FortressToulon

Fort Saint-Louis

The Fortress can be visited

Fort Saint-Louis, also named Fort des Vignettes, is a cannon tower built in Toulon (Var department) in 1534 by the engineer Saint-Rémy, at the initiative of Francis I, with the aim of protecting the city from Saracen incursions by Barbary pirates, like the one that had plundered the city and taken captives in 1530.

History+

Fort Saint-Louis, initially named Fort des Vignettes in reference to the Vignettes roadstead whose entrance it was to protect from enemy ships, was built during the reign of King Francis I four years after the city was plundered by the Moors, with the aim of protecting the city. It would be considerably improved during the reign of Louis XIV, from 1692 to 1699. It was to be capable of defending the entrance to the Toulon roadstead, but its construction was also part of a desire to fortify Toulon and enlarge the arsenal. For this, the mission fell to Antoine Niquet, chief engineer of fortifications, who would be associated with Pierre Puget and Vauban. These works would considerably modify the physiognomy of the city of Toulon. Fort des Vignettes was partially destroyed during the Siege of Toulon in 1707. It took its current name after its identical reconstruction. Fort Saint-Louis has been listed in the supplementary inventory of historical monuments since the decree of November 29, 1948, but is not a cultural tourist site because since 2010 it has only been open to the public during heritage days, having become a restaurant reserved for military personnel, particularly the French Navy.

Notes and references+