Fort l'Ecluse is a fortified military work built on the mountainside to control the defile where the Rhône flows to the west of the Geneva basin, a strategic natural passage between Jura and Alps. During the summer season, it hosts exhibitions and offers various activities and events.

Built in the 16th and 17th centuries using the remains of an old 13th century fortress, extensively modified around 1830, it is a protected site which offers the remains of several centuries of military architecture, towers, watchtowers, loopholes, watchtowers, casemates and ammunition chambers.

There are in fact two forts built on the mountainside: the original fort was reinforced in the mid-19th century by a second fort on the top to protect the whole from an attack from the mountain.

From April to September it is possible to visit the lower fort and, during the summer, to attend shows. For the more athletic, 1165 steps cut into the rock form the underground staircase that connects the lower fort to the upper fort, which hosts an adventure course.

For the youngest, this course offers balance games, messy beams, a Tarzan jump and monkey bridges, while for the more athletic there is climbing and 4 aerial zip lines over a 500m drop.

At Fort l'Ecluse there is also a via ferrata which requires equipment that you can hire on site, as well as beautiful hiking trails, one of which is part of the Santiago de Compostela route.

Useful links

French Region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (iSwitzerland Guide) - Wikipedia