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Ouvrage de Chevremont, Belfort, France, November 2019 | European and International Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Ouvrage de Chevremont, Belfort, France, November 2019

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freshwateriow

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
This is one of the forts around Belfort we had been planning to visit for while and finally made it. The fort has a garrison of just over 300 troops and was armed with four cannons on the top in emplacements, two 75 mm retractable gun turrets and one twin machine gun turret. There are two counterscarps in the moat one single is armed with a 120mm howitzer in support there is also a 37mm machine gun with 5 rotating barrels the double counterscarp has double the same armaments. There is also two 40mm machine gun with 5 rotating barrels protecting the front of the fort which had two drawbridges though only a single bridge survives.
The fort is still in use so a bit of careful planning was needed, as the French Military tend not to be active at weekends and Sundays are really quiet so that was the day. We managed to get in easy enough, I will not post it but if you visit you will spot it.

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From outside the moat looking toward the frontal defence flanking block.


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Inside looking back toward the fence


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Frontal block firing room and troop barracks.


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Tunnel leading from the entrance and generating room up to the machine gun turret.


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Remains of the machine gun turret emplacement

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Looking through the 75mm gun magazine out to the 75mm gun turret emplacement, Steps down to the tunnel under the moat through the doorway on the right

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75mm gun turret emplacement

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Tunnel leading from the magazine out under the moat to the single counterscarp gallery was flooded and impassable from inside the fort


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The tunnel to the double counterscarp gallery was dry and passable


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Gate and steps up to the double counterscarp gallery

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In the counterscarp, looking out into the moat over the flooded diamond ditch

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Shooting gallery in the counterscarp

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Magazine under the ramparts and entrance to the observatory on the far left.
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Infantry parapet looking back outside

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Steps leading from the entrance tunnel down to the lower barracks and shooting galleries

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Lower shooting galleries

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Infantry shooting parapet and fining step
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Infantry entrance back into the barracks

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Water pump

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Back in the moat, the zip wire is on top of the fort

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The peacetime barracks are located outside the fort

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The old ablutions room

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Part of the 60cm gauge railway

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Still in use for something !!!!!

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Upstairs in the peacetime barracks
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The barracks floor has been removed

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Anyone for dinner?
 

Calamity Jane

i see beauty in the unloved, places & things
Regular User
Superb report and some really nice shots there, my favourite shot I think is this one, though theres a few I love. Who doesn't love a fort.

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freshwateriow

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
A few more of the outside from the moat

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You can just see where the the second entrance bridge went into the archway halfway up the wall


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The remaining bridge in the distance


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Firing embrasures into the moat


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Fort from the moat


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The fort on the way in through the old peacetime barracks, zip wire on top of the entrance block
 

freshwateriow

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Been to a couple that are looked after by the local community Fort Basses Perches and Fort Bessoncourt, they give you an idea how the places are laid out and one had a guide in English which helps. I prefer them neglected and semi derelict.. The best ones I have found so far are still owned by the French Military but had no problems finding a way in so far.
 
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