Fort de Bellegarde

The Fort de Bellegarde is a 17th century fortification located above the town of Le Perthus, in the Pyrénées-Orientales "département" of southern France.

Le Perthus became French territory after the Treaty of the Pyrenees (1659).Bellegarde was captured by the Spaniards in 1674, but retaken by Schomberg in 1675.

In 1678, Vauban's plans for the new fortress of Bellegarde were approved.

During World War Two the fort was used as a holding prison by the Gestapo for escaped prisoners of war and enemey agents.

The fort is open to the public between June and September only and includes exhibits on the history of the fort, its archaelogy and the surrounding area. The property of the state, it has been listed since 1967 as a "monument historique" by the French Ministry of Culture.

External links

* [http://www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/merimee_fr?ACTION=CHERCHER&FIELD_1=INSEE&VALUE_1=66137 Ministry of Culture listing for Fort de Bellegarde] fr
* [http://www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/memoire_fr?ACTION=CHERCHER&FIELD_5=LBASE&VALUE_5=PA00104090 Ministry of Culture photos]
* [http://www.geocities.com/pentagon/6750/bllgde.html The Fortress of Bellegarde - Roussillon]
* [http://www.fortified-places.com/bellegarde.html Fort Bellegarde at fortified-places.com]

References

* [http://www.culture.gouv.fr www.culture.gouv.fr]