Overlooking the confluence of the rivers Marque and Deûle, on the N17 road connecting Lille and Menin, Fort Lobau was erected in the 1880s, becoming part of the defence system designed by Séré de Rivières in the Lille region.

It has ramparts with a perimeter of 720 metres, protected by a wide ditch. It was impressive. It could accommodate 800 men and 40 pieces of artillery. However, although it had an armoured dome, it was not sufficient to provide shelter from new forms of explosives. Another weakness was linked to the fact that it could be opposed from the high ground of Mouvaux.

The peculiarity of the site is that it wasn't really used by French soldiers, but by German soldiers. It was actually occupied during the two wars in the 20th century. In the second world war it was linked to an airfield as of July 1940 and was used to store bombs for German aircraft.

But it was much more than this: from 17 March 1943 to 1 May 1944, it was a site of execution for the 68 members of the French Resistance in the region. Before they left on 1 September 1944, the Germans bombed the entire site. All that was left was a third of its original structure.

It was rediscovered by accident, and the Fort's casemates were renovated, following the original plans. The Sacred Courtyard, where executions had taken place, was inaugurated in 1986. The Fort is an interesting example of military architecture from the end of the 19th century (restored casemates, different courtyards: battery courtyard, courtyard of honour and Sacred courtyard).

The Fort houses the Musée de la Résistance, inaugurated on 20 September 1997.
The museum retraces the activities of the French Resistance in the region of Nord - Pas de Calais during the Second World War. Organised by theme, an educational trail explains the backgrounds of the men and women who belonged to the "shadow army", with collections of objects and documents from the time.

The museum has different rooms, organised by theme: the Memory room recalls the sacrifice made by the members of the Resistance killed at the Fort; the Refusal room explains the reasons for wanting to fight the occupier; the Courage room illustrates the different forms of resistance, from collecting information to carrying out spectacular actions; the Enrolment room describes the paths of the Resistance members and the different organisations (networks and movements) to help understand their reasons for joining; lastly, the Sacrifice room exposes the repression and the conditions of detention experienced by the arrested members.

The Museum also has an area dedicated to the Voix du Nord newspaper showing 66 clandestine copies of Voix du Nord, from 1 April 1941 to 5 September 1944, and a library open to students who want to do some research. The Museum also has a conference room and a dining area.

Musée de la Résistance de Bondues

BP80001 59587 BONDUES Cedex

Tel.: +33 (0)3 20 28 88 32

Fax: +33 (0)3 20 28 94 95

E-mail: hpriego@mairie-bondues.fr

Opening times Summer : Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 2 pm to 4.30 pm Other periods: open every day subject to booking, from 9 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm. Open on the first Sunday of the month (except in August) from 2.30 pm to 6 pm - guided tours at 3.30 pm. Closed on Tuesday, the weekend and national holidays. Guided tours can be organised on request outside the usual opening times.

Prices Individuals: €5.00. Children under 12 accompanied by an adult: free. Groups (from 10 people): €4.50 per person. School groups (30 pupils maximum): €25.00 per class

Mairie de Bondues

BP 1 59587 BONDUES Cedex

Correspondance ASSOCIATION "UNION RESISTANCE VOIX DU NORD"

Espace Résistance Voix du Nord 200, rue de la Coeuillerie 59840 PREMESQUES

Tel.: +33 3.20.22.20.56

Website of the Tourist Information Office of Lille

Website of the departmental tourist board for the Nord

Website of the town of Bondues

Website of the regional tourist board for the Nord

Quizz : Forts and citadels

Known as the queen of citadels, the citadel of Lille was the first great personal creation of Vauban. Started in 1670, it is in the shape of a regular pentagon, reinforced with powerful interior bastions, from which the buildings are positioned according to a radial layout with a large central courtyard. A much cherished part of Vauban's court, this showcase fortification can be visited by contacting the Tourist Information Office. Of special interest are the Royal Gate and the Arsenal.

On leaving the citadel and going straight ahead in an easterly direction, via the Boulevards following the old fortifications destroyed during the Second Empire, not to be missed are the relief maps of the 17th century towns, including that of Lille, at the palais des Beaux-Arts and, further on, what remains of Fort Saint-Sauveur in the square du Réduit, not far from the Porte de Paris built by a man from Lille, Simon VOLLANT, a partner of Vauban, as a tribute to Louis XIV. Close by, the remains of the Noble Tower, erected by the Duke of Burgundy, Philippe le Hardi. Around Lille, the forts of Bondues to the north and Seclin to the south are good examples of so-called Séré de Rivières fortifications.

This historic monument, now owned by the Ministry of Defence, belongs to a Culture and Defence protocol, signed on 17 September 2005. Click here to see the list of other buildings...
Office du Tourisme de Lille Tel: +33 (0) 320 30 81 00

Saint-Pol-sur-Mer is a former commune with a population of 24,000 and is the site of a number of military remains. These include: The remains of the Jean Bart lock, which can be seen in the Jacobsen park. The lock was built in 1715 at the mouth of the Mardyck canal (now a freeway) to compensate for the destruction imposed by the Peace of Utrecht. It was considered the finest in Europe at the time. In 1717, following the Treaty of the Hague, the decision was made to demolish the lock and Russian Tsar Peter the Great physically came to the site to ensure the plan was followed through. In honour of the First World War (1914-1918), a plaque was erected in memory of aviator Georges Guynemer who spent his last night at 192 rue de la République before his fatal flight in September 1917 over Poelkapelle, while his squadron had been stationed on the ground in St Pol since July of that year.

A remnant from the Second World War, an armoured chamber with its anti-aircraft bunker at the site of the oil company Dépôts de Pétrole Côtiers on Avenue Maurice Berteaux.

Site du comité régional du tourisme de la région Nord

Website of the regional tourism board for the Nord