Fort du Scex
Encyclopedia
The Fort du Scex is a component of Fortress Saint-Maurice
, which is in turn one of the three principal fortified regions of the National Redoubt
of Switzerland
. The Fort du Scex was built in the Scex cliff face immediately to the west of Saint-Maurice beginning in 1911. With the later Fort de Cindey
, it comprises a fortress complex encased in rock high above the strategic Saint-Maurice valley. The fort lost its combat function in 1984 and was entirely deactivated in 1995. It is now open for public tours during the summer months.
on the right bank of the Rhône.
Scex is connected to the adjoining Fort de Cindey by a cut tunnel, 800m long which leads to the natural caves of the Grotte aux Fées. The Galerie du Scex was initially armed with four 75mm1903/18 L30 Krupp-Giovanola guns in 1911. These guns were placed in double casemate
positions, and had a range of about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi), aimed due east, with a firing rate of 12 to 15 rounds per minute. The fort was also equipped with four machine gun positions, disposed in a projecting bay or caponier
with two guns sweeping the cliff face in each direction. From 1915 the fort was expanded. The connection to the Grotte aux Fées was built in 1935-36. The Ermitage battery of four 75mm 1903/22 L30 guns in individual casemates was constructed in 1938-39, with further improvements to habitation during and after World War II. A parallel gallery was built during this time, about 25 metres (82 ft) from the cliff face.
The artillery was deactivated in 1984, when the position was converted to use as a command post. All of the 75mm pieces were removed, although one was reconstructed in 2001 for display. By 1995 the fort was entirely deactivated. Routine access to the fort for supplies was provided by an aerial camouflaged cableway, built in 1922.
canton and elsewhere in Switzerland.
Fortress Saint-Maurice
Fortress Saint-Maurice is one of the three fortification complexes comprising the Swiss National Redoubt. The westernmost of the three, Fortress Saint-Maurice complements Fortress Saint Gotthard and Fortress Sargans to secure the central alpine region of Switzerland against an invading force...
, which is in turn one of the three principal fortified regions of the National Redoubt
National Redoubt (Switzerland)
The Swiss National Redoubt was a defensive plan developed by the Swiss government beginning in the 1880s to respond to foreign invasion. In the opening years of World War II the plan was expanded and refined to deal with a potential German invasion. The German plan, Operation Tannenbaum, was real,...
of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. The Fort du Scex was built in the Scex cliff face immediately to the west of Saint-Maurice beginning in 1911. With the later Fort de Cindey
Fort de Cindey
The Fort de Cindey is a component of Fortress Saint-Maurice, which is in turn one of the three principal fortified regions of the National Redoubt of Switzerland. The Fort de Cindey was built between 1941 and 1946 in the Scex cliff face immediately to the west of Saint-Maurice to complement the...
, it comprises a fortress complex encased in rock high above the strategic Saint-Maurice valley. The fort lost its combat function in 1984 and was entirely deactivated in 1995. It is now open for public tours during the summer months.
Description
The Fort du Scex is arranged along a mined gallery paralleling the face of the Scex escarpment at a distance from the rock face of about 10 metres (32.8 ft), with side galleries extending to the cliff face for observation posts and artillery positions. Lateral branches to the interior of the mountain lead to troop accommodations, the command post, ammunition magazines and utility areas. Primarily an artillery position, the fort was planned to provide supporting fire to the larger and earlier forts Savatan and DaillyFort de Dailly
The Fort de Dailly is the largest component of Fortress Saint-Maurice, which is in turn one of the three principal fortified regions of the National Redoubt of Switzerland. Almost entirely subterranean, the Fort de Dailly was built in the Massif de Dailly to the east of Saint-Maurice beginning in...
on the right bank of the Rhône.
Scex is connected to the adjoining Fort de Cindey by a cut tunnel, 800m long which leads to the natural caves of the Grotte aux Fées. The Galerie du Scex was initially armed with four 75mm1903/18 L30 Krupp-Giovanola guns in 1911. These guns were placed in double casemate
Casemate
A casemate, sometimes rendered casement, is a fortified gun emplacement or armored structure from which guns are fired. originally a vaulted chamber in a fortress.-Origin of the term:...
positions, and had a range of about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi), aimed due east, with a firing rate of 12 to 15 rounds per minute. The fort was also equipped with four machine gun positions, disposed in a projecting bay or caponier
Caponier
A caponier is a type of fortification structure. The word originates from the French word "caponnière" - which strictly means capon-cote i.e. chickenhouse.The fire coming from the feature A caponier is a type of fortification structure. The word originates from the French word "caponnière" -...
with two guns sweeping the cliff face in each direction. From 1915 the fort was expanded. The connection to the Grotte aux Fées was built in 1935-36. The Ermitage battery of four 75mm 1903/22 L30 guns in individual casemates was constructed in 1938-39, with further improvements to habitation during and after World War II. A parallel gallery was built during this time, about 25 metres (82 ft) from the cliff face.
The artillery was deactivated in 1984, when the position was converted to use as a command post. All of the 75mm pieces were removed, although one was reconstructed in 2001 for display. By 1995 the fort was entirely deactivated. Routine access to the fort for supplies was provided by an aerial camouflaged cableway, built in 1922.
Influence
The Fort du Scex was the first example of a flanking battery built into a rock face in Switzerland. Scex was the prototype for similar emplacements in the TicinoTicino
Canton Ticino or Ticino is the southernmost canton of Switzerland. Named after the Ticino river, it is the only canton in which Italian is the sole official language...
canton and elsewhere in Switzerland.
Present status
The fort is available for public tours in summer months, together with the Fort de Cindey and the Grotte aux Fées.External links
- Forts de Scex and Cindey
- Fort du Scx and Festung-Oberland.ch
- Festung Scex (in German, access from Schweiz menu)