Fortress of Bertheaume
The fortress of Bertheaume is located on an island off the Breton coast in the district of Plougonvelin . It served to defend the Strait of Brest and was used by the military from 1694 to 1944.
A previous building of today's fortress, first mentioned in a document in 1474, was probably destroyed in 1558.
Vauban had a gun emplacement built here to protect the bay of Brest. Brest had previously been developed into a military port under Cardinal Richelieu . The gun emplacement played an important role in the Battle of Camaret . The current structure, including a powder storage facility 13 meters underground, dates from the mid-18th century.
The first bridge was built in 1835; previously the fortress was only accessible by boat. Bunker systems were added in the 1880s. During the Second World War, the building was used as part of the Atlantic Wall by German units, who offered heavy resistance there during the Battle of Brittany .
After the war, the island was again owned by the French Ministry of Defense, but was no longer used. In 1990 it was acquired by the municipality of Plougonvelin. Since then, the history of the fortress has been made accessible through archaeological research and the fortress has been prepared for visitors. The pedestrian bridge had to be rebuilt several times as it was repeatedly destroyed by storms. On the mainland side there is now an open-air stage, a climbing garden, a menhir ensemble installed in the 1990s and barbecue areas.
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Coordinates: 48 ° 20 ′ 13 " N , 4 ° 41 ′ 51" W.