On August 5, 1808, Napoléon Ier visited the island of Aix and decided to build a fort that was indestructible and impregnable on its eastern part to prevent enemy landings. He even drew the first sketches himself. The construction, which took 24 years, began in 1810 under the direction of the engineer Thuillier. It was designed as a square fort with a bastion at each corner, measuring 90 meters on each side and 7 meters high, with a central court of 30 meters. Upon its completion in 1834, the tower initially projected was transformed into redoute-modèle no 1, the only example of its kind. The army used the site for training fires in 1863.
Over the years, the fort served as a prison for political detainees, most notably during the Commune of Paris in 1871. Ahmed Ben Bella, the future President of Algeria, was imprisoned there from 1959 to 1961. The site was also used as a vacation colony for children from 1948 to 1958 and then from 1962 to 1980.
After being left to abandon for several years and overgrown by vegetation, it was purchased in 1989 by the Conservatoire du littoral. The organization ensures its management and rehabilitation in collaboration with the commune of l'Île d'Aix. The fort has been classified as a historic monument since September 8, 1995.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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