Batterie de Dormillouse

Built in 1862, this fortress was part of the defensive system of the Southern Alps against Italy.

The military men were calling it “batterie du col bas” (low pass battery) when it is actually located on a summit, traditionally called Dormillouse by locals, meaning the “sleeper”, a way to call marmots.
The col bas is located a few hours walk away from there. This col was, until the 19th century, the common path to go from Seyne to the Ubaye valley.

At an altitude of 2505m, it was overlooked the Ubaye valley and controled traffic in the col. Most importantly, its high location was chosen to warn for Italian invasion, from Grenoble to Toulon. Two posts equipped with a telescope were in use until 1918. Zig zags on the road were so steep that you had to unharness the horses, manually turn the cannons and reharness back the horses.
The elders of the valley say that the Dormillouse military men, when bored, would organise balls and bring the local girls on the back of their mules in order to distract themselves.
In 2002, the battery was restored by the CCVUSP (Community of Communes of the Ubaye Valley and Serre-Ponçon) to turn it into a refuge.

Accessible by hiking, departing from a chairlift, the ski resort or from the Col Bas. It offers a breathtaking view over the Ubaye valley, the La Blanche valley and Lake Serre-Ponçon. A guaranteed refreshing historical discovery with a stunning scenery.