Fort de Saint-Cyr
Encyclopedia
The Fort de Saint-Cyr, located in the commune of Montigny-le-Bretonneux
, (Yvelines
), is one of the forts built at the end of the 19th century to defend Paris
. After the first world war
the fort was used as an army weather station and arms depot. Classed in 1992 as a monument historique
, it is presently used as a film depository for the preservation of movies under the Cinémathèque française
.
. As a result of this defeat, the Séré de Rivières system
of fortifications was planned and constructed to defend Paris. In total, 18 forts, five redoubts and 34 batteries were built around Paris between 1874 and 1881.
Construction was authorized on 27 March 1874 for a fort to protect the town of Saint-Cyr-l'École
. The fort itself was located in what was then the commune of Bois d'Arcy, now in the town limits of Montigny-le-Bretonneux
.
Construction on the Fort de Saint-Cyr began in May 1875 and was completed in 1879, with troops installed the same year. The garrison was composed of 26 officers, 56 non-commissioned officers and 1406 soldiers. The fort was defended by 90 artillery pieces. In case of conflict, the fort's stores could provide food for three months and water for six months.
The large trapeziodal fort's main armament was a twin 155mm Mougin turret
. The turret remains, but its guns have been removed.
, 40,000 volumes of the French Cineclub were stored at Saint-Cyr. at the disposition of the French Ministry of Culture.
Montigny-le-Bretonneux
Montigny-le-Bretonneux is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located in the south-western suburbs of Paris from the center, in the "new town" of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, of which it is the central and most populated...
, (Yvelines
Yvelines
Yvelines is a French department in the region of Île-de-France.-History:Yvelines was created from the western part of the defunct department of Seine-et-Oise on 1 January 1968 in accordance with a law passed on 10 January 1964 and a décret d'application from 26 February 1965.It gained the...
), is one of the forts built at the end of the 19th century to defend Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. After the first world war
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
the fort was used as an army weather station and arms depot. Classed in 1992 as a monument historique
Monument historique
A monument historique is a National Heritage Site of France. It also refers to a state procedure in France by which national heritage protection is extended to a building or a specific part of a building, a collection of buildings, or gardens, bridges, and other structures, because of their...
, it is presently used as a film depository for the preservation of movies under the Cinémathèque française
Cinémathèque Française
The Cinémathèque Française holds one of the largest archives of films, movie documents and film-related objects in the world. Located in Paris, the Cinémathèque holds daily screenings of films from around the world.-History:...
.
History
In 1870, France was partly occupied by the Prussian armyPrussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
. As a result of this defeat, the Séré de Rivières system
Séré de Rivières system
The Séré de Rivières system was an ensemble of fortifications built from 1874 and first used at the beginning of the First World War along the frontiers and coasts of France...
of fortifications was planned and constructed to defend Paris. In total, 18 forts, five redoubts and 34 batteries were built around Paris between 1874 and 1881.
Construction was authorized on 27 March 1874 for a fort to protect the town of Saint-Cyr-l'École
Saint-Cyr-l'École
Saint-Cyr-l'École is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.It used to host the training school for officers of the French army, the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr , which was relocated to Coëtquidan in 1945.The old buildings of the ESM are...
. The fort itself was located in what was then the commune of Bois d'Arcy, now in the town limits of Montigny-le-Bretonneux
Montigny-le-Bretonneux
Montigny-le-Bretonneux is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located in the south-western suburbs of Paris from the center, in the "new town" of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, of which it is the central and most populated...
.
Construction on the Fort de Saint-Cyr began in May 1875 and was completed in 1879, with troops installed the same year. The garrison was composed of 26 officers, 56 non-commissioned officers and 1406 soldiers. The fort was defended by 90 artillery pieces. In case of conflict, the fort's stores could provide food for three months and water for six months.
The large trapeziodal fort's main armament was a twin 155mm Mougin turret
Mougin turret
The Mougin turret is a land-based revolving gun turret that housed some of the heaviest armament in French fortifications of the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
. The turret remains, but its guns have been removed.
Meteorological station
After the First World War the fort was used as an army weather station and as an arms depot. A school of meteorology was established there after the Second World War.Cinémathèque archives
Thanks to Henri LangloisHenri Langlois
Henri Langlois was a French film archivist and cinephile. A pioneer of film preservation, Langlois was an influential figure in the history of cinema...
, 40,000 volumes of the French Cineclub were stored at Saint-Cyr. at the disposition of the French Ministry of Culture.
Source
- This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding French Wikipedia article as of February 6, 2010.
External links
- Fort de Saint-Cyr at fortiff.be