Pré-Giroud Military Fort

Carved out of the rock, it is now part of our military heritage.
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Built between 1937 and 1939, the Pré-Giroud military fort in Vallorbe was designed to prevent foreign armies from crossing the Col de Jougne and to support the defence of the Franco-Swiss border during the Second World War.
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This stopping artillery fort, dug into the rock, consists of 6 blockhouses with one casemate, linked by a network of galleries serving ammunition shops, an engine room and a barracks. It was occupied by 125 men.
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Outside, three independent works, built in 1941, are surrounded by a double row of barbed wire and minefields.
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Bought by the commune of Vallorbe in 1988, the Pré-Giroud fort is managed by a Foundation. It gives an idea of the living conditions of the soldiers, but also of its weapons from a bygone era.
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The view of the Col de Jougne from the fort’s esplanade above Vallorbe is breathtaking and magnificent. It’s easy to appreciate the strategic importance of such a place.