Ouvrage de La Ferté
Maginot Line fortification in the Ardennes where the entire garrison died in May 1940; underground guided tours and a small museum.
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About the museum
The La Ferté fortification is a small infantry work of the Maginot Line, built between 1935 and 1937 on a hill between the villages of Villy and La Ferté-sur-Chiers. It consists of two combat blocks linked by an underground gallery of about 275 metres, more than 25 metres below the surface.
In May 1940, after the German breakthrough at Sedan, the fortification came under intense bombardment from May 16 to 18 and was then attacked. The garrison of around a hundred men suffocated in the galleries on May 19; it is the only fort of the line whose entire crew perished in this way. The Germans later shot a propaganda film there. A recumbent effigy, inaugurated in 1951, honours the defenders, and a national necropolis lies nearby.
The state transferred the fortification in 1971 to the communes of Villy and La Ferté-sur-Chiers. The Comité du Souvenir des défenseurs de Villy-La Ferté, a volunteer association, maintains it and offers guided tours. A small museum, built in 2015, presents objects and documents about the daily life of the garrison.
Highlights
- Two-hour guided tour through the galleries and combat blocks
- Underground gallery of about 275 metres
- Working firing chamber and retractable turret
- Museum with original objects and documents on life in the garrison
- Recumbent effigy honouring the defenders, next to the Villy national necropolis
Permanent exhibition
- Visite guidée de l'ouvrage et musée de la garnison – A route through the blocks and the underground gallery, followed by an exhibition of objects and documents on the daily life of the soldiers.
- Operated by
- Comité du Souvenir des défenseurs de Villy-La Ferté
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €5free up to age 6 · €10 from age 17, €5 for ages 7 to 17, free up to age 6. The visit is not recommended for children under 7. |
| Groups (15+ people) | –Special rates for groups of 15 or more, on request; booking required. School groups: €3 per primary pupil, €6 per secondary and higher-education student, one free place for every 10 pupils. |
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 visit takes place underground; the site does not publish accessibility information. A torch is recommended for visitors with visual impairments.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 7+
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 6 |
|---|
The visit is not recommended for children under 7. The interactive school visits are suitable from age 10.
Getting there & parking
By car
A coach parking area is mentioned for school visits.
GPS address: 1 route départementale 52, 08370 La Ferté-sur-Chiers.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
For school groups: coach parking, toilets and a space for picnics.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 2 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | All visits are guided, in French; summary documents are available in English and Dutch. Bring warm clothing and closed shoes. Pets and backpacks are not allowed during the visit. Groups must book. |
