Vestiges de la redoute de Mailly

English translation

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History

In 1700, Vauban conceived the idea of establishing a military port near the Spanish border. This port was neglected until 1772, the date at which work was resumed by the intendant de Mailly. The material extracted from the port was used for the establishment of the square on which the obelisk was raised in 1780, after completion of the works. It was at this time that the redoubt defending the entrance to the port was constructed, completing those of Béar and du Fanal. The work is substantially semi-circular, surrounded by ditches cut into the rock. It formerly supported an elongated building, now disappeared, with the exception of a few sections of walls. This redoubt comprised a covered passage, a guard house, engineering store, powder magazine, artillery magazine and cistern. The encirclement of this fort is still largely standing over its entire height. It is a wall of rubble stone, slightly sloped, crowned originally by a covered way defended by a parapet furnished with loopholes. On the ground floor, two redoubts are still visible whose entrances were protected by corbelled works.