Fort d'Evionnaz
The Evionnaz fort, organized as a fortification company (Cp ouv 57), is part of the anti-tank defense system installed along the Rhône plain, from Collonges (right bank of the Rhône) to Evionnaz (left bank of the Rhône). This defense includes an anti-tank barrier consisting of irregular rows of several “toblerones,” or dragon's teeth, with two fortifications at each end, each equipped with a 9 cm anti-tank gun and fortress machine guns.
The anti-tank line was designed to slow down the passage of any enemy vehicle, armored or not, moving from Martigny towards Saint-Maurice. The forts of Evionnaz, built under rock, and Dorénaz, a concrete structure, monitored all traffic in the plain and could adjust crossfire on vehicles with their anti-tank guns or on their escorts with their fortress machine guns. At night, the fort could illuminate the terrain using a searchlight installed under rock.
As part of the “Center Combat Group” of the 10th Fortress Brigade, the Evionnaz anti-tank barrier could also request fire support from the artillery of the forts in the region.
The Evionnaz anti-tank fort, which was part of the Saint-Maurice fortifications comprising the forts of Savatan, Scex, Cindey, Tovaire, and Petit-Mont, was acquired by the Association Pro forteresse in March 2001; it belonged to Fortress Group 1.
To make it more attractive, the association has equipped the long labyrinth of Evionnaz with panels showing the evolution of the fortification since its origins, Hitler's plans to invade Switzerland, the evolution of armored vehicles, and the principles of anti-tank combat.
Contact: +41 78 691 15 21