Fort du Mont-Dauphin

The Fort du Mont-Dauphin is a historic Vauban fortress located in Mont-Dauphin, approximately 35 minutes by car from Briançon. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2008, it was built between 1692 and 1700 by engineer Vauban on the orders of Louis XIV to block invasions from Savoy. The fortress was named after the crown prince. Its strategic importance diminished after the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht shifted the border, relegating Mont-Dauphin to a rear base role. The site saw minor military action during the Napoleonic Wars and a brief bombing in 1940, but lost its military function after World War I.

In 1975, the Ministry of Defence transferred the site to the Ministry of Culture and the Centre des monuments nationaux for preservation and public access. The fortified village itself is open 24/7 year-round, but the fortifications and 17th-century military buildings are accessible only via guided tours. The ticket office operates Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, closed on December 25th, January 1st, May 1st, November 1st, and November 11th.

A single ticket costs €7 for individuals, granting access to either the guided tour or the contemporary art exhibition "Little Bighorn." Free admission is available for children under 18, EU nationals aged 18–25, disabled persons with an accompanying adult, jobseekers, and on the first Sunday of January, February, March, and November. A free mobile app, "Les enquêtes d'Anne Mésia," is available for children to explore the village. Located at 1 place Vauban, 05600 Mont-Dauphin, this site offers a profound insight into French military history and Vauban’s architectural legacy.