“Enemy occupied!” That was once a common phrase whispered around Fort de Noisy. Today, we explore this former fortification of Paris. Fort de Noisy is one of sixteen detached forts. They were built in the 19th century around the Thiers wall.
Fort de Noisy now houses the DGSE. It is the general directorate for external security. But let us journey back. We will uncover more about the Fort de Noisy history.
In 1835, the first fort was built. It had a vast esplanade. Ditches surrounded it with embankments. Stone cladding and a barracks stood in the center. Access was from the south.
Later, new and larger entrenchments were added. These included vast barracks. The initial buildings became known as the Old Fort. A law in 1850 attributed the fort to Romainville. This reduced Noisy’s area. It went from 502 to 448 hectares.
Around 1840, fortifications rose around Paris. This was thanks to Louis-Philippe’s government. Thiers, the Prime Minister, made the final decision. France faced diplomatic isolation. It urgently needed a fortified perimeter and forts.
Each fort had a series of annex batteries. Forts protected batteries. They also protected each other. They did this by crossing their fires.
In 1873, schoolchildren visited Fort de Noisy. They came on foot for discovery sessions. Imagine those young legs trekking here.
Almost nothing remains of the Parisian wall. The outer forts still exist almost entirely. They mark the urban landscape. The slopes and plains of the forts were always popular. They were places for walks and bucolic rest.
During different wars, the fort experienced enemy occupation. Near Fort de Noisy is the Fort de Romainville. It served as a Nazi detention camp during the occupation. About 3,800 women and 3,100 men were interned there. They were later deported. 209 prisoners were shot during the occupation. The fort was a transit point to Nazi extermination camps. This was reinforced by the proximity to train stations.
Today, Fort de Noisy-Le-Sec houses the DGSE. Its site is preserved from urbanization. It is a green island with ponds and meadows. Horses and goats graze here. A biotope exists here. It shelters a large population of protected amphibians. They are called Crapauds calamites.
So, while Fort de Noisy now holds secrets of national security, remember its past. It once held soldiers, schoolchildren and prisoners. Its walls have seen peace and war. This fort remains a silent witness to French history.