A 19th-century redoubt built to prevent capture by enemies

The Redoute de Saint-Apollinaire is a military fortification of the Séré de Rivières type, built in the late 19th century as part of the defense system for the city of Dijon. It is located northeast of the city at an average altitude of 286 meters, positioned behind the fort de Varois. Construction on this structure, intended to defend the area between the roads to Langres and Gray, took place between 1878 and 1880.

Because the building is a redoubt rather than a fort, it features an entrance designed to be unable to serve as a stronghold for an enemy in the event of its capture. Today, the moats are filled in, but the masonry remains in perfect condition. The redoubt was designed to house a garrison of 125 to 150 men. Its facilities included a kitchen with a 25-meter deep well, a powder magazine with a capacity of 30 tonnes, and a maneuvering corridor.

The layout also contains a kitchen, a maneuvering corridor, and the foundations of a house for optical communication on the summit of the central mass. During the 20th century, four anti-aircraft pods were installed on the site. The building is currently listed as a historical monument and is owned by the municipality of Saint-Apollinaire.

The town has converted the site into a leisure park where people can walk and attend various events. Visitors can explore the grounds of this 19th-century fortification, which serves as a public space for promenade and social gatherings.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons