Discover the Caurres Battery, the upper part of the Tournoux Fort, built in the second half of the 19th century. Composed of several forts spanning a 700-meter drop, the fortress is listed as a Historic Monument.
Description
The fort was built in the mid-late 19th century to block the exit to the Col de Larche. Its construction began in 1843 with the middle and upper forts and Battery XII, completed in 1865, to which the Caurres Battery was added in 1880. Located on a rocky spur at the confluence of the Ubaye and Ubayette valleys (access route to Italy), the fort's buildings inevitably attract attention due to their size and their almost Tibetan layout.
Today, only the Caurres battery is open to the public. Surrounded by a wide ditch equipped with caponiers, the battery houses two barracks and firing lines. Its cannons could defeat enemies coming from the Col de Larche, the Col de Vars, and the Restefond valley.
Other details
● Tour duration: 3 hours, including access. ● Outdoor walk of approximately 3 km with 100 m of elevation gain. ● Please wear closed-toe shoes and clothing appropriate for the weather conditions (hat, water bottle, raincoat). ● Reservations are required and can be made online or at Ubaye Tourism offices.
Rates / opening
Prices
● Adult: €10
● Child (6-14 years): €5
● Family package (2 adults and 2 children aged 6 to 14): €25
● Free for children under 6
● For the Heritage Days, visits on June 27th are free
● For the European Heritage Days, visits on September 19th are free
Opening
Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. and 14 p.m.
Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. and 14 p.m.
Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. and 14 p.m.
Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. and 14 p.m.
Saturday, May 30, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. and 14 p.m.
Monday, June 1, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. and 14 p.m.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. and 14 p.m.
Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. and 14 p.m.
Friday, June 5, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. and 14 p.m.
Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 9:30 p.m. and 14 p.m.
Monday, June 8, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. and 14 p.m.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. and 14 p.m.
Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. and 14 p.m.
Friday June 12, 2026 at 14 p.m.
Saturday, June 13, 2026 at 9:30 p.m. and 14 p.m.
Monday, June 15, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. and 14 p.m.
Thursday, June 18, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. and 14 p.m.
Friday, June 19, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. and 14 p.m.
Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 9:30 p.m. and 14 p.m.
Monday, June 22, 2026 at 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. and 14 p.m.
Thursday, June 25, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. and 14 p.m.
Friday, June 26, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. and 14 p.m.
Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 9:30 p.m. and 14 p.m.
Monday, June 29, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. and 14 p.m.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. and 14 p.m.
Du 1er au 12 juillet 2026, le lundi, mardi, jeudi, samedi et dimanche à 9h30 et à 14h (pas de visites jeudi 2 et samedi 4 juillet).
Du 13 juillet au 30 août, le lundi, mardi, jeudi et dimanche à 9h30 et à 14h, le samedi à 9h30 et à 17h30 (pas de visites mardi 21 juillet et mardi 11 août).
From September 1st to 27th, 2026, on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 9:30 am and 14 pm.