Type Fort Year built 1844 | Fate demolished 1960 | |
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The Fort Duchère or Fort Balmont is located in the 9th arrondissement of Lyon. Composed of five bastions built between 1844 and 1851 it was part of the primary fortifications of Lyon which include Fort de Caluire (now destroyed), Fort de Loyasse and Fort Saint-Jean. The peculiarity of this fort was its star shape, evoking the style of Vauban fortifications and constructions. It was destroyed in 1960 to build a sports complex.
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History
It was originally built to defend Lyon in case the enemy managed to infiltrate Limonest by the Paris-Lyon route, more particularly by royal roads of the Bourgogne and Bourbonnais.
In 1944, 39 resistant fighters were shot by the Vichy French in the fort after being sentenced to death by a Militia court martial. Decommissioned in 1957, it was then used in the 1960s as a recruitment center by the army, before welcoming returnees from Algeria.
Contemporary period
When building the neighborhood of Duchère, Fort Balmont turned into a sports complex, including The Duchere Stadium and the Stephane-Diagana Athletic Hall. There are no remains of the fort there now.