Fort d'Aubin-Neufchâteau
1937 fort that held out for twelve days in May 1940; guided tours on the third Sunday of the month and the museum open every Sunday.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Fort d'Aubin-Neufchâteau was built from April 1935 and completed in 1938, but its official inauguration took place as early as 9 May 1937. On 10 May 1940, from the first hours of the day, it was plunged into battle, which lasted until 21 May. The garrison, of about 545 men, lost seven soldiers and had twenty wounded after twenty-three assaults by infantry, artillery and aviation. The German troops claimed that in front of this fort they had experienced the fiercest artillery battle of the Western Front.
The fort held out until its means were exhausted: turrets destroyed, no more ammunition for close defence, and the entrance block taken by force after the last grenade had been thrown. On 21 May at about 17:00, Commander d'Ardenne negotiated the surrender, and the garrison marched out with their weapons. In 1942 and 1943 the Germans tested secret weapons there, including the Röchling shell, which pierces reinforced concrete; the damage is still visible in the underground galleries.
The fort was disarmed in the 1960s. Around 1978, former members of the garrison, followed by a new team, cleared the site and allowed it to reopen. Today, volunteers of the Amicale manage the fort and its museum, which was inaugurated in its present form on 28 August 2021, with dioramas on the battles and the captivity of the soldiers.
Highlights
- Galleries, combat posts and underground barracks
- Traces of the Röchling shell test firings
- Museum with dioramas of garrison life and the twelve days of combat
- Volunteer guides, sometimes in period costume
- Tours in French, Dutch, English and German
Permanent exhibitions
- Le musée du fort – Chronological route: the Yser in 1918, the instability of the 1930s, the mobilisation of about 545 soldiers, dioramas of life before the war and the twelve days of combat, then captivity, the Röchling shell and liberation.
- Visite des galeries du fort – Route through the galleries, combat posts and underground barracks, with the damage caused by the Röchling shells.
- Founded
- 1978
- Operated by
- Amicale du Fort d'Aubin-Neufchâteau ASBL
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 5 · Free for under 6s; the rate for older children is not stated. |
| Groups (6+ people) | €12.50 per personGroups of at least 6 people outside the usual visits: €12.50 per adult, with a minimum of €75. Deposit of €30 eight days before the visit. |
| Museum-only visit | €6Per-person rate announced for the museum’s Sunday opening. |
Price of €10 per adult for the combined visit to the museum and the fort, on the third Sunday of the month from April to November.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
According to the tourist office, the fort visit includes a staircase of 160 steps, requires average fitness and is difficult to access for people with reduced mobility.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|
Free for children under 6.
Getting there & parking
The ticket desk and visit departures are at the fort museum, Rue du Colonel d’Ardenne 11 in Dalhem.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
Cafeteria offering, among other things, Val-Dieu abbey beer.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Volunteer guides lead visits in French, Dutch, English and German; some wear period costume. Explanatory brochures in four languages are handed out during the visit. Bring sturdy shoes, warm clothing and a torch. Group visits are possible by appointment. |
