François Hollande had stayed there once and did not return.
President Macron came there for the first time in May 2018 and have loved going back ever since.
Located in the town of Bormes-les-Mimosas, the Fort of Brégançon stands on a rocky outcrop of 35 meters above sea level which was, for many centuries, separated from the Mediterranean coast by a few fathoms.
This islet was probably occupied very early on for its geographical location, which allowed it to keep an eye on the roadsteads of Hyères and Toulon.
A fortress has existed on the islet of Brégançon since the installation of the Ligurians in Provence (118 BC).
In the 11th century, the castle of Brégançon and its territory belonged to the viscounts of Marseille.
The domain knew various fortunes, but a garrison was maintained at the Fort, separated from the domain from 1786.
Bonaparte was interested in the fort shortly after the recapture of Toulon, where he stopped.
After the war of 1870, the Ministry of War undertook works so that the fort could receive modern artillery pieces and a gunpowder magazine, without touching the external aspect of the fortress.
During the First World War, the fort was occupied by a small garrison, then decommissioned in 1919.
By decree of January 5, 1968, the Fort was permanently assigned to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to serve as an official residence.
Pierre-Jean Guth, architect of the French Navy and winner of the Grand Prix de Rome, transformed the Fort into a pleasant residence while respecting what remained of the old fortress.
The time of Presidents...
General de Gaulle spent only one night there
President Georges Pompidou and his wife stayed there several times, in August 1969 and during the summers of 1970 and 1971.
President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing regularly went to Brégançon with his wife: he spent a week there during the summer, two days at Pentecost and a weekend in winter.
On February 26, 1978, he gave a televised interview in the run-up to the legislative elections.
The German Chancellor Helmut Kohl was received at Brégançon by President François Mitterrand on August 24, 1985.
President Jacques Chirac and his wife regularly visited Brégançon during the summer and Easter vacations.
President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife also went there during the summer will not depart from the tradition.
Neither will Emmanuel Macron, who wishes to install a swimming pool and receive illustrious guests there.
The Fort cannot be visited, except during the Heritage Days.
(Documentation : Presidency of the Republic)
Fort de Brégançon
Av. Guy Tezenas,
83230 Bormes-les-Mimosas
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