Home » Communities » History » Military Places & Vestiges » Ratonneau fortress, Frioul islands

Ratonneau fortress, Frioul islandsRatonneau fortress, Frioul islands

Share this exploShare this page on Facebook
I was there too !
Please login or register to share your visit !
Explo writer
Aug's picture
Aug
32635 pts.
  • Off the path Explo
    92 %
    Off the path Explo rate
    Score
    4.6 / 5
    Comments
    Very nice spot to visit. Looks to be a nice view! Very off the path!
  • Article Quality
    88 %
    Article Quality rate
    • Score
      5 / 5
      Comments
      Cool description and tips Aug!
    • Score
      5 / 5
      Comments
      Yes, and you added a useful plan!
    • Score
      2 / 5
      Comments
      Yes, 2 pics!
    • Score
      5 / 5
      Comments
      Yes!
    • Score
      5 / 5
      Comments
      Yes!
  • Explo Popularity
    %

The fort of Ratonneau is the biggest of the island and is situated on one of the island highest spots. The sight over Marseille is there exactly “impregnable“.

You can access there by a nice road in laces overhanging the beach of St Estève and winding between the ruins of camps, olive trees and agave bushes.

My experience, Explo description: 

The construction of the fort began in 1886. In 1944, the Germans started the construction of a battery of 4 artillery 240mm guns. They never had the time finish it. It is interesting to visit the site by comparing the state of progress of each of these 4 encuvements.

You can notice a strange field of cross which raises itself on the top of the fort : this is the vestige of the armature of a not finished ammunition shelter.

Have a look at the wonderful entrance portal (east part of the fort), made with white stone.

Just on the right when you enter through the portal, check out two munition shelters dug in the rock.

The 360° view over the island and Marseille.

My personal recommendations: 

Take advantage of the situation to go and swim at the St Esteve creek down the fort (200m NE).

Other batteries, on the north of the fort, can be also visited (Banc and Point de Croix), but they are not as interesting as Ratonneau.

How getting there: 

20 minutes walk from Frioul port.

To get to the Frioul island : take a boat shuttle (SACM company) from Marseille "vieux port" (quai des Belges). From 9h till 19h every day (be careful to schedule changing depending on seasons). In the summer time, there is a special return shuttle at midnight for those who plan to have diner in the island restaurants. Telephone : 04 91 55 50 09. The trip is about 45 minutes, and 10 euros per person.

A tip to sleep: 

You can stay in Marseille.

Useful information: 
Open hours: 

Free

Visit duration: 

30 minutes

Entry fees: 

Free. The place is abandonned.

Tunnels under the fort?

Submitted by smellis on Thu, 2012-02-23 13:18.

Great website!

I was just wondering, does anyone know about any tunnels under the Fort. Where they are exactly? I'm trying to understand a dark room in the fort that used to be used for radio transmissions. It has lots of stepping stones in it and a room at the back. I wondered, does anyone know anything about this room? What it had been used for, any tunnels behind it?

Any information is much appreciated!