Mont Chaberton

The Mont Chaberton is a 3136 m high peak in the Cottian Alps on the border of France and Italy in the Hautes-Alpes department. At the summit, the ruins of a former Italian fort are still preserved, the eight brick turrets of which look like a crown from the Susa valley. Until the end of the Second World War, the mountain top with the fort belonged to Italy, but was ceded to France in the Paris Peace Treaty in 1947.

Fort Chaberton was built from 1891 and included a 13 × 18 m barracks and eight brick artillery towers. Each turret was equipped with a cannone da 149/35 A cannon. The French built an armored observation tower and two field observation posts to monitor Fort Chaberton during the fighting on the Italian front in 1940. Four field positions were then built for a Mortier de 280 modèle 14/16 rapid-fire mortar each outside the field of vision of the Italians, two on the Poët Moran and two on the Ayrette. They were under the command of Lieutenant Miguet. On the afternoon of June 21, 1940, the four mortars opened fire against the Italian fort. The first shot was too short, but the second already destroyed the cable car up the mountain and everyone else reached their destination. The Italians tried to return fire, but their turrets were quickly damaged and soon incapacitated.
Source: Wikipedia

The fortress in the clouds. An incredible building in an incredible place. The ascent by MTB is (was) feasible by pedaling to the French border but then the mule track becomes in bad condition at times and it was necessary to push. A lot of effort but worth it...

Mont Chaberton is a 3,131-meter (10,272-foot) peak in the French Alps in the group known as the Massif des Cerces in the Hautes-Alpes department.
The Col du Chaberton (2,674 m) connects the Chaberton with the Pointe Rochers Charniers and the main ridge. The Chaberton is located in the municipality of Montgenèvre in the Briançonnais region. It is easily recognizable by its pyramidal shape and flat top.