The Château of Joux is located in the Doubs, it overhangs the cluse of Pontarlier opening passage towards the Swiss through the Massive of the Jura. It is in the commune of It Cluse-and-Mijoux, Doubs.

Mentioned at the 11th century (1034), it is rebuilt out of stone at the 12th century by the family of the lords de Joux.

In 1690, Vauban increases it and improves defenses of them.

It was used during the Ancien Mode and the Revolution of prison as State. It is famous to have received in its walls Mirabeau, All Saints' day Louverture, Heinrich von Kleist…

Besieged successfully by the Austrian in 1814, it will be reinforced by the construction of the forts of Larmont (lower and higher) during the XIXe century.

It will cover the retirement of the army of Bourbaki towards the Suisse in 1870. This army known as " of Est" had tried to help the garrison of Belfort.

In 1879, the captain Joffre, then officer of the Genius, modernizes it and transforms it into true extremely Séré de Rivières, with casemates of shooting which can accommodate guns of 155 mm, judged like most French canon artillery of the time.

These casemates, 2, are called Casemates Mougin, and are completely covered not only under several meters with ground, but also with cast iron plauqes (4 plates of 20 tons each one). A system of bolt with counterweight allowed the opening to allow the shooting and of enormous air vents allowed gases and dust generated by the shooting to evacuate itself quickly. Joux can be to trust to still have the only Mougin casemate in operating condition thanks to the very long hours passed through Mr. Daniel André, voluntary and reprocessed Army, in this place for all to give in operating condition.

To also see an exceptional museum of weapons located on the floor of the medieval keep. The weapons presented go from the beginning XVIIIe to the beginning XXe, with nearly 600 parts (helmets, bayonets, sabers, armours) of which certain very rare parts like a rifle of 1717. To also see a 120 depth meters well, one of bulkiest of Europe.

The legend of Berthe de Joux

Berthe de Joux was the woman of the Lord Amaury de Joux at the end of XIIè century. The lord had to take part in the crusade of Barberousse and thus left his field. Berthe, remained only, in vain awaited the return of its love. After 4 years of absence presented itself to the harrow of the castle another lord, Amé of Montfaucon, which had taken part in the same crusade as the lord de Joux. Wounded, it was collected by Berthe. The lord then announced with the lady of the manor the death of her Holy Land husband. Initially sad, she succumbed quickly to the charm of the newcomer. The two lovers did not have however time to benefit from this incipient love, because hardly one week after the arrival of Montfaucon, Amaury de Joux returned at his place quite alive. Insane of rage to discover his wife with a lover, it made it lock up in a dungeon of 1m3 dug in the wall of a tower of the keep, today the Grammont Tower. As for the lying lover, it was hung in the forest with the ouset castle. For punishment, Berthe was to leave 2 times per day its dungeon to contemplate the body of his/her lover by a small window. After 12 years of captivity, the lord de Joux died, and Berthe was released. It was withdrawn in the Abbey close to Montbenoît until the end of its days.

External bonds

• Official site of the Fort of Joux
• The Louverture Project
• Extremely of Joux and All Saints' day Louverture

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