Fort de Bellegarde

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Entrance to the fort

Barracks building

The Fort de Bellegarde is a 17th century fortification located above the town of Le Perthus, in the Pyrénées-Orientales département of southern France.

Le Perthus became French territory after the Treaty of the Pyrenees (1659). Bellegarde was captured by the Spaniards in 1674, but retaken by Schomberg in 1675.

In 1678, Vauban's plans for the new fortress of Bellegarde were approved.

During World War Two the fort was used as a holding prison by the Gestapo for escaped prisoners of war and enemey agents.

The fort is open to the public between June and September only and includes exhibits on the history of the fort, its archaelogy and the surrounding area. The property of the state, it has been listed since 1967 as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.