Photos

The forts of Esseillon were built by the Sardinians between 1817 and 1834 to protect Piedmont and Europe from French invasions.
They are: Marie-Christine, Marie-Therese, Charles-Felix, Charles-Albert and Victor-Emmanuel, all members of the Royal Family of Savoy, directly or by wedding.
This one is Victor-Emmanuel and was the largest fort of Esseillon and was armed with a total of 88 guns. It consists of a number of terraces, each with a troop building or a casemated battery.
Victor-Emmanuel 1er, born in Torino (1759-1824), was the king of Sardinia and Duke of Savoy, Piedmont and Aoste from 1802 to 1821. Main fort in the barrier, Victor-Emmanuel was built to accommodate a garrison of 1500 soldiers. Organised as a place to be lived in, it includes a chapel, a hospital and a penitentiary. Classified as historical monument, one of the Great Sites of Savoie and site of regional interest, the building is now part of an important restoration program. Covering the roofs with shale slabs has given the fort his former aspect.