Fort Saint-Elme (France)
The front on the Côte Vermeille
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| Coordinates | 42°31′07″N 3°05′38″E / 42.5186°N 3.0939°ECoordinates: 42°31′07″N 3°05′38″E / 42.5186°N 3.0939°E |
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| Location | Collioure (Pyrénées-Orientales) |
| Designer | Benedetto of Ravenna |
| Type | Star fort |
| Material | Schist |
| Beginning date | 1538 |
| Completion date | 1552 |
| Dedicated to | Defense |
The Fort Saint-Elme is a military fort built between 1538 and 1552 by Charles V. It is located in the district of Collioure, 30 km south-east of Perpignan, in the department of Pyrénées-Orientales. It is designated as a monument historique of the Côte Vermeille. Since 2008, the fort has been a museum with medieval and Renaissance arms collections, exhibitions and a panorama over the area from the terrace.
The fort Saint-Elme is located at the top of a hill overhanging Collioure on the west and Port-Vendres on the east. One can reach the fort following a local road linking the D114 road at the north, through the Coll d'en Raixat at the south.
Several assumptions exist for the origins of Saint Elme: Firstly the name of Saint-Elme may come from Erasmus of Formia, an Italian martyr of the 4th century. Secondly it could have been given in honour of the Spanish saint Peter González (1190-1246). This explains why we find this name around the western Mediterranean coasts: Saint Elme in Naples, Sant Elme in St Feliu de Guixols, Sant Helme and Santem in Provence, etc… Saint Erasmus may have become the patron saint of sailors because he is said to have continued preaching even after a thunderbolt struck the ground beside him. This prompted sailors, who were in danger from sudden storms and lightning, to claim his prayers. The electrical discharges at the mastheads of ships were read as a sign of his protection and came to be called "Saint Elmo's Fire".
By decree on 3 June 1794, during the French Revolution, the city took briefly the name of Fort-du-Rocher (Rock's fort).
The history of Fort Saint-Elme began with the edification of the watchtower in the 8th century, i.e. either during the period when Arab-Berber troops occupied Septimania between 719 and 759. Integrated to the Marca Hispanica, the tower belonged to the independent Counts of Roussillon until the death without heirs of Girard II of Roussillon in 1172. He bequeathed his county to Alfonso II, King of Aragon and Count of Barcelona. This is during the Aragonese period that the tower took its nickname "Torre de la guardia" (Watchtower).
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Wikipedia