MILITARY HERITAGE
The A5 structure of the Bois du Four

 

The A5 structure of the Bois du Four in Villers-la-Montagne, with a monolithic design and powerful reinforcement, is built on two levels.

 

It is an infantry structure staffed by a crew of 137 men from the 139th RIF (Fortress Infantry Regiment) and 152nd RAP (Position Artillery Regiment)

 

This fort is the only one in the North and East of France to display a firing chamber under a lower casemate equipped with two 81 mm mortars.

 

Other high points of the tour: the manually operated eclipse machine-gun turret, the fully refurbished and working kitchen and the artillerymen's quarters.

 

Useful information :

  • Located 1 500 m south-east of Villers-la-Montagne, access via the RN52, exit at "Morfontaine - Tiercelet - Z.I. Villers" interchange, direction Morfontaine-Cités, then right-hand path at 500m.
  • Tel. +33 (0)7 68 34 36 71
  • Fax. +33 (0)3 82 44 52 87
  • Internet: virtual site visit: http://maginot-a5.org
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Fermont, the undefeated Fortress

A large structure that was part of the Maginot Defense Line

The Fort de Fermont and its museum are the best places to discover the Maginot Line.

 

Fermont is a 2-hour tour, 30 metres underground, sometimes on foot, sometimes in a vintage electric train. You will discover an artillery structure of the Maginot Line completely preserved with its equipment, its underground organization and its armament.


Useful information :

  • Association des Amis de l'Ouvrage de Fermont et de la Ligne Maginot (Association of Friends of the Fermont Works and the Maginot Line) - 9 rue A. Lebrun 54260 Longuyon
  • 03 82 39 35 34
  • 03 82 39 26 46
  • Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Internet: ligne-maginot-fort-de-fermont.asso.fr
The Crypt and the Mine of Thil

The Thil concentration camp was opened in March 1944 and abandoned y the Germans in early September 1944. The camp housed deportees working in a V1 missile factory in the mine of the Syndicat de Tiercelet.

 

Today, you can still visit the Crypt, which includes the crematory oven, and walk along the Memory Trail. To this day, it remains the only concentration camp with a crematorium oven in non-annexed French territory.

 

Part of the mine can be toured.

Useful information :

  • Get in touch: +33 (0)3 82 24 94 54
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Photos