Fort Ney and previously known as Fort Fransecky is situated in Alsace and lies about north of Strasbourg in the forest of Robertsau next to the river Ill. It formed part of a belt of fortifications that protect Strasbourg. Fort Fransecky was built between 1873 and 1876 and continuously upgrade from 1880 to 1914 and its guns commanded the river and other nearby transport routes including the railway from Strasbourg to the frontier town of Lauterbourg. The fort was renamed Fort Ney in 1918. Today the fort in use by the French military and is not open to the public.