Description
When you visit our stone star, you can immerse yourself in the Middle Ages and the history of Escarton, imagine yourself in those times thanks to the costumes on display, and lose yourself in Jeff Graphy's starry skies.
Are you curious and want to know a little more? Here's some history on this architectural gem in the Queyras massif.
Because of its strategic position, it was probably built as early as Roman times.
As early as 1265, the presence of a medieval castle built by the Counts of Albon defended the Queyras against bands of looters. In the 16th century, the Wars of Religion and, in 1692, the assault by Savoyard troops led to numerous modifications to the fort.
In addition to its defensive role, Fort Queyras served as a prison for bandits and women accused of witchcraft.
By the end of the 17th century, Vauban had transformed the fort into almost its present form. He doubled the size of the original château and enclosed the fort within a vast enclosure. The casemated batteries were added at the end of the 18th century.
Fort Queyras remained in army hands until the late 1960s, after being definitively disarmed in 1944.
In 1997, film-maker Philippe de Broca even found the Fort to his liking, as this historic site became the setting for the cloak-and-dagger film "Le Bossu". Scenes of feasting and fighting were filmed inside the fort.
Today, the fort can be visited from May to November, via the manually-operated drawbridge.
Open daily from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm, last admission 5.00 pm. Map and explanatory panels along the way. Scenography on the 1st floor of the keep.
Dogs allowed on leash.
There are two parking areas, before (20 spaces) and after (80 spaces) the access road to the Fort, along the dike. For people with reduced mobility or with children, please use the parking lot before the Fort from Guillestre.
