The Impregnable Stronghold of Mount Chaberton: Europe's Highest Military Fort

The Fort of Mount Chaberton, also known as Forte dello Chaberton, was built by the Italian Army between 1898 and 1910. This fort, standing on the top of Mount Chaberton at an altitude of 3130 meters, is the highest fort in Europe. It was planned in the late 19th century as part of Italy's Triple Alliance plan to improve fortifications along the border with France. The project was for an autonomous long-range fortification, meant for bombardment of distant military positions.

Work on the fort began in 1898 under the direction of Major of Engineers Luigi Pollari Maglietta. It was armed with 8 cannon-equipped rotating turrets in 1906. However, during World War I, the fort was disarmed and its cannons were used on the eastern front. During the construction of the Vallo Alpino, the Fort of Mount Chaberton was made the headquarters of the VII Sector of Cover Monginevro. The fort was active for the first time during World War II, bombarding French military targets.

On June 20, 1940, a French artillery shell partially distorted, but did not penetrate, a turret at the nearby Fort of Janus. The French responded the next day with a barrage of four 280 mm Schneider Mle 1914 artillery pieces, causing damage to six of the fort's eight turrets. The bombardment resulted in nine deaths and fifty injuries, as well as damage to the service elevator and significant structural damage. The Fort of Mount Chaberton was abandoned after Italy surrendered on September 8, 1943.

The fort was occupied by RSI troops in the autumn of 1944, but was abandoned again after the surrender of Germany and RSI in 1945. After the Treaty of Paris in 1947, the entire Mount Chaberton, including the fort, passed into French territory. Fort of Mount Chaberton was emptied of all metal structures in 1957. In 1987, the railway connecting Fenils and the peak was closed.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons