Fort de Buoux and Sivergues
In 1660, King Louis XIV ordered the forts destruction and from that date on the nearby village abandoned its defensive location. On the fort grounds Steve saw a section of the rampart and the walls of the chapel. This served as a refuge for the local population during the wars of religion. The fort is built upon a rocky protrusion, which has sheer cliffs right round. The whole area has sloping ground upon which a small village, church, granary, store houses, defensive positions, moats & ditched are built. The top of the slope, had the watchtower and nobles house. A formidable and enviable defensive position which was never breached.
Despite the defenses, nothing was left to chance and an escape route was still built. This was not easy to locate and the descent very, very steep; with narrow stone steps cut into the cliff face in parts. Would not have wanted to do this at night or in a hurried escape.
I didnt walk this part of the walk, however rejoined our group at lunchtime and set off for Sivergues which was a truly lovely bushwalk where we reached the tiny village of only 39 inhabitants.