Fort du Chaberton, the “battleship of the clouds”
At the end of the 19th century, Italy decided to build a powerful fortress to protect access to the Montgenèvre pass and the Durance valley. The summit of Mount Chaberton was chosen as it offered an unobstructed view and a dominant position. Major works were undertaken, the summit of the mountain was levelled and eight 12-metre high towers were built to house artillery cannons. It was nicknamed the “battleship of the clouds”.
Fort du Chaberton saw its first battle during the Second World War. On 20 June 1940, Fascist Italy declared war on France and the cannons of the eight towers began bombing French towns. But French troops managed to destroy six of the turrets on 21 June, and the fighting ended on 24 June 1940, when the armistice was signed. Mount Chaberton – and the fort – were annexed by France in 1947.
The old fortification will be listed as a historic monument in 2021.
