Fort de Villey-le-Sec

About the museum

Fort de Villey-le-Sec was built between 1874 and 1879 as part of the Séré de Rivières system, set up after the war of 1870 to protect the border. It belongs to the fortified place of Toul and is unusual in that it encircles the entire village with a wall roughly 3.5 km long.

The work comprises four elements: a redoubt, a northern battery, a southern battery and a redan. It was modernized from 1888 and rebuilt in concrete from 1904, with a machine-gun turret and two 75 mm turrets.

The fort belongs to the Meurthe-et-Moselle Department. The association La Citadelle, with about 80 members, maintains it, researches its history and presents it to the public with volunteer guides. The visit covers the northern battery and the redoubt; it includes operating a 75 mm turret with a cannon firing and a ride on a historic mini train with a 60 cm gauge.

The collections, built up over more than sixty years, cover fortifications and military equipment, with a photographic exhibition on the 1914–1918 war. A 155 mm turret is displayed there as the last of its kind in northern France.

Highlights

• 2-hour-30-minute guided tour by volunteers
• Operating a 75 mm turret with cannon firing
• Ride on a historic mini train with a 60 cm gauge
• Village entirely surrounded by a fortified wall
• Collections on fortifications and a 1914–1918 photo exhibition
• Lantern night tours by reservation

Permanent exhibition

• Collections sur les fortifications et exposition photo 14-18 – Over sixty years of collections on the fort and military equipment, with a photographic exhibition on the 1914–1918 war.

Operated by

Association La Citadelle (propriétaire : Département de Meurthe-et-Moselle)

Admission & discounts

Summer and weekend tour rates are the same as those for the daytime tour.

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

The route includes grassy ground and stairs.

Kids & families

Ride on a historic mini train during the visit; child rate up to age 12 and family pack. Children should be able to walk on grassy ground and stairs.

Getting there & parking

Reception at 7 rue du 26e RI, 54840 Villey-le-Sec; the tour starts from the entrance to the northern battery, on the Toul side.

Amenities & dining

Bring warm clothing: the temperature inside the fort is 16 to 18 °C all year round.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit