Fort de Vaujours
Encyclopedia
The Fort de Vaujours, located in the commune of Courtry
, Seine-Saint-Denis
, near the town of Vaujours
, is one of the forts built at the end of the 19th century to defend Paris
. The fort became a research center for the Commissariat à l'énergie atomique
(CEA), France's Atomic Energy Commission. The center was closed in 1997.
. As a result of this defeat, the Séré de Rivières system
of fortifications was planned and constructed to defend Paris. In total, 18 forts, five redoubts and 34 batteries were built around Paris between 1874 and 1881.
Construction started in 1876 on a roughly pentagonal fort with 48 artillery pieces and a garrison of 691 troops. Work was completed in 1882. The fort was updated in 1911 with a machine gun turret and a Mougin turret
with two 155mm guns. The Fort de Vaujours is unique in its association with two annexes connected by a covered way to the main fort.
The fort's barracks were burned in 1944. In 1947 the Sevran explosives works used the facility. From 1955 the site was occupied by the CEA as a research center, which considerably modified the fort and its environs. The CEA conducted pyrotechnic experiments at the location, using shock tubes and similar apparatus to study high-pressure shock waves in uranium
. The Vaujours facility closed in 1997. The CEA proposed to sell the property, but concerns about radioactive contamination have stalled the sale.
The large trapeziodal fort's main armament was a twin 155mm Mougin turret
. The turret remains, but its guns have been removed.
s of the main fort for its defense. The south annex also has six gun emplacements. The north battery has nearly disappeared while the south battery is covered by modern buildings.
Courtry
Courtry is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne département in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-External links:* * *...
, Seine-Saint-Denis
Seine-Saint-Denis
- Culture :A number of hip hop artists come from the Seine-Saint-Denis, including one of the first major hip-hop groups in France, NTM, as well as Lord Kossity, or more recent acts such as Tandem or Sefyu.- Miscellaneous topics :...
, near the town of Vaujours
Vaujours
Vaujours is a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris, in the département of Seine-Saint-Denis. Known for its wines and fruit until the end of the 19th century, Vaujours is now one of the world's premier producers of plaster of Paris.-History...
, is one of the forts built at the end of the 19th century to defend Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. The fort became a research center for the Commissariat à l'énergie atomique
Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique
The Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives or CEA, is a French “public establishment related to industrial and commercial activities” whose mission is to develop all applications of nuclear power, both civilian and military...
(CEA), France's Atomic Energy Commission. The center was closed in 1997.
History
In 1870, France was partly occupied by the Prussian armyPrussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
. As a result of this defeat, the Séré de Rivières system
Séré de Rivières system
The Séré de Rivières system was an ensemble of fortifications built from 1874 and first used at the beginning of the First World War along the frontiers and coasts of France...
of fortifications was planned and constructed to defend Paris. In total, 18 forts, five redoubts and 34 batteries were built around Paris between 1874 and 1881.
Construction started in 1876 on a roughly pentagonal fort with 48 artillery pieces and a garrison of 691 troops. Work was completed in 1882. The fort was updated in 1911 with a machine gun turret and a Mougin turret
Mougin turret
The Mougin turret is a land-based revolving gun turret that housed some of the heaviest armament in French fortifications of the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
with two 155mm guns. The Fort de Vaujours is unique in its association with two annexes connected by a covered way to the main fort.
The fort's barracks were burned in 1944. In 1947 the Sevran explosives works used the facility. From 1955 the site was occupied by the CEA as a research center, which considerably modified the fort and its environs. The CEA conducted pyrotechnic experiments at the location, using shock tubes and similar apparatus to study high-pressure shock waves in uranium
Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
. The Vaujours facility closed in 1997. The CEA proposed to sell the property, but concerns about radioactive contamination have stalled the sale.
The large trapeziodal fort's main armament was a twin 155mm Mougin turret
Mougin turret
The Mougin turret is a land-based revolving gun turret that housed some of the heaviest armament in French fortifications of the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
. The turret remains, but its guns have been removed.
Annexes
Fort de Vaujours' artillery battery annexes are located to the north and south of the main fort, connected by covered ways. The northern battery was manned by 162 troops with six gun mounts in casemates. The fort formed a rectangle, surrounded by a ditch which lacked the caponierCaponier
A caponier is a type of fortification structure. The word originates from the French word "caponnière" - which strictly means capon-cote i.e. chickenhouse.The fire coming from the feature A caponier is a type of fortification structure. The word originates from the French word "caponnière" -...
s of the main fort for its defense. The south annex also has six gun emplacements. The north battery has nearly disappeared while the south battery is covered by modern buildings.
External links
- Fort de Vaujours at fortiff.be