Le Fort Lapin
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Le Fort Lapin
Rue du Fort Lapin - 62231 SANGATTE
It was in 1690, during the reign of Louis XIV, that a fortified site was built on the coastline. It was an outpost of Fort Nieulay, a powerful fortress west of Calais. The engineer Vauban ordered the construction of a stone fort, armed with four cannons and a garrison of about ten men. Two centuries later, in 1860, Fort Lapin was enlarged. Its armament was increased to the point of housing a garrison of around thirty men. In May 1940, it actively contributed to the defense of Calais against the German advance. During the Occupation, the fort was reinforced and partially encased in concrete. It became part of the Atlantic Wall. Fort Lapin was demilitarized decades ago and somewhat neglected before undergoing restoration in the 2010s. Today, it is a point of interest to see during a walk along the dunes of Blériot-Plage. Moreover, the hiking trail "The Beach, the dune, M.Louis Blériot" (8 km) passes by Fort Lapin.
