Fort Carré

You’re facing one of the most iconic viewpoints in Antibes, overlooking its harbor—one of the largest marinas in Europe. A perfect spot to snap a classic photo of the city! But what should really catch your eye is the large structure in the distance, perched on a small hill that seems to rise from the sea behind the boats. That’s Fort Carré, a massive military fort built in the 16th century during the reign of King Henry II, on the Saint-Roch peninsula. At the time, Antibes was in a tense position—it belonged to the Kingdom of France, but lay just a few kilometers from the border with the County of Nice, which was part of the Duchy of Savoy, ruled by the powerful Habsburgs. The Var River, just a few kilometers away near Saint-Laurent-du-Var, marked the boundary between the two territories. The Habsburgs, who controlled much of Europe for centuries, naturally had their eyes on Antibes. To protect the city, Henry II ordered the construction of this fort, built on a rocky outcrop rising 26 meters above sea level, giving it a clear vantage point over the surrounding area.The fort served as a key defensive structure until 1860, when the official annexation of the County of Nice to France rendered such protection unnecessary. During World War II, it was used as an internment center for foreign nationals. Today, Fort Carré is listed as a Historic Monument and has been open to the public since 1998. You can visit it for a small fee—just make sure to check the opening hours in advance, especially during peak season.