Troglodyte Fortress

En un regard

Le château en bref

The troglodyte fortress of Aiglun is a 14th-century medieval fortified site built into a natural cavity at the foot of the triangular cliff of the Giet, in the commune of Aiglun (Alpes-Maritimes). Considered one of the largest troglodytic fortifications in Provence, with an area of about 250 m² and remains of walls reaching up to 3 metres in height, it extends for about 80 metres along the cliff face. Its exact function is still debated by researchers: it is thought to have served as a refuge rather than a mere watchtower during the troubles of the 14th century, when the region lay on the border between the Kingdom of France and the County of Savoy. The site retains a barbican, a ledge overhanging the void, arrow slits and remains of a wooden floor that allowed occupation on two levels. Long abandoned, the fortress was the subject of a restoration project launched from autumn 2023 by the commune, which owns the site, with the support of the Fondation du patrimoine (securing the cliff, consolidating the masonry, creating access paths). It was inaugurated and reopened to the public at the end of June 2025.