Fort de Bertheaume

The Fort de Bertheaume is a fort in Plougonvelin, the Department of Finistère, France. It is located on an island, which is nowadays connected to the dry land by a footbridge. It was used a long time for the monitoring of Goulet de Brest.

History

Fortification by Vauban

The fort of Bertheaume was mentioned for the first time in an act of March 8 1474, but it seems that the first fort was destroyed in 1558. Vauban in attempting to enhance his control of the rade de Brest, established a battery in 1689, in order to push back any potential English attack. It proved its worth during the English invasion with Camaret in 1694. In 1835, the first footbridge connecting the island to the mainland was built.

Rehabilitation of the site

Since the repurchase in 1990 by the commune of Plougonvelin, the fort and the surrounding area was subject to archaeological excavations and underwent rehabilitation to make the site visitable. A main issue was that of the footbridge, which had to be rebuilt several times, after being damaged on numerous occasions by the winter storms. The continental part of the fort now accomodates an open-air theatre.

External links

* [http://www4.culture.fr/patrimoines/patrimoine_architectural_et_mobilier/sribzh/main.xsp?execute=show_document&id=MERIMEEIA29001106&q=sdx_q1&n=2 Fiche de l'inventaire général du patrimoine culturel sur le fort de Bertheaume]
* [http://www4.culture.fr/patrimoines/patrimoine_architectural_et_mobilier/sribzh/main.xsp?execute=show_document&id=MERIMEEIA29001834&q=sdx_q1&n=1 Fiche de l'inventaire général du patrimoine culturel sur le fort de Bertheaume sur les batteries du fort]