From General de Gaulle to Emmanuel Macron, history of Fort Brégançon, presidential residence


Like every summer, Emmanuel Macron is currently at Fort Brégançon, for a summer stay marked by the “back-to-school files”. Perched on a peninsula out of sight, Fort de Brégançon became the official residence of the presidents in 1968. This residence has seen all the presidents of the Fifth Republic, including Jacques Chirac, who left his mark.

General de Gaulle made Fort Brégançon a presidential residence

The former President of the Republic spent part of his childhood in the region. His memory remains anchored in local memories, as evidenced by this report from Europe 1 of the time. “You come to see me every time I come here, and it is with pleasure that I see you”, then launched Jacques Chirac to his admirers.

But, it all started one summer night in 1964, General De Gaulle, on the move in the region, slept in this fort. And, despite a terrible night parasitized by dozens of mosquitoes and a bed that was too small, the general fell in love with this magnificent view of the Mediterranean, going so far as to make it a presidential residence. Then, Georges Pompidou will immortalize the place, followed by Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, much appreciated by the neighborhood. Just like Nicolas Sarkozy, who has long delighted the most curious with his traditional jogging.

François Mitterrand and François Hollande, the only ones who fled the fort

“11:15 a.m. The gate that protects the presidential domain opens. A peloton of joggers appears on the horizon. The image is already ritualized, the bodyguards in front and behind. In the middle of the peloton, the protected president, shorts and navy blue t-shirt, sunglasses”, could we hear on Europe 1 at the time. Only the two socialist presidents, François Mitterrand and François Hollande, preferred to flee this summer fortress, very popular with the paparazzi.



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