Fort de Condé

About the museum

Fort de Condé, also called Fort Pille, was built between 1877 and 1882 on the heights overlooking the Aisne valley. It forms part of the Séré de Rivières defensive system designed to protect the approach to Paris. It covers 17 hectares and could house more than 650 men. It was named after General Pille in 1887.

Made obsolete by advances in artillery, it was decommissioned in 1912. Its position near the Chemin des Dames made it a battleground during the First World War: held by the Germans, taken by the French in 1917, retaken in May 1918 and then retaken again in August 1918. After the war it served as a site for demolishing munitions, and then fell into disrepair.

The commune of Chivres-Val bought it in 1959, and a conservation association began restoring it in 1979. The fort has belonged to the Communauté de communes du Val de l’Aisne since 2000 and has been a listed historic monument since 2001. It has been open to the public since 2003 and today hosts self-guided visits, animations, performances and games.

Highlights

• Late 19th-century military architecture, Séré de Rivières type
• Interpretation room, playful panels and hands-on models
• Trail games and guided night tours
• “Les filets des sentinelles” net park of over 500 m²
• Arboretum and a 1.2 km walk around the fort

Permanent exhibition

• Salle d'interprétation et parcours de visite – Self-guided visit of the fort with playful interpretation panels, hands-on models and a teaching room on the Séré de Rivières forts.

Operated by

Communauté de communes du Val de l'Aisne

Admission & discounts

Free admission for journalists, holders of the carte du combattant (veterans’ card), and for visits on one’s birthday. Payment by bank card or cash.

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

A short 1.2 km walk around the fort is described as accessible to everyone.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Trail games are included with admission (“Mission impossible”, “Enquête explosive”), along with hands-on models, a tree-discovery game in the arboretum and the “Mercredis d’Émile” for families. The net park welcomes children from age 3.

Getting there & parking

Access to the fort is via Chivres-Val, following the signs. Some GPS devices suggest a route through Condé-sur-Aisne, but that track is not passable by car. Two hikes of 10 and 12 km start from the fort.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Light meals and drinks on site; picnic tables around the fort. The shop is at reception.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties

The fort can be rented in full or in part. A weekend rate ranges from €2,900 to €3,900 depending on the season, and a day rate from €1,400 to €2,200.

Plan your visit