Musée de la Première Armée française de Cortil-Noirmont
Small military museum in a former school, devoted to the operations of the French army in Belgium in May 1940 and to the Battle of Gembloux.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum is housed in the classrooms of the former school of Cortil-Noirmont, in the municipality of Chastre, in Walloon Brabant. In May 1940, as fighting was being prepared in the region, a Moroccan regiment of the French army set up its headquarters there and the schoolteachers had to leave the premises.
The museum traces the operations carried out by the French army in Belgium in 1940, notably as part of the “Dyle manoeuvre”, carried out together with the Belgian and British armies, an operation the French army defended bravely. Visitors can see many military objects from the period: weapons, ammunition, uniforms, documents and maps. The visit is in French.
The visit to the museum can be combined with the nearby cemetery and battlefield. A signposted walk through the Battle of Gembloux, organised by the municipality, starts from the rue du Tensoul, near the museum.
Highlights
- Weapons, ammunition, uniforms and maps from May 1940
- Operations of the “Dyle manoeuvre” in 1940
- Housed in the classrooms of a former village school
- Visit possible together with the cemetery and the battlefield
- Entry €2, free for under 12s
Permanent exhibition
- Les opérations de l'armée française en Belgique en 1940 – Weapons, ammunition, uniforms, period documents and maps explain the Dyle manoeuvre and the operations carried out by the Belgian, French and British armies.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €2 |
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| Children & teens | freefree up to age 11 · Free for children under 12. |
| Groups | –Flat fee of €25 per group. |
| Group (flat fee) | €25Price per group. |
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- 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
The Walloon Brabant tourist office lists the museum as accessible to people with reduced mobility.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
Address: rue Tensoul 5, Cortil-Noirmont (Chastre). Starting point of the municipal Battle of Gembloux walk.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Language of the visit: French. The visit can be combined with the neighbouring cemetery and battlefield. |
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