Fort de Boncelles
50°34′39.6″N 5°31′43.2″E / 50.577667°N 5.528667°E
| Fort de Boncelles | |
|---|---|
| Part of Fortified Position of Liège | |
| Seraing, Belgium | |
Air intake tower | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Fort |
| Controlled by | Belgium |
| Open to the public | No |
| Condition | Abandoned, partly buried |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 50°34′45″N 5°31′43″E / 50.5791°N 5.52869°E |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1881 |
| Materials | Unreinforced concrete |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Liège, Battle of Belgium |
The Fort de Boncelles (French pronunciation: [fɔʁ də bɔ̃sɛl]) is one of twelve forts built around Liège, Belgium, in the late 19th century. The overall Fortified Position of Liège was a constituent part of the country's National Redoubt. Fort de Boncelles was built between 1881 and 1884 according to the plans of General Henri Alexis Brialmont. Contrasting with the French forts built in the same era by Raymond Adolphe Séré de Rivières, the fort was built exclusively of unreinforced concrete, a new material, rather than masonry.
The fort was heavily bombarded by German artillery in the Battle of Liège. Boncelles was upgraded in the 1930s in an attempt to forestall or slow an attack from Germany. It saw action in 1940 during the Battle of Belgium, and was captured by German forces. It is abandoned and partly buried, surrounded by housing.