Fort de l'Estissac

The fort was built by order of Richelieu between 1634 and 1640. It was part of a defensive complex intended to counter the Spanish threat, which also included Fort du Moulin, Fort de l'Éminence, and Fort de Port-Man. The tower was half-destroyed by the English at the end of the Siege of Toulon in 1793. In 1810, under the First Empire, Napoleon I issued directives for the organization of the coasts, which led to the restoration of the fort in 1812-1813. It remained in service until its disarmament in 1885. The fort was listed in the inventory of historical monuments in 1947, and it was attributed to the Port-Cros National Park in 1997. Today, the fort can be visited. It houses a presentation of the Port-Cros National Park as well as temporary exhibitions during the summer season.

The fort is built on a promontory, approximately 100 m above sea level. The original structure consisted of a circular cannon tower surrounded by a fortified enclosure. The Italian-style fortifications included a hornwork to the north, two flanked projections (to the west and southwest), as well as a bastion with straight flanks built in advance to the southeast. A ravelin was then added to the northwest to complete the system by covering the entrance to the fort, to which it is connected by a bridge. The fortifications are still in place. However, the constructions located within the enclosure were modified in 1812-1813 following the destructions carried out by the English in 1793. The buildings that were originally on the fortified platform were replaced by new barracks. The tower having been half-destroyed, the remaining semicircle was completed by a square tower, which gives it its particular appearance; it is built on three levels, the last of which, open-air, has two watchtowers.