The Fort de Viraysse is a

fortification A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere' ...

complex in the

Cottian Alps The Cottian Alps (; french: Alpes Cottiennes ; it, Alpi Cozie ) are a mountain range in the southwestern part of the Alps. They form the border between France (Hautes-Alpes and Savoie) and Italy (Piedmont). The Fréjus Road Tunnel and Fréjus Ra ...

overlooking the

Ubaye Valley The Ubaye Valley is an area in the Alpes de Haute-Provence ''département'', in the French Alps, having approximately 7,700 residents. Its residents are called ''Ubayens''. Its principal town is the ''sous-préfecture'' of Barcelonnette. 350px, ...

. It was built between 1885 and 1888 to defend

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

against invasion from

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

. The position was one of the highest military posts in France at , and the only one in the Alps with a clear view of Italy. It was constructed as part of the

Séré de Rivières system The system was named after Raymond Adolphe Séré de Rivières, its originator. The system was an ensemble of fortifications built from 1874 along the frontiers and coasts of France. The fortresses were obsolescent by 1914 but were used during ...

of fortifications, as a small post with an enclosing wall, and formed part of the elaborate fortifications centering on the Fort de Tournoux. The Col de Mallemort is directly adjacent to the fort. The original armament was four 95mm guns. The casemates were enlarged between 1890 and 1894. In 1940 the Fort de Viraysse was armed with four 150mm mortars, after it was adapted as an observation post for the Alpine Line fortifications farther from the French-Italian border. The nearby barracks were built to the northwest of the fort. The barracks are arranged in a large rectangle and disposed for defense within the stone walls. The barracks are presently roofless and ruinous.

References

External links

* La batterie et le casernement defensive de Viraysse http://fortiffsere.fr/tournoux/index_fichiers/Page969.htm
Viraysse (batterie de)
at fortiff.be
Viraysse (casernement de)
at fortiff.be {{in lang, fr Buildings and structures in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence Séré de Rivières system Ruins in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur