Fort de Villiers
Encyclopedia
Fort de Villers was built following the Franco-Prussian War
to defend Paris
. Located to the east of Paris in Villiers-sur-Marne
, the fort was part of an outer ring of eighteen major fortifications built in response to improvements in the range and effectiveness of artillery
since the construction of the Thiers fortifications
of the 1840s. It was built in accordance with improved principles of fortification developed for the Séré de Rivières system
.
The Fort de Villiers was built between 1878 and 1880 at an elevation of 111 meters, overlooking the Marne
to the north and a rail line to the south, and was intended to deny the use of the height to an enemy. The fort was originally armed with eighteen long-range guns, ten smaller guns for the caponier
s, and three mortars. Pre-surveyed fields of fire covered the neighboring Fort de Champigny
at 3500m and the Fort de Chelles, 6200m away. The fort received 75mm anti-aircraft guns in 1915.
The Fort de Villiers was the property of the Ministry of Defense until July 2001, when it was transferred to the community of Noisy-le-Grand
, one of a series of new towns constructed around Paris. The fort covers seven hectares on the south side of A4 autoroute
. It is linked to the town center of Noisy-le-Grand by a bridge over the autoroute. Until 2007 the fort housed community sports organizations. However, access to the fort has since been prohibited due to the state of the access bridge and the numerous dead trees resulting from the windstorms of late 1999
. The Association de Sauvegarde du Fort De Villiers (ASFV) was established in 2008 to document and promote the preservation of the fort. It remains closed to the public.
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
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...
. Located to the east of Paris in Villiers-sur-Marne
Villiers-sur-Marne
Villiers-sur-Marne is a commune in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.The commune of Villiers-sur-Marne is part of the sector of Porte de Paris, one of the four sectors of the "new town" of Marne-la-Vallée....
, the fort was part of an outer ring of eighteen major fortifications built in response to improvements in the range and effectiveness of artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
since the construction of the Thiers fortifications
Thiers wall
The Thiers wall was the last of the defensive walls of Paris. It was an enclosure constructed between 1841 and 1844 under a law enacted by the government of the French prime minister, Adolphe Thiers. It covered , along the 'boulevards des Maréchaux' of today...
of the 1840s. It was built in accordance with improved principles of fortification developed for 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...
.
The Fort de Villiers was built between 1878 and 1880 at an elevation of 111 meters, overlooking the Marne
Marne
Marne is a department in north-eastern France named after the river Marne which flows through the department. The prefecture of Marne is Châlons-en-Champagne...
to the north and a rail line to the south, and was intended to deny the use of the height to an enemy. The fort was originally armed with eighteen long-range guns, ten smaller guns for the caponier
Caponier
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, and three mortars. Pre-surveyed fields of fire covered the neighboring Fort de Champigny
Fort de Champigny
Fort de Champigny was built following the Franco-Prussian War to defend Paris. Located to the southeast of Paris in Chennevières-sur-Marne, the fort was part of an outer ring of fortifications built in response to improvements in the range and effectiveness of artillery since the construction of...
at 3500m and the Fort de Chelles, 6200m away. The fort received 75mm anti-aircraft guns in 1915.
The Fort de Villiers was the property of the Ministry of Defense until July 2001, when it was transferred to the community of Noisy-le-Grand
Noisy-le-Grand
Noisy-le-Grand is a commune in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.The commune of Noisy-le-Grand is part of the sector of Porte de Paris, one of the four sectors of the "new town" of Marne-la-Vallée.-Name:...
, one of a series of new towns constructed around Paris. The fort covers seven hectares on the south side of A4 autoroute
A4 autoroute
The A4 Autoroute, also known as l'autoroute de l'Est is a French autoroute that travels between the cities of Paris and Strasbourg. It forms parts of European routes E25 and E50....
. It is linked to the town center of Noisy-le-Grand by a bridge over the autoroute. Until 2007 the fort housed community sports organizations. However, access to the fort has since been prohibited due to the state of the access bridge and the numerous dead trees resulting from the windstorms of late 1999
Lothar (storm)
Lothar is the name of a low-pressure system that resulted in a violent extratropical cyclone sweeping across Central Europe on December 26, 1999, causing major damage in France, southern Germany, and Switzerland. Wind speeds reached around 150 km/h in lower areas and more than 250 km/h on...
. The Association de Sauvegarde du Fort De Villiers (ASFV) was established in 2008 to document and promote the preservation of the fort. It remains closed to the public.
External links
- Association de Sauvegarde du Fort de Villiers
- Le fort de Villiers (93) at Chemins de mémoire