Pré-Giroud Military Fort

Carved out of the rock, it is now part of our military heritage.

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.

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.

Outside, three independent works, built in 1941, are surrounded by a double row of barbed wire and minefields.

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.

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.