Ouvrage de Chevremont, Belfort, France, November 2019

[freshwateriow]

This is one of the forts around Belfort we had been planning to visit for while and finally made it. The fort has a garrison of just over 300 troops and was armed with four cannons on the top in emplacements, two 75 mm retractable gun turrets and one twin machine gun turret. There are two counterscarps in the moat one single is armed with a 120mm howitzer in support there is also a 37mm machine gun with 5 rotating barrels the double counterscarp has double the same armaments. There is also two 40mm machine gun with 5 rotating barrels protecting the front of the fort which had two drawbridges though only a single bridge survives.
The fort is still in use so a bit of careful planning was needed, as the French Military tend not to be active at weekends and Sundays are really quiet so that was the day. We managed to get in easy enough, I will not post it but if you visit you will spot it.

From outside the moat looking toward the frontal defence flanking block.

Inside looking back toward the fence

Frontal block firing room and troop barracks.

Tunnel leading from the entrance and generating room up to the machine gun turret.

Remains of the machine gun turret emplacement

Looking through the 75mm gun magazine out to the 75mm gun turret emplacement, Steps down to the tunnel under the moat through the doorway on the right

75mm gun turret emplacement

Tunnel leading from the magazine out under the moat to the single counterscarp gallery was flooded and impassable from inside the fort

The tunnel to the double counterscarp gallery was dry and passable

Gate and steps up to the double counterscarp gallery

In the counterscarp, looking out into the moat over the flooded diamond ditch

Shooting gallery in the counterscarp

Magazine under the ramparts and entrance to the observatory on the far left.

Infantry parapet looking back outside

Steps leading from the entrance tunnel down to the lower barracks and shooting galleries

Lower shooting galleries

Infantry shooting parapet and fining step

Infantry entrance back into the barracks

Water pump

Back in the moat, the zip wire is on top of the fort

The peacetime barracks are located outside the fort

The old ablutions room

Part of the 60cm gauge railway

Still in use for something !!!!!

Upstairs in the peacetime barracks

The barracks floor has been removed

Anyone for dinner?

 

[Calamity Jane]

Superb report and some really nice shots there, my favourite shot I think is this one, though theres a few I love. Who doesn't love a fort.

 

[freshwateriow]

Superb report and some really nice shots there, my favourite shot I think is this one, though theres a few I love. Who doesn't love a fort.

Thank you, we did a second on the same day I will post this week. still another 12 to do around Belfort

 

[freshwateriow]

A few more of the outside from the moat

You can just see where the the second entrance bridge went into the archway halfway up the wall

The remaining bridge in the distance

Firing embrasures into the moat

Fort from the moat

The fort on the way in through the old peacetime barracks, zip wire on top of the entrance block

 

[Calamity Jane]

Lovely stuff, look forward to seeing your others

 

[freshwateriow]

Lovely stuff, look forward to seeing your others

Take a look at the Fort Hautes Perches and Fort Monceau

 

[Calamity Jane]

Take a look at the Fort Hautes Perches and Fort Monceau

Have done now, wow, they are pretty stunning considering mostly unrestored.

 

[freshwateriow]

Been to a couple that are looked after by the local community Fort Basses Perches and Fort Bessoncourt, they give you an idea how the places are laid out and one had a guide in English which helps. I prefer them neglected and semi derelict.. The best ones I have found so far are still owned by the French Military but had no problems finding a way in so far.