Fort de Brégançon – Beaux Arts Magazine Special Issue

Presidential residence since 1968, the Fort de Brégançon boasts a history spanning nearly 1,000 years.

Located in the commune of Bormes-les-Mimosas, perched on a 35-meter-high rocky outcrop, this extraordinary site overlooks the Mediterranean coastline and the Hyères islands.

First, a strategic site as early as the 6th century, it became a fortified seigneurial residence in the Middle Ages (when the building was constructed), then a military site between the 16th and 18th centuries, hosting notable figures such as Catherine de’ Medici (in 1564) and Napoleon during the Revolution.

It was not until the 20th century that the Fort became a heritage site, thus abandoning any military role.

Brégançon had nonetheless hosted presidents of the Fourth Republic, Vincent Auriol and René Coty, before being requisitioned by Germany during the Second World War. In 1964, Charles de Gaulle spent a night there during the commemorations of the Provence landings.

The fort and its islet were listed as historic monuments in 1968 and adopted the status of a presidential residence.

This marked the beginning of a long history.