Caverne du Dragon – Musée du Chemin des Dames

About the museum

The Caverne du Dragon is a former stone quarry, probably worked from the 16th century, on the Chemin des Dames. During the First World War, German soldiers called it “Drachenhöhle”. They seized it in January 1915 and turned it into an underground barracks with dormitories, a chapel, a first-aid post, a well, an electrical network and even a cemetery. On June 25, 1917, after the failure of the Nivelle offensive, French soldiers retook it and gradually pushed the Germans back to the far end of the quarry; until October 1917, both sides occupied part of the galleries.

The site became a place of remembrance from 1919. A museum was opened here on May 4, 1969. In 1995, the Souvenir français entrusted the Caverne to the Aisne Departmental Council, which gave it a new scenography; the new exhibition space opened to the public on July 5, 1999, and quickly became the most visited museum in the department.

In May 2019, after around one million visitors over twenty years, the Department opened the Centre d’Accueil du Visiteur du Chemin des Dames. This pavilion on the plateau, with large windows overlooking the Aisne valley, offers a giant digital table, an interactive timeline, archives and testimonies to help visitors understand the history, geography and memory of the Chemin des Dames. Nearby, nine sculptures by Christian Lapie, “Constellation de la douleur”, and a work by Haïm Kern, “Ils n’ont pas choisi leur sépulture”, extend the visit.

Highlights

• Guided tour of the underground quarry that became a barracks in 1914–1918
• Chapel, first-aid posts and galleries where French and German soldiers lived
• Visitor centre with a giant digital table and interactive timeline
• “Constellation de la douleur” sculptures by Christian Lapie
• Bookshop and shop specialising in the First World War

Permanent exhibitions

• Visite guidée de la Caverne du Dragon – A route lit by an electric torch through the galleries of the former quarry: chapel, first-aid posts, command post and no man’s land.
• Centre d'Accueil du Visiteur – Giant digital table, interactive timeline, archive images and testimonies on the lives of the soldiers of the Chemin des Dames.

Founded

1969

Operated by

Département de l'Aisne

Admission & discounts

Access to the Centre d’Accueil du Visiteur is free, as are the permanent and temporary exhibitions and the audio guides. The paid ticket gives access to the guided tour of the Caverne du Dragon. Online booking is recommended.

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 site’s leaflet states that it is accessible to people with reduced mobility. Animals are not admitted to the Caverne.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Family visit “Le trésor de la Caverne” for ages 6 to 11, every Wednesday at 11:00 (1 hour): children search for hidden objects in the Caverne, accompanied by an adult. Free for children under 7 on the themed visit.

Getting there & parking

The Centre d’Accueil du Visiteur is on the Chemin des Dames road (RD 18), in Oulches-la-Vallée-Foulon. GPS coordinates: latitude 49.44160, longitude 3.73127.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

No café or restaurant: machines with hot and cold drinks, snacks and ice cream. Bookshop with more than 500 titles on the First World War and the Chemin des Dames. Picnic tables outside.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit