Standing tall today at Merville-Franceville Plage in the Normandy region of France, the Redouve de Merville is an old military construction that dates back to 1779. Originally designed by the famous military architect Vauban in 1699, this fort was built to safeguard the coast against possible English incursions. Planned as part of a pair of forts, Redouve de Merville was intended to protect the mouth of the Orne and the passes of the River Ouistreham.
Only one redoubt was completed, while another was partially preserved. The structure is shaped like a semi-buried horseshoe fort and was surrounded by moats where the water would flow in during high tide when the fort was completely encircled by the sea. The redoubt was equipped with two 24-canons, one mortar, and a powder magazine. Thirty men and an officer could be lodged within the buildings. A platform installed at the top of the fort allows control over the entire bay. Two German tobrouks, installed during World War II, are still present on the platform.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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