
©Drone De Regard
The Sainte-Agnès site has always been very popular at 800m overlooking the sea. The fort was built between 1932 and 1938 to defend Menton Bay from Italian attacks and is a real underground city dug into the rock with almost 2000m2 of corridors and rooms. Audio on guided tours gives you a better feel for the environment where the underground fortress’ residents lived.
“This is a real underground city beneath the village and dug out of the rock. It was the equivalent of a four-storey building embedded in the hill. It is buried beneath over 55 metres of rock and laid out like a submarine. There are 2000 m² of galleries and underground rooms with facilities that were incredibly modern for the time. The village of Sainte-Agnès had no running water or mains drainage until 1960, but the fort had both from 1938. But daily life in this walled-up, underground site was very hard for the soldiers. The electrical plant with its diesel engines was not sound-proofed, so soldiers were permanently subjected to an extremely high level of noise of around 100 decibels. The electro-mechanical technicians had to communicate using their hands! Due to the confinement, soldiers developed diseases such as depigmentation. To make up for a lack of sunlight, scientists working with the army invented… the ultraviolet lamp!”
The fort was built between 1930 and 1933 at the end of the Maginot Line to protect France from a potential Italian invasion. It was involved in battles between the French and Italian in June 1940. In Cap Martin’s vegetation you can see 3 steel bells poking out from the fort that has a maze of corridors 25m underground.
It was left abandoned for years before being renovated by passionate Amicorf volunteers who patiently sought out fixtures, weapons and uniforms to revive the period feel of this World War II structure. The guardroom, operating theatre and canteen where 1000 meals were served daily provide you with an insight into how the soldiers lived here self-sufficiently for months.
Tours are available for you to explore the sprawling network of corridors. Please note: warm clothing (it’s only around 16°) and good shoes (lots of steps) are recommended.
The former Cros de Casté military base is now a Regional Park on a headland with fabulous sea views. This Maginot Line fort was built to perform a defensive role against the Italian army and completed in 1933.
Join the family on a military history-themed footpath amongst the pine and olive trees. There are picnic tables too.
Children and adults love the fresh air and educational trail a stone’s throw from the shore!
It’s hard to think that such a peaceful place shot so much shell in June 1940. Hit the footpath and keep your eyes peeled on the Mediterranean plantlife as you’ll spot bunkers (not open to visitors).
CASTILLON FORT
The mixed material structure set out in the CORF programme was built between 1932 and 1939 on a rocky peak overlooking Col de Castillon at 740m high. Its mission: block Col de Castillon and ensure consistent infantry and artillery fire between the Sainte-Agnès and Barbonnet forts. It could house a crew of 340 men.