Fort de Sennecey dit fort Junot

English translation

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History

After the war of 1870, the annexation of Alsace and part of Lorraine deprived France of the natural barrier of the Vosges. The establishment of a defensive line, presented by General Séré de Rivières, was adopted by the Thiers government in 1873. Behind this line, strongholds of the second category constituted a second line of defence, and served for the regrouping and provisioning of the front armies. From 1874 to 1914, construction and armament of 166 forts, 43 small works and 250 batteries. The forts consist of a building or barracks, served by a central courtyard. The barracks comprise a set of rooms distributed over one or more levels. These rooms are generally covered with round arch gun vaults. The whole, surrounded by dry moats, is flanked by casemates. The autonomy of the forts, estimated at three months, is possible thanks to storerooms for provisions and powder, wells and cisterns. Dijon must serve to block the passage to Paris and control the Morvan massif. For these reasons, the city is part of the strongholds of the first and then second category. A ring of six forts, one redoubt and one ravelins, was built. The forts never served for defence, but as storerooms for provisions and ammunition or as places of detention for German prisoners.