The Barracks of Restefond or Camp de Restefond was a former military barracks of the French Alpine Army located in the Alps near the border with Italy at an altitude of 2,550 m along the Route de la Bonette, about 20 km southeast from the town of Jausiers. The fortified Caserne de Restefond was used during the construction of the Maginot Alpine Line works in the Restefond sector (SF Dauphiné) and also served as a rear logistics base during the First Battle of the Alps against the Italian Alpine Army in June 1940.
The Great War
While the military occupation of this site dates back to the years 1890-1900, the four buildings of the fortified barracks or “Caserne” with a courtyard in the center were constructed between 1901 and 1906. Later between 1912 and 1913, seven more buildings were added: four stables, an officers’ lodge, an infirmary and a kitchen. In the wake of the First World War, temporary barracks were built. After WW1 military activity comes to a halt.
Alpine Line
This changes when tensions rise between France and Italy led by Dictator Benito Mussolini and his Fascist Party in the late 1920s. Starting from 1931 Camp de Restefond was particularly active serving as a base for men and material during the construction of the Maginot Line works at Restefond, La Moutière, the Granges Communes and the Abri du Col, which took until 1939. In this period temporary barracks were built along the road around the Col de Restefond to house workers and store building materials like cement. The Infirmary of Camp de Restefond is converted into an engineering office for the fortifications and the Caserne building is modernized. A telecommunications room is also added. Between Prégonde and the barracks a cable car is installed.
The First Battle of the Alps
Following Hitler’s invasion of France in the North, Mussolini declared war against France on June 10th 1940. The defensive positions in the Restefond sector are largely manned by the second company of the 73rd Alpine Fortress Battalion (BAF). These troops have been especially trained to man the Maginot Line defenses. Caserne de Restefond is used as a base and Command Post for the sector.
From the 16th of June the Italian 7th and 11th Alpini Army try to infiltrate the French sector at Restefond. These troops not only had to face the difficult mountain terrain covered with a thick layer of snow, but also had to deal with the Alpine Line Maginot defenses. In contrast to the disappointing results of the Maginot Line in the North of France, the Alpine Line or “Little Maginot Line” proved to be very effective in the mountains. The Italians were successfully denied passage.
It was only after the Franco-Italian Armistice becomes effective on June 25th that the guns of the French Alpine Line fall silent and the French BAF troops are forced to surrender to the Italian Army.
Camp de Restefond Today
You can visit Camp the Restefond along the Route de Restefond – la Bonette. The buildings are right next to the road winding through the mountain pass. Some of the buildings added between 1912 and 1913 were demolished again in 2003, like the Officers lodge, the kitchen and part of the stables and storage buildings.
Caserne de Restefond
This is the original fortified barracks build between 1901 and 1906. In the 1930s the fort received some upgrades during the constructions of the Maginot Line works in the Restefond (Dauphiné) area.
Caserne de Restefond Courtyard
The Caserne was built in a horse shoe shape comprised of three buildings around a courtyard. A covered walkway at the wall on the South side seals it off from the outside.
Above you can see the covered walkway or corridor along the defensive wall on the South side of the Fort. In the foreground you can see the metal fence that used to be on top of the entrance doors on the West side. The roof of this corridor is in bad shape and on the verge of collapse in some places.
Caserne de Restefond Interior
After 1976 the Caserne was abandoned completely. The harsh mountain climate and vandalism took its toll on the fortress all these years. Some parts of the roof have collapsed or are on the verge of doing so.
Officers Barracks
One of the external buildings added between 1912 and 1913 is the Officers Lodge or Barracks. This building was demolished in 2003. You can see the remains of the foundations of the building on the foreground in the picture underneath.
Infirmary
The infirmary was added to Camp de Restefond between 1912 and 1913. There is not much information about this building, but we believe this to be the infirmary, which served as the engineering office during the construction of the Maginot works in de sector de Dauphiné.
Kitchen
This building stood on the same side of the road as the infirmary. It was demolished in 2003.
Stables
The French Alpine troops relied heavily on mules and horses for transportation, especially on the narrow mountain paths. Between 1912 and 1913 three stables were build for 65 mules each and another stable for 20 horses. Only two of these stables survive today and are now partly in use as a restaurant.
Deposit of armorings
On the edge of the large parking area of the former Camp de Restefond Stables you will see various pieces of armored embrasures and domes. These are deposited armorings delivered by the metallurgical firms in the 1930s, intended for the equipment of the blocks of the works of Restefond and the Grange Communes. Unfortunately the declaration of war from Germany and Italy prevented further construction of the planned works. A similar deposit is located not far away at the Petit Ouvrage Col de Restefond.
Sources say that inside the stable buildings more of these deposits are stored, among them two interior columns for large model grenade launchers.
Visit
Although the site is officially still owned by the French Army it is accessible for the public.
