Located on the plateau and peak Vancia on Dombes to 332 meters, it is disposed between the height of Mont Verdun and Fort Meyzieu.

It has been built primarily for the purpose of resisting German and Italian attack from Bourg-en-Bresse, but also in order to confine a potential revolt of the city of Lyon.

The path along the barracks is called the street walls and was crossed by a rail allowing, through horse-drawn wagons, to supply the guns quickly.

The fort served during the First World War to the French troops, a huge time sink collective is still visible today.

[1][3] The fort served as a prison for Germans towards the end of World War II, including opponents of the regime of Franco as well as Habib Bourguiba, former president of Tunisia.

The fort was occupied illegally from 4 February 2011 at 18 May 2011 by a group called The fallow Vancia, strong collective self (CFA), the police carried out the evictions and deposited concrete blocks outside the gates and access.