Fort d'Ambleteuse (Fort Mahon)

Located in the commune of Ambleteuse in the Pas-de-Calais region, the fort was originally known as the Tour d’Ambleteuse until 1803. An administrative error led to it being called Fort Mahon in 1840, a name that persisted until 1967 when Dr. Jacques Méreau founded the Association des Amis du Fort d’Ambleteuse and officially adopted the current name.

During World War II, the fort was used by German forces to imprison foreign forced laborers and remarkably survived the Allied carpet bombing of the region.

The fort's architecture consists of a coastal artillery tower protected by a horseshoe-shaped rampart facing the sea. This rampart was destroyed by marine mines in 1945 but was later restored to its original form with crenellations. Behind the tower lies a parade ground enclosed by a wall with a redan, a pointed outward-facing structure. The courtyard contains a German casemate, and visitors enter through the guardhouse, which now serves as the ticket office. Inside the tower is a ring-shaped casemate that was modified by the Germans with a concrete slab, dividing it into two levels. The lower level now houses exhibition rooms that display six relief maps illustrating the history of Ambleteuse, from the English citadel of Henry VIII to its development as a seaside resort. At the top of the tower, a viewing table offers panoramic views of the English Channel.

The fort was classified as a Monument Historique on October 19, 1965. Restoration efforts began in 1967 when the association acquired the property for a symbolic franc. These efforts were carried out in three major phases: the ramparts were rebuilt by the French state, the annex buildings were restored with support from local and national institutions, and in 2010, a comprehensive renovation of the entire structure, including the main roof, was undertaken with help from the state, Crédit Agricole, and the Fondation du Patrimoine.

Today, the fort is open to the public every Sunday from Easter to All Saints’ Day.

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Source

• Text: TracesofWar
• Photos: CH'TI du 59153