Travel in France – St Hippolyte du Fort

posted in: France, Home, Travel | 0

‘The original name of the village was Saint Hippolyte de la Rochefourcade, and was located about 3 km SW of the current site, just southwest of the small hill called Puech de Mar. A few ruins of the ancient village and chateau ruins can still be seen there.

When the village moved to its current location beside the river, it was named Saint Hippolyte de la Planquette. A fort was built here in 1687-1689, and the village renamed Saint Hippolyte-du-Fort.’

The mediaeval town would surely have been similar to Ganges, with narrow streets and vaulted passageways, Traverses voutés? If you search these features can still be found.

Vaulted passageway in St Hippolyte du Fort
Vaulted passageway in St Hippolyte du Fort
St Hippolyte du Fort
St Hippolyte du Fort

Behind the main street

The old town, St Hippolyte du Fort
The old town, St Hippolyte du Fort
One of the 13 fountains in St Hippolyte du Fort
One of the thirteen fountains in St Hippolyte du Fort
Le Temple, St Hippolyte fu Fort
Le Temple, St Hippolyte fu Fort

The Fort was built after the revocation of the Treaty of Nantes (1685) and intended as a fort and a prison in the fight against the Camisards. The builder was Francois Ferry and it was modeled on the forts of Vauban. The building is not open to the public and appears to be a factory or warehouse of some kind.

The Old Fort
The Old Fort, St Hippolyte du Fort

The Casern building is [another] reminder of the area’s military past. It was built in 1725 to house the troups of Louis XV. In 1860 it became a garrison for the troops of Napoleon III. A military academy was founded here in 1886, and remained active until 1934.’

Batiment Marengo, the preparatory Military College
Batiment Marengo, the preparatory Military College

St Hippolyte du Fort is bounded by two rivers, the Argentesse and the Vidourle. 

Bridge over the Argentesse River, on the south of St Hippolyte du Fort
Bridge over the Argentesse River, on the south of St Hippolyte du Fort
The Vidourle, St Hippolyte du Fort
The Vidourle, St Hippolyte du Fort
The Vidourle, St Hippolyte du Fort
The Vidourle, St Hippolyte du Fort

 On celebration days the town springs to life!

 

You may be interested in
The Town, and here
Photographs of St Hippolyte du Fort
Old postcards of St Hippolyte du Fort
The Vidourle River
WWII and here
Brochure
The town and here
Silk Museum

 

I would love to hear from you!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.