AveniAdventures
  • aveniadventure
  • Blog
  • Contact

Fort Saint-Jean

2/22/2020

3 Comments

 
France’s King Louis XIV, 1660, commissioned the building of Fort Saint-Jean at the entrance to Marseilles’ Old Port (along with Fort Saint-Nicholas on the opposite side of the port’s entrance). This location was the site of an earlier fortification occupied by the Military Order of the Knights Hospitalier of Saint-John. Unlike other fortifications constructed to defend the city against invading forces, these two forts were built in response to a local uprising against the province’s governor. Thus, its canons were pointed inwards towards the city, rather than outwards towards the sea.
In April of 1790, the fort was seized by a revolutionary mob which decapitated the garrison commander when he refused to surrender the fortress. Throughout the French Revolution, Firt Saint-Jean was used as a prison. Following the overthrow of noted statesman Maximilian de Robespierre (in 1794), 100 Jacobin ( an influential political club) prisoners held in the fort were massacred. Throughout the 19th century, and into the early 20th century, the fort was under the control of the French Army, which used it as a barracks.
Between 1830 and 1960, when the French Foreign Legion was based in North Africa, Fort Saint-Jean was used as a final stop-off point for recruit. It was also occupied during World War II by German Troops. During the liberation of Marseilles in 1944, an ammunition depot, inside the fort, exploded, destroying its historic battlements and several buildings. Repairs and reconstruction of the damage did not commence until 1967 and took four years to complete.
Today, Fort Saint-Jean is a top Marseilles tourist attraction, offering wonderful views of its Old Port.
Picture
Having guarded the entrance to Marseilles Old Port (both from internal strife and invading forces), Fort Saint-Jean now sees duty as a museum and top tourist attraction.
Picture
This view of the fort was taken from the opposite shore of the port.
Picture
An archival photo of Fort Saint-Jean with sailing ships nearby.
Picture
While this courtyard within the fort is currently set-up for visitors to relax in the sunshine, we can only speculate about its purpose when the fort was active.
Picture
We certainly enjoyed it.
Picture
This is an upper courtyard with the watch tower in the background.
Picture
Located in the lower courtyard of the fort (as viewed from an upper terrace) it’s chapel serviced the religious needs of its occupants.
Picture
Once known as “Officers’ Country”, the rooms off this corridor now house museum exhibits about the history of the fort.
Picture
We got spectacular views of Marseilles’ Old Port from Fort Saint- Jean.
3 Comments
child porn link
10/2/2022 08:36:28 am

child porn watch hd and die of pleasure

Reply
hijab porn link
3/19/2023 01:22:30 pm

roidsipar pisar eroidsipar sipar idsipar roidsipar

Reply
link link link
3/25/2023 03:20:55 am

roidsipar pisar eroidsipar sipar idsipar roidsipar

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Carl and Lorraine  Aveni are two retirees planning on traveling through Europe for at least one year.

    Archives

    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.