Fort de Guentrange
German fort built from 1899 near Thionville, with barracks, tunnel, battery and military museum; temporarily closed.
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About the museum
Fort de Guentrange, originally called Feste Obergentringen, was built by the German Empire from 1899 on a height overlooking the Moselle valley, north of Metz. After the 1870–1871 war and the annexation of Alsace and part of Lorraine, the Germans fortified Thionville, then called Diedenhofen, as part of the Moselstellung defensive system. The fort belonged to a new generation of scattered, partly buried works, protected by thick concrete and linked by underground galleries. The main works were completed in 1906, and the fort was modernised between 1912 and 1916. Up to 2,000 soldiers could live there.
After the First World War the fort passed to the French army. The German army used it again from June 1940, and American and French troops were stationed there in autumn 1944, after the liberation of Thionville. Left abandoned for decades, it was cleared and restored by volunteers, with support from the City of Thionville.
The fort is now one of the best-preserved German fortified complexes in France. The guided tour leads to the central barracks, to the tunnel to the north battery with its 105 mm turret gun, and to a military museum devoted to the period from 1870 to 1945. The site has been closed since January 2025: part of the access road collapsed.
Highlights
- Central barracks of the fort
- Tunnel to the north battery and 105 mm turret gun
- Command post of the north battery
- Military museum covering 1870 to 1945
- The oldest fortress of its type, very well preserved
Permanent exhibition
- Musée militaire 1870-1945 – Uniforms, objects and documents about the people and events of the region, with pieces from the collections of Thionville and the Artillery Museum in Draguignan. Currently closed.
- Operated by
- Amicale du Groupe Fortifié de Guentrange (AGFG)
Admission & discounts
The fort is closed until further notice; guided tours and ticket sales are suspended.
Accessibility
The fort is closed until further notice; guided tours and ticket sales are suspended.
Kids & families
The fort is closed until further notice; guided tours and ticket sales are suspended.
Getting there & parking
Access to the fort has been prohibited by municipal order since the access road collapsed.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The fort is closed until further notice; guided tours and ticket sales are suspended.
Events & venue rental
The fort is closed until further notice; guided tours and ticket sales are suspended.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Normally the fort is visited with a guide. During the closure, visits, bookings and ticket sales are suspended. Walkers may use the forest paths around the fort, staying on the marked trails. |
