The Perches hill overlooking the town of Belfort was stormed during the 1870-1871 war. It was here that General Séré de Rivières had the Fort des Hautes Perches and the Fort des Basses Perches built between 1874 and 1877, one kilometre apart. The two forts were linked by a covered path that provided safe passage from enemy fire. Fort des Hautes Perches was a cavalier or high battery fort.

Its role was to defend the area around the Belfort stronghold. From 1893, the fort was linked to other forts around Belfort by a strategic railway Fort des Hautes Perches is still used for military training.