Fort de Bellegarde
The Fort de Bellegarde (Fort or Castell de Bellaguarda / Bellaguàrdia in Catalan) is a 17th-century fortification located above the town of Le Perthus, in the Pyrénées-Orientales département of southern France.
History
Le Perthus became French territory after the Treaty of the Pyrenees (1659). Bellegarde was captured by the Spaniards in 1674, but retaken by Schomberg in 1675.
In 1678, Vauban's plans for the new fortress of Bellegarde were approved.
During the War of the Pyrenees, the fortress was besieged in May - June 1793 by the Spanish and then by the French (May - Sept. 1794).[1]
During World War II, the fort was used as a holding prison by the Gestapo for escaped prisoners of war and enemy agents.
In 1974, scenes from the Charles Bronson film Breakout were filmed at the Fort. The filmmakers were portraying an actual helicopter prison escape that happened in Mexico.
Tourism
The fort is open to the public between June and September only and includes exhibits on the history of the fort, its archaeology and the surrounding area. The property of the state, it has been listed since 1967 as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.
See also
References
- ↑ historyofwar.org, Napoleonic War website entry
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fort de Bellegarde. |
- Ministry of Culture listing for Fort de Bellegarde (French)
- Ministry of Culture photos
- The Fortress of Bellegarde - Roussillon
- Fort Bellegarde at fortified-places.com
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- Articles with French-language external links
- Infrastructure completed in the 17th century
- Buildings and structures in Pyrénées-Orientales
- Forts in France
- Military and war museums in France
- Museums in Pyrénées-Orientales
- Monuments historiques of Pyrénées-Orientales
