Fort Carré

Fort Carré is the star-shaped fortress on a low hill just north of Antibes' harbour, and it is one of the best-preserved examples of sixteenth-century military architecture on the Riviera. It was begun in the 1550s on the orders of Henri II, at a time when Antibes was a frontier town: the river Var, a few kilometres to the east, then marked the border with the Duchy of Savoy. The fortress was designed with four bastions in the shape of a square star, following the new Italian style of fortification that used angled walls to deflect cannon shot and give defenders clear lines of fire.

In the seventeenth century the military engineer Vauban strengthened the defences of Antibes, and the fort's role was extended to guard the coast and the harbour against attack from the sea. The fort never became a famous battle site, and its guns rarely had a real test, which helps explain why it survived in good condition. In 1794 Napoleon Bonaparte, then a young general, was briefly held in the fort after the fall of Robespierre, before being released. Later the fort continued to serve as a military site, and it has been protected as a historic monument.

A visit follows a path from the park at the foot of the hill, through a pine wood, up to the entrance, with views opening as you climb. Inside you walk through vaulted passages, up ramps and across the central courtyard to the ramparts. The thick stone walls, gun platforms, powder stores and barracks give a good feel for garrison life. From the top there is a wide view over the old town of Antibes, Port Vauban, the Cap d'Antibes peninsula and, on a clear day, the Alps behind Nice, and across the Mediterranean toward the Lérins Islands.

Fort Carré is run as a monument with set opening times, which change between seasons and may be affected by bad weather or security measures, so check the official hours before going. The site has steps and uneven ground, and sturdy shoes are advisable. A good plan is to allow an hour for the visit, plus time for the walk along the shore from the old town, which takes about twenty minutes. The Musée Picasso and Vieil Antibes lie on the other side of the harbour, so a half-day combining the fort, the ramparts and the market is easy.

It suits history lovers, families with children who enjoy ramparts and tunnels, and photographers looking for a viewpoint over the marina.