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Fort d'Arve

Site Canton of Geneva · Uninhabited site (municipality of Carouge)
Part of the municipality of Carouge
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Must-see historical sites Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Fort d'Arve

The name designates the work built to defend the bridge over the Arve. It is also called « Petit fort d'Arve ».[2]

Founding of Fort d'Arve

The fort was born of Genève's war against Savoy. In 1589 the Genevans built on the left bank of the Arve, on the territory of today's municipality of Carouge, a detached work meant to defend the bridge over the Arve. It formed a bridgehead before the bridge was moved downstream. It was a star-shaped fort with four points and grassed earthen parapets, completed by a tower. Jacques Villet was its superintendent in 1589 and the mason-architect Nicolas Bogueret worked there from 1590 to 1595. The Council registers mention this permanent building site some sixty times. Dismantled in 1596, the fort was deliberately and completely demolished, and no remains of it have been identified.[1][2]

History of Fort d'Arve

1589. The fort is built on the left bank of the Arve to defend the bridge. Jacques Villet is appointed superintendent of the works.[1][2]

1589. In June and July the Duke of Savoy's army and the Genevan troops clash near the fort. Carouge is the scene of bloody fighting.[1][2]

1590. A view by Michel Bénard depicts the « cinq notables escarmouches » fought near the fort in 1589.[2]

1590-1595. The mason-architect Nicolas Bogueret, author of a plan and a model, is active on the construction and repair works. A tower is built, partly following his advice.[2]

1596. The fort is dismantled.[1]

1981. Excavations by the cantonal archaeology service uncover ditches and wooden structures whose dendrochronological dates turn out to be much older than the fort. No remains of the fort itself are identified.[2]

Historic sites in Fort d'Arve

Site of the fort. The fort stood on the left bank of the Arve, probably near today's place de l'Octroi in Carouge (location uncertain).[2]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Carouge (GE) » (Dominique Zumkeller), version du 06.10.2011
  2. Matthieu de la Corbière (dir.), Les monuments d'art et d'histoire du canton de Genève, t. III, Genève, ville forte, Société d'histoire de l'art en Suisse, Berne, 2010, « Fort d'Arve » (Anastazja Winiger-Labuda), extrait publié par l'État de Genève
  3. geo.admin.ch, service de recherche de swisstopo (place de l'Octroi, Carouge, coordonnées approchées)

Other villages near Fort d'Arve

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