (1860-1952) collection, an international singer.

This collection, bought from a private person in 1995, contains photographs, stage costumes, musical scores and private documents. The reserve conserves testimonials from other noteworthy Muret inhabitants

such as Gaston and Myriam de Béarn, Jean Decap, and Abbot Lestrade.

The municipal archives, installed inside the museum, conserve a very extensive collection of documents relating to the history of Muret from the Middle Ages to the end of the 1930s:

cadastral maps, debates, civil status documents, etc. These collections, as well as the large collection of photographs and the collection of the local history library, are free to consult in the reading room.

The establishment regularly welcomes school groups, clubs or associations. In this field, the Clément Ader museum wants to improve its policy for receiving young people.

It has set up a learning department in charge of designing and organising actions with different local and national educational and cultural players.

Musée Clément Ader

6 Bd Aristide Briand - 31600 Muret

- Tél. : 05.61.51.91.40 - Fax : 05.61.51.91.41

e-mail : musee@mairie-muret.fr

Postal address: Hôtel de Ville

27, rue Castelvielh

BP 60207 31605 Muret

Mairie de Muret

The château of Balleroy, the design of which inspired the design of the palace of Versailles, was built ex nihilo in 1631 at the request of the duke of Choisy by the architect François Mansart (1598-1666).

The architect gave the structure the first spiral staircase ever seen in France. Works by other masters, such as Baudry, Delaroche, Géricault, Gros and Van Loo add to the brilliance of the place named after count Albert of Balleroy, a talented animal painter a student of Schmitz, who exhibited his works at in the hall from 1853 to 1870.

The reception hall has a series of royal portraits of Juste d'Egmont crowned by a ceiling painted in trompe-l'œil style by Charles de la Fosse.

During the course of the renovation of the interior, the dining hall is fitted with Régence panelling from a private hotel in Paris.

The library, built in English style around 1850, houses more than 3600 works.

The park is lies between romantic gardens built in 1856 and French-style panels designed according to the plans of André Le Nôtre and altered by Henri Duchêne in the 19th century.

The property was acquired in 1970 by media magnate Malcolm S. Forbes (1919-1990).

He was a world-renowned balloonist who set six hot-air ballooning world records, and was the first to successfully cross the United States, from east to west, with a single hot-air balloon. He wass also a member of the consultation committee of the Naval College.

He decided to create an international balloon museum on his new property. The wealthy, passionate individual gradually built up the collection, collecting photographs, sketches, dioramas, genuinely unusual objects and unique documents on the history of air ballooning, in particular on the role of air balloons during the sieges that took place during the war of 1870.

Château de Balleroy - Musée des Ballons

F-14490 Balleroy

Tél. : 02.31.21.60.61 - Fax : 02.31.21.51.77

E-mail : reservation@chateau-balleroy.com

Château de Balleroy

Located at the heart of the old city centre of Nancy, the Musée Lorrain lies close to the Palais Ducal and Église des Cordeliers. Work on the oldest part of the palace began under René II (1473-1508), the conqueror of Charles the Reckless, and continued under his successors until early in the XVII century.

Nowadays, the first level of the structure contains the reception and dining room used by the dukes of Lorraine, known as the "Galerie des Cerfs". On the ground floor, there is an open-vaulted gallery overlooking the garden, while a portal marks the Grande Rue entrance. Also built in Gothic style, its décor suggests that it is one of the earliest examples of work from the Renaissance period in eastern France.

In 1850, the first hall of the Lorrain Museum opened its doors to the public. From then on, the museum expanded and now has some 4 500 m2 of exhibition areas scattered across a number of sites in the old city. These structures, with their powerful history, house rich collections assembled over more than 150 years, the most notable items of which include the tables of Georges de la Tour and the work of Jacques Callot, but also reference collections, art collections and collections of popular traditional items. Since 2000, the renovation of the Lorrain Museum has taken the form of a joint initiative involving the City of Nancy, the Historical Society of Lorraine and the Musée Lorrain, the French government and the Lorraine regional government. It is managed by the City of Nancy, which is also the project supervisor, in partnership with the French and regional governments under the terms of the contract for the 2000/2006 plan.

The aim of the project is to rebuild the museum, while at the same time preserving historical buildings and creating new areas in which to host exhibits by modern museums in line with the expectations of modern audiences. Thanks to the creation of these areas, the Lorrain Museum will become « the museum for all peoples of Lorraine», a cultural reference point not only at a regional level but also at a national and international level. A plan for for reserves common to the museums of Nancy is currently in progress. This plan is a joint initiative between the City of Nancy and the urban community of Grand Nancy. The objective of the plan is to create an area for the storage, conservation and analysis of collections, and to have a permanent community tool for the development of these facilities. The renovation of the Lorrain Museum is thus now under way. It will continue to welcome members of the public for the duration of the renovation process.

By way of an introduction, the archaeology halls highlight the characteristics of the different peoples that have inhabited this region: everyday objects, fine clothing, armaments and sculptures bear witness to the wealth of prehistoric, Gallo-Roman and Merovingian civilisations in the east of France. Collections from the Middle Ages are displayed in the vaulted gallery of the ground floor of the Palais Ducal. Religious and funeral sculptures and pieces of silverware sit next to ceramics, glasses and stained-glass windows from the Medieval period, as well as armaments from the XIV and XV centuries. Renaissance art finds its expression in particular in works by Ligier Richier (Eglise des Cordeliers) and a set of remarkable stained-glass windows and sculptures, such as Christ in the Olive Garden and the Passion of Christ series.
The Femme à la Puce painting, the famous masterpiece by Georges de La Tour, is surrounded by paintings of his surroundings. The brass works and etchings of Jacques Callot are another highlight of a visit to the Museum. Among the objects emblematic of the reign of Stanislas you will find the statue of Louis XV. A small-scale version of this statue adorned the royal palace before it was destroyed during the Revolution and replaced by a statue of Stanislas. The collection of regional earthenware from the XVIII and XIX centuries is a reference collection.

The armaments and evocation of Lorraine military chiefs recall the role of this strategic and patriotic region during the XIX and XX centuries. A hall with miniatures and another hall with Jewish play at the Museum. The everyday life of the inhabitants of Lorraine from the late XVIII century to the early XX century is illustrated by collections of popular art and ethnography housed in the convent of the Cordeliers : regional furniture, popular earthenware and domestic objects are displayed in settings reminiscent of traditional Lorraine home interiors.
The Museum's education service, an association governed in accordance with the law of 1901, has been in place at the Museum since 1961. The service offers the following all year round: Schools: from kindergarten to final-year students Teachers, children and young people from specialist education institutions MJCs, FJEPs, rural homes a wide range of activities: - free or guided visits : Musée Historique Lorrain, Musée des Arts et Traditions, Chapelle des Cordeliers, Porte de la Craffe - Pantomimes for and by children - Workshops on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and during school holidays : linocut, costumes, etching, masks, models, photography - The use of educational tools, videos, slide films - Access to cultural education service : conferences, exhibitions - Preparation and holding of cultural heritage classes and workshops. Contact : Mireille Canet Telefax: 03 83 37 25 55
 

Musée Lorrain

Palais Ducal - 64 Grande Rue - 54 000 Nancy

Tel. : 03.836.32.18.74 - Fax : 03.83.32.87.63

e-mail : museelorrain@mairie-nancy.fr

How to get there by CGFTE shuttle service. Stop: Musée Lorrain. Hours The Museum is open every day from 10h00 to 12h30 and from 14h00 to 18h00, except Tuesdays. Closed 1 January, 1 May, 14 July, 1 November and 25 December. Pricesfor permanent collections Single : ?3.10 Group (more than 10 people) ad concession rate : ?2.30 Pricesfor exhibits Single : ?5 Group (more than 10 people) and concession rate : ?3 Pricesfor combined visits (Musée Lorrain and Musée des Arts et Traditions Populaires) Single : ?4.60 Group (more than 10 people) and concession rate : ?3.10 Pricesfor combined visits and access to temporary exhibits Single : ?6 Group (more than 10 people) and concession rate : ?4

In 1967, the French government acquired the collections of Raoul et Jean Brunon through an intermediary of the Military Museum of Paris.

The collection were transferred to Salon-de-Provence, where they were used to build a municipal museum before being moved to the château of Empéri, which dominates the city centre.

The entrance to the museum is in the ancient chapel that leads to the reception hall of the château.

The collections occupy around 30 of the rooms currently renovated.

The various pieces are displayed in 160 vitrines or hung on walls or ceilings.

The collections of the museum contain 10,000 authentic objects :

personal firearms and slashers, cannons, headgear, uniform helmets, flags and emblems, decorations, equipment, trappings, personal items, reduced-scale models, etc.

The scenography draws a distintion between seven periods: The Ancien Regime, the First Republic, Empire,

the Restoration, the African Army, the Second Empire and World War I.

The finial of the museum consists of halls from the Napoleonic period. The most impressive visual elements are the 130 mannequins, around 15 of which are on horseback.

Their faces have been crafted by Raoul Brunon using illustrations pf famous military figures.

♦ The entrance hall has an armaments and armour collection dating back to the XIV and XVII centuries, as well

as the history of the château. ♦ One hall is dedicated to the history of the Brunon collection : images of Epinal, uniforms and childrens' toys, etc. ♦ Another piece demonstrates the development of uniforms since the reign of Louis XIV. ♦ Two halls dedicated to the training of the French army from the reign of Louis XIV to the Revolution.

♦ Four halls on the army of the First Republic. ♦ There is an exhibit on the First Empire that takes in five halls: Campaigns, marshalls, the Legion of Honour, exile. ♦ The exhibit on the army of the Second Republic takes up

two halls. ♦ Six halls are dedicated to an exhibition on the Second Empire, from Magenta to Sedan, through the Crimean War. ♦ French and German armies echo in the part of the museum dedicated to World War I, from the Champagne fronts to the Chemin des Dames and Taxis de la Marne to victory. This collection was originally brought together by Jean Brunon in memory of his brother, who died at the front. ♦ Firearms and their history since Louis XIII are displayed in the display cabinets in two halls that can be accessed from the entrance hall. ♦ Two other rooms, accessible from the main hall. The first room is reserved for temporary exhibits.

The second, created using collections 14-18 and objects from the Ecole de l'Air, gives an insight into the history of military aeronautics. The collection begins with the period 1970-1980

This library is the second-largest store of military archives in France, after that of the history service of the department of defence. It has 24 000 volumes, 20 000 periodicals, 15 000 paintings, cartoons, etchings, autographs, official and personal documents, photographs, 5 000 maps, designs, letters and ship monographs.

Château de l'Empéri

Montée du Puech - 13300 Salon-de-Provence

Tel. : 04.90.56.22.36 - Fax : 04.90.56.90.84

Opening hours

October 1 to April 15: open daily except Mondays from 13h30 to 18h
From 16 April to 30 September: open every day except Mondays from 9.30am to 12pm and 14pm to 18pm.

The museum gift shop is located in the entrance hall

Association "Les Amis du Musée de l'Empéri"

Maison de la Manufacture d'Armes Blanches 2, rue de l'École 67530 Klingenthal Tel.: +33 3 88 95 93 23 e-mail : Adolf.Marc@wanadoo.fr

The château de Vincennes is an exceptional historic site: initially it served as a Capetian manor before becoming a royal residence from the 12th to 17th centuries and then being used as a State prison in the 18th century; during the 19th and 20th centuries it was transformed into a major military establishment. Its geographical location is no a coincidence: the King demanded that it be located within close proximity to the French capital, so that he and the government could be protected and maintained in times of trouble.

Here is the plan of the château de Vincennes, Click on the arrows for more information...
Today, this site represents a rare collection of monuments: the dungeon of Charles V, the Sainte-Chapelle and the King's and Queen's pavilions are proof of the castle's important role in French history. The castle is owned by the State, specifically the ministries of defence and culture. It has suffered from the passing of time and from human destruction. In 1986, the State realised the importance of restoring the site and the leadership of a study was entrusted to Jean-Philippe Lecat, a former culture minister, who would publish its findings in 1988 in a report entitled 'Vincennes, memory and creation'.
This analysis set in train a vast restoration campaign which continues today. An interministerial defence/culutre commission (CICV) was also created to coordinate restoration and to ensure that the monument is promoted appropriately along with various other partners (defence, culture - in charge of managing the project), the town of Vincennes and the city of Paris, and with different services (Bâtiments de France, Monum, etc.). Since 1988, more than ?40m has been invested in the castle by the two ministries, the main areas being the Sainte-Chapelle, the dungeon and surrounding wall. When work began these structures revealed an unexpected technical complexity both in terms of restoration and archeological excavations. The work also revealed the intellectual bases underlying the construction of the monument.
This project has been carried out in an exemplary fashion thanks to the effective long-term cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and its various departments (Management of National Heritage, National Works Department) and the Ministry of Defence which has continually provided the means required. A CNRS research team (ERCUBE) brings together researchers and professionals. This makes it one of Europe's most important restoration projects and one that is clearly of significant cultural and tourist value.
This building has been entrusted to the Ministry of Defence. France's Defence and Culture ministries signed an agreement to restore it, on 17 September 2005.
Château de Vincennes Main entrance Avenue de Paris 94300 Vincennes Tel/Fax: 33 / (0)1 48 08 31 20 ou Fax: 33 / (0)1 58 64 23 95 Open: From 1 September to 30 April From 10:00-12:00 and from 13:15-17:00 From 2 May to 31 August From 10:00-12:00 and from 13:15-18:00 Please note! The castle is closed on 1 January, 1 May, 1 November, 11 November, and 25 December. Getting there By road: By the East ringroad: exit 'Porte de Vincennes' (Route Nationale N34: avenue de Paris), or Porte Dorée From south of Val-de-Marne: motorway A86, take the East ringroad at the level of 'Porte de Bercy'. Free parking (near the Saint Louis Esplanade) From Orly airport: By car, motorway A6 and East ringroad From Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport: By car, motorway A1 and East ringroad By underground and RER: Line no. 1: station 'Château de Vincennes' or RER A station 'Vincennes' By bus: Château de Vincennes Bus Station: Line 46 Saint-Mandé Demi-lune --> Gare du Nord. Departures for Château de Vincennes from Monday to Friday in the afternoon during the summer, every Wednesday afternoon from 1 May to 30 September, every Saturday, Sunday and public holiday afternoon throughout the year. Line 56 --> Porte de Clignancourt Line 112 --> Joinville / La Varenne-Chennevières Line 114 --> Villemomble / Le Raincy Line 115 --> Porte des Lilas Line 118 --> Rosny-sous-Bois Line 124 --> Val de Fontenay Line 210 --> Villiers-sur-Marne Line 318 --> Romainville-les-Chantaloups Line 325 --> Bibliothèque François-Mitterrand

Background

In 1988, the association of the Musée Maritime de La Rochelle was created to conserve and promote maritime heritage. It acquired, for the purpose, the meteorological frigate France 1.

The Museum was expanded in 1995, setting up in-land exhibitions in the former Halle à Marées, which had been left empty with the departure of the fishing harbour. A redevelopment project began in 2005, which allowed the museum to spread out over five hectares, based on three sections:

• A 6,000 m2 ocean section in the inland area, comprising reception areas and services (café, restaurant, bookshop, boutiques), on the one hand, and the museum areas and administrative spaces on the other.
• An on-board section on the docks and boats in the museum's flotilla.
• A restaurant and boat maintenance section.

Collections

The association of the Musée Maritime de La Rochelle mainly adds to its stock by acquiring vessels.

This consists of:

• France I (1958), the last French meteorological frigate, 76.5 metres long, a listed historical monument. The vessel carried out its missions for 27 years, until meteorological satellites came into use in 1985.

• Angoumois (1969), a stern trawler, 38 metres long, a listed historical monument.

• Duperré (1952), staff boat of the French Navy, a wooden vedette boat.

• Capitaine de Frégate Le Verger (1954), lifeboat, 15 metres long. 

• Joshua (1962), red ketch belonging to Bernard Moitessier, a listed historical monument.

• Steam-powered dredger (1906), a listed historical monument.

• Saint-Gilles, sea-going tug (1958), a listed historical monument.

The slipway.

This harbour equipment, which stands at the entrance of the Musée Maritime de La Rochelle, was built in 1942 during the Second World War by the Service du Travail Obligatoire (STO - Compulsory Work Service) under authority of the German occupying troops. It was used by the Germans during the war, and then to maintain the fishing fleet of La Rochelle. It was installed at the Musée Maritime de La Rochelle in 1996 in the Bassin des Chalutiers.  This piece of machinery is unique in France and is currently in the process of being listed as a Historical Monument.

The slipway consists of:

- a bunker housing an electric winch dating back to 1938 and requisitioned in Holland,

- a main slipway to hoist 700-tonne ships to dry docking.

Non-material heritage

The Musée Maritime de la Rochelle has undertaken work on non-material maritime heritage. Every year, as part of the Heritage Days, the team organises "Alors Raconte !", an event based on maritime memory.

These two days consist of projections of pictures, recorded interviews with witnesses, visits of boats and, for children, events based on life as a sailor. Former employees provide their accounts, take visitors round and revive life on board the ships and on the dock.

Musée Maritime

Place Bernard Moitessier

BP 3053

17031 LA Rochelle Cedex 01

Tél. : 05 46 28 03 00

Fax : 05 46 41 07 87

e-mail : contact@museemaritimelarochelle.fr

Musée maritime de la Rochelle

Late openings

24th July and 7th August 2013 from 10 am to 11 pm, non-stop.

Guided tour at 9 pm subject to booking on 05 46 45 46 57

Getting there
 

The ships of the Musée Maritime which can be visited are located:

Quai Sénac de Meilhan (Bassin des Chalutiers near the Médiathèque)

Nearby car parks: place Bernard Moitessier (free) Aquarium and Médiathèque (paying)

Bus: illico line, stop at Aquarium, bus No. 19, then cross the Bassin des Chalutiers using the footbridge.

Ferry: crossing from Vieux Port to the Médiathèque.

Built during the reign of Louis XV, la chapelle St-Louis de l'Ecole Militaire is original evidence of the architectural heritage of the 18th century.

In 1751, Louis XV decided to build a royal military school on the plain of Grenelle. The project was entrusted to his favourite architect, Ange-Jacques Gabriel. Work on the school began in 1753 and lasted more than thirty years, during the course of which financial problems disrupted the initial project. The original plans provided for the construction of a majestic chapel in the middle of the enclosure. In 1768, Gabriel proposed a second project, in which the chapel was to form part of the interior of the main building. Louis XV laid the foundation stone of the chapel on 5 July 1769. Upon its completion in 1773, the chapel was dedicated to Saint Louis, the patron saint of the army. Until 1788, it was open for worship and welcomed students and staff from the military school. Bonaparte received his confirmation there in 1785. Devastated during the Revolution, the chapel was turned into a canteen and then a feed and weapons depot. Its furnishings were dispersed. During the funeral of Marshal Joffre in 1931, the chapel was definitively cleared of all the items kept there. Its furnishings were recovered during the course of the 1930s and it was restored as a Catholic place of worship in 1951.
The chapel is 35 metres long and 13 metres wide. It consists of a unique rectangular nave divided into eight equal spans, the last of which forms the chancel. The spans are separated by Corinthian columns that support a lowered arch-shaped vault. The windows of the ground floor have been blinded and now hold paintings representing the life of Saint Louis. These nine works illustrate the main events in the life of the king. The chapel also has one of the panes of a triptych from the Renaissance period. Above the main entrance and along the full width of the chapel there is a gallery supported by four ionic columns on which a modern organ has been placed.
The back wall, which is located behind the chancel, is decorated with two Corinthian columns similar to those of the nave. The altar includes a tomb made of white marble, decorated with a gilded bronze wreath. Two low reliefs attributed to the sculptor Pajou are detaching themselves from the walls above the tribune and behind the altar. The reliefs depict child angels lifting a cross in the clouds and the scene of the Apocalypse of Saint John. On either side of the chancel are two doors that provide access to the sacristy. Above these doors, two walled-up openings indicate the site of the galleries where important hosts previously sat to listen to mass. Nowadays, flags representing the colours of the French army since the reign of Louis XV and have been installed there.
The current throne is decorated with raised patterns gilded with gold leaf and a medallion representing an eagle with outstretched wings. Under the chapel there is a crypt in which contains the bodies of the first governor of the school and of Pâris Duverney, an adviser to Louis XV. The chapel is open on rare occasions only, for religious ceremonies or concerts organised by the ministry of defence.
The restoration of this unique monument, for which the Department of Defence is responsible, was included in a Culture and Defence protocol signed on the 17th September 2005.
La Chapelle Saint-Louis de l'Ecole militaire 1 place J'offre Paris 7° Metro station: Ecole militaire

The building, built between 1883 and 1890, sits on a rocky outcropping overlooking the confluence of the Tinée and the Var, north of Nice.

The treaty of 1860 brought Nice and Savoy under French control and forced the French army to redefine its plans for defending the southeast border with Italy. The young Italian State, unified by the Piedmont royal family, sought to make its mark by controlling its territory with fortifications on the Col de Tende and through a trade and customs war. A policy of systematic opposition to France led Italy to join the Triple Alliance in 1882.

Séré de Rivières, in charge of establishing a line of defence along the northeast border, expanded his system to the Italian border, as he was well aware of the threat: “Since, through a series of annexations made possible by French policy, the King of Piedmont has become the King of all of Italy and rather than having neighbours who are incapable of causing us any umbrage, we are in contact with a first-class power, the Alpine border has taken on great importance.”

The first step consisted in controlling all the approaches to Nice, transforming the city into a resistance position. Nice played the role of the core surrounded by a line of defence made up of forts set up on natural outcroppings, within shooting distance of each other. It quickly became necessary to push the line of defence closer to the border.

A second fortified line was set up, rounding out the system of strategic roads started in 1877. It should be pointed out that his predecessor, Engineering General Frossard, had already planned in 1862 to defend Nice and to control the gorges of the Var and the Tinée with a system of two “chuise” and four forts.

The “explosive shell crisis” made the “first generation” of the Séré de Rivières forts partially useless.

The Fort du Pic Charvet, or Picciarvet, is a typical construction in the system. It is part of a vast defensive system comprising 158 forts and 254 artillery batteries in charge of safeguarding the border.

The Fort du Pic Charvet is a protective fort. The building is surrounded by a ditch that protects the west side, which is more vulnerable. It is defended by caponiers. No large façades are visible. Only a few walls and a cannon ramp can be seen. The heavy machinery includes four 120-mm cannons, heavy weapons to ensure the fort’s role.

With the law of 22 December 1889, General Baron Berge created the “Alpine batteries” each of which was to be paired off with the Chasseurs Alpins battalion at the nearest fort. These batteries are equipped with the 80-mm De Bange cannon, called the “mountain gun”, a rifled cannon that could be broken down into three loads of approximately one hundred kilos which can be transported by mules using a packsaddle: the carriage, the pointer extension with the wheels. This cannon has a range of 4,100 metres. The 65-mm mountain gun replaced it in the end. This is a fast-firing gun with an articulated carriage. It weighs 400 kilos. It is made up of four loads for mule transport: the gun, the brake, the pointer, and the wheels. Its maximum range is 5,500 metres and its firing speed can reach 10 to 15 shots a minute. The fort was occupied until World War II by the 18^th battalion of Chasseurs Alpins.

Syndicat d'initiative de Villars sur Var

Tel.: +33 (0)4.93.05.32.32

Tournefort Town Hall

Tel.: +33 (0)4.93.02.90.56

Access: on foot, take the path from the village of Tournefort

Association Montagne et Traditions

This limestone pre-alp range reaches heights of 600 to 800 metres. Its north-south orientation makes it a natural obstacle to invasions from the west and a travel route between Nice and the Vésubie Valley. These dry-stone fortifications were set up by French troops who invaded the County of Nice in 1747. It runs from Mont Férion to the sea, passing through Mont Macaron and the Terrier Plateau. The system includes a double line used as a shooting bench, equipped with redoubts. The most interesting vestiges are located on the Terrier plateau.

Trom the D 19

Montagne et Traditions Association

Quizz : Forts and citadelles