Elevated on the plateau of Longboyeau, the Redoute des Hautes Bruyères whispers tales of Paris’s tumultuous past. Here, at the highest point in Val-de-Marne, imagine the scene in the mid-19th century. Paris, fearing attack, constructs a ring of forts. The Redoute des Hautes Bruyères, built in 1870, rises to protect Fort de Bicêtre. This strategic vantage point offered a commanding view. The Redoute played a key role during the Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune. It witnessed the execution of Émile Thibaut, a tragic event shrouded in controversy. The Redoute des Hautes Bruyères later served various purposes. In 1874, protective casemates were added. It became a technical center for the Société d’Études pour la Propulsion par Réaction (SEPR) in 1946. The company’s logo, a testament to this era, still marks a building on the north side. The Redoute then became a CRS training center. Its story continued into the 21st century. The construction of the A6b motorway partially destroyed the western rampart. Then, the site became embroiled in controversy with a makeshift settlement and illegal dumping. By 2021, the site was cleared, and a call for tenders for decontamination was issued in 2022. Today, the Redoute des Hautes Bruyères stands as a silent observer, its walls echoing with history. It awaits its next chapter, a transformation that will hopefully preserve its past while embracing the future.
Église Notre-Dame de l’Air
Beneath what appears to be a simple stone and wood structure lies a history interwoven with faith aviation and community.