November 11th 1918 at 5:15 a.m. the German plenipotentiaries accepted the armistice conditions of Marshal Foch. Some hours later at 11:00 a.m., the ceasefire announced the end of four years of horrible war. Fit out, in 1922 by the architect Mages in collaboration with M. Binet Valmer, president of the league of the Veterans, the Armistice Glade will become a symbol of victory and peace. Decorated by a monument for the inhabitants of Alsace and Lorraine ( piece of Edgar Brandt), it is pierced by an alley measuring 250 meters, leading to a sort of roundabout of 100 meters of diameter. It commemorates the end of the war, under the constant glance of Marshal Foch's statue.

Used for the signature of the armistice in 1918, the carriage n° 2419D was fit out in an office for Marshal Foch, by the Company "Wagons-Lits". Installed in 1927 on the glade, this symbolic wagon will be used by Hitler for the armistice of 1940 before being confiscated and burned in Germany in April 1945. Today the museum exhibits another carriage of the same series of 1913.
(...) When Marshal Foch had to determine the place, where he would call together the congressmen in charge for the armistice demand, he had many solutions. Would it be a more or less important locality? Would it be better to chose a place in the rear or a recently released region? Wasn't the Headquarter of the Commander-in-chief meant to be the place, where those who implored the suspension of hostilities had to be meet? (...) he will chose the forest of Compiègne, near the train station of Rethondes. Many times, during the war he established his Headquarter in his train. The congressmen will visit him at his headquarter. The loneliness of that place will ensure the tranquillity, the silence, the isolation and the respect of the adversary (...) Maxime Waygand, November 11th, 1932.
November 12th 1918, Marshal Foch addresses to his armies the following message: "Officers, Warrant Officers and Soldiers of the allied armies; after having resolutely stopped the enemy, during several month, you have attacked him without rest and tireless faith and energy. You just won the biggest battle of history and saved the a holy cause : the world's freedom. Be proud of an immortally glory, you have defended your national flags and the posterity will be forever thankful."
The Glade of the Armistice - 60200 Compiègne Phone number / Fax : 03 44 85 14 18 Opening : Opening From April to August 10h 18h last admission 5:30 p.m. daily September to March last admission 5:30 p.m. 10h 17h closed on Tuesday except school holidays price Adult : 5 euros Child rates 7-13 years : 3 euros

August 1944 in Provence.Creation of a second front after the landing June 6th 1944. August 15th 1944 the operation "Dragoon" on the coasts of Provence will take place. It aims to create a second front on the French territory. 2000 war pieces and as many planes will take part in it. The 7th American army of General Patch, including the French forces of the B army of General de Lattre de Tassagny, arrives in the night between August 14th and 15th on the French coasts. In Provence the resistance fighters are informed by Radio-London. Little after midnight, while the American Rangers reach the islands of Levant (region of the Eastern Mediterranean), the first French commandos take Cap Nègre and conquer a strategically vital localisation around Le Lavandou. During the night more then 5000 parachutists are released above the valley of Argens in order to block the access of the landing zones. Here they will get the support of the "Forces Françaises de l'intérieur".

At daybreak, an air and naval raid crushes the German batteries. At 8 a.m. the 3rd, 36th and 45th American infantry division (A.I.D.) reaches the coastal beaches between Cavalaire and Saint-Raphaël. The 16th the French forces start to land. While the American forces march up towards Durance and the valley of the Rhone, the B army must take Toulon and Marseille. These harbours are vital for the the allied strategy. August 20th Toulon starts to be surrounded. The Commandos and the Strike forces seize the batteries of the enemy, "Français Libres", Algerians, "Marsouins" of the Colonian Army and Senegalese try to take the city. The 9th Division of the Colonial Infantry (D.C.I.) will release Toulon from the occupying forces. On August 28th, the German garrison will surrender. At the same time de Lattre launches its troupes towards Marseille. The Moroccans take Aubagne. The 3rd Algerian Infantry Division (A.I.D.) of General Monsabert takes position at the suburbs of Marseille where the insurrection broke out. The 23rd of August, riflemen and cuirassiers join the resistant fighters. Five violent days of combats will be necessary to weaken the German defences. The two harbours were conquered one month in advance. From now on the French Armies will march towards the Rhone valley to contribute to push back the enemy.

The Mount Faron, dominates Toulon with its imposing silhouette. Therefore the town is also known as "The harbour of the Mountain". From the top of this 530m high mountain you can discover a vast maritime panorama, which extends from the islands of Hyères to the Bec d'Aigle de La Ciotat. Thus the visit of the memorial offers a beautiful touristic walk. The "Faron" can be reached either by cable car or by foot. The departure station of the cable car is located near the Hotzl "Altéa la Tour Blanche". It connects the public transports to the centre of the city. This overhead trip is prolonged on approximately 1 500m. From here you can discover the entire coast. This trip is a one-way street: from the west you reach the top of the hill and from the east you descend. Among the interesting tourist attractions, it is necessary to mention the zoo and the "chapelle Notre-Dame-du-Faron".

With the installation of a memorial, President Charles de Gaulle wanted to pay tribute to the soldiers of the B army (which became thereafter the first French Army) and commemorate the landing of the allies of 1944 in which the French troops took part. To locate this memorial, the Minister of "Veterans" proposes Toulon, since its seizure had a vital importance for the release of the Provence. Even if the location of the "Mount Faron" is isolated, it seduces anyone with its prestigious panorama. It's also a location of memory. Many combats took place here, in particular the fight of the battalion of the Strike Forces, August 21st and 22nd 1944. On the mount, which faces the great Basin viewing the sea, a little fort, intended to observe the Beaumont tower was once situated there. The architect Pascalet used its premises and added several buildings in order to create the memorial. This architectural piece was unveiled August 15th 1964 by General de Gaulle. During this ceremony an attack against the President of the Republic was fomented; the bomb, placed in a jar didn't explode.

Two main parts make up the memorial: the first is dedicated to the historical evocation. In many showrooms, pictures, models, arms and military uniforms recall the course of the different episodes of the landings. In an audiovisual room a 15 m large animated Diorama illustrates the coast of the Provence, from Anthéor to Marseille. Here it is possible to admire the most important operations, since the night of August 14th and 15th 1944 until the release of Marseille. A film concerning the landing is shown on a movie screen. The second part focuses more on the memory. The visitor has the possibility to remember all people who participated to the release: chiefs of government, allied soldiers, and resistance fighters... Many personal objects give an emotional touch to this exhibition. An anti-tank device, an anti-aircraft canon as well as a Sherman tank are symbolically positioned outside the building. On the low wall, which follows the hill towards the memorial, several commemorative plaques have been placed in memory to the combatants. Further, towards Croix-Faron a stele has been placed to commemorate the commanding officer of the Croix-Faron battery, who was killed during the combat of May 1940.

Memorial of the landings in the Provence Mont Faron

83200 TOULON

Tél. : 04 94 88 08 09 - Fax : 04.94.88.10.47

Le mémorial est ouvert tous les jours sauf le lundi

• Du 1er octobre au 30 avril ouverture du mardi au dimanche

de 10 heures à 13 heures et de 14 heures à 17 heures 30

• Du 1er mai au 30 juin ouverture du mardi au dimanche

de 10 heures à 13 heures et de 14 heures à 18 heures 30

• Du 1er juillet au 31 août ouverture 7 jours sur 7

de 10 heures à 13 heures et de 14 heures à 18 heures 30

• Du 1er au 30 septembre ouverture du mardi au dimanche

de 10 heures à 13 heures et de 14 heures à 18 heures 30

Toute l'année la caisse est fermée une heure avant les heures de fermeture.

visitvar

Natura 2000

Covering 300,000 ha, the Morvan regional nature reserve, which was created in 1970, currently includes 117 communes 5 cities partners for a population of more than 74,000. The Morvan relief is situated in medium mountains and rests primarily on a granite base and, on the outskirts, on calcareous soil. The landscape consists mainly of farmland criss-crossed by hedges and prairies, forests with broad-leaved trees and conifers, a permanent presence of water (lakes, ponds, rivers, streams), of granite and of the buildings constructed out of the latter. If the scenery is the mark of man, buildings tell a lot about his history. The Eduens (a Gallic tribe) and the Gallo-Romans considered the Morvan to be an important area as testified by Bibracte - today the largest archaeological site in Europe dedicated to the Celtic civilisation - and Autun. Roman art is well represented thanks to the treasures discovered in Vézelay, Saulieu and Autun. The roads of Morvan are surrounded by castles, churches, chapels, places of worship and stones of legend, as well as a multitude of smaller heritage sites.

Dedicated to the theme of exchanges and migration, the eco-museum of Morvan, with its 5 sites each focusing on a specific theme, will take you on a journey of discovery through the history and soul of the MORVAN. One of these sites, located in Saint-Léger-Vauban, is devoted entirely to Vauban. He was born in the region and spent his formative years there, forging his personality to become not only the Marshal that we know about but also a great humanist as proved by his writings, the most famous of which is 'the project for a royal tithe'. In this work, he notes the poverty of the kingdom and the ineffectiveness of its tax system, and proposes the introduction of a single tax. This work, which appeared in 1707, was condemned by Louis XIV and left its author in disgrace. A museum founded in 1983, located at the Saint-Brisson site, is also dedicated to the Resistance in Morvan. The hills, forests, twisting ancient paths and the spirit of the locals, the morvandiaux, made the Morvan a perfect place for members of the Resistance to take refuge. In 1944, there were more than twenty maquis in the Morvan, spread over an area of 150 km². With its well preserved landscape, specific historical riches and diverse heritage, the Morvan is and always will be a place of sanctuary.
The Saint-Brisson site is located on a property covering 40 ha, with buildings that date back to the beginning of the 19th century. It contains the 'Maison du Parc', which serves as the administrative centre of the Morvan regional nature reserve, the 'Maison des hommes et des paysages' (the name of the Morvan eco-museum) and the Resistance Museum. Contact: Parc naturel régional du Morvan Maison du Parc 58230 SAINT-BRISSON Tel.: 33/ (0)3 86 78 79 57 Fax: 33/ (0)3 86 78 74 22 E-mail:parcmorvan.ot@wanadoo.fr

Despite the many restoration projects, the former Château of the Counts Deux-Ponts was in ruins when Louis XIV took Bitche in 1680. Aware of the strategic importance of the rocky crag overlooking the city and the region, Louis XIV decided to have a first citadel built, entrusting the work to Vauban, who completed it in 1683.

The citadel was razed by French troops in 1697, when the Treaty of Ryswick handed Lorraine over to Leopold I, Duke of Lorraine. Louis XV took possession of Lorraine on 21 March 1737 and ordered the reconstruction of the citadel using plans by the engineer Cormontaigne based on Vauban’s construction. The end of the work was marked by the installation of a marble plaque above the main entrance that we can still see today: “Louis XV, Roy de France, auguste, victorieux et pacifique, en réédifiant cette forteresse de fond en comble, a voulu qu'elle fermât les Vosges et la Lorraine à ses ennemis, qu'elle défendit la frontière de l'Alsace et qu'au pied de ses murs les camps des armées françaises trouvassent une puissante protection. Année 1754” (Louis XV, King of France, august, victorious and pacific, by fully rebuilding this fortress, desired that it should close off the Vosges and Lorraine from their enemies, that is should defend the Alsace border and that at the foot of its walls the French army camps might find powerful protection. Year 1754). From 1846 to 1852, the citadel was reinforced with the construction of a fortified perimeter wall, defended to the north by Fort St Sébastien.


During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, German troops laid siege to Bitche and carried out deadly bombardments targeting first the citadel, and then the city. The Bitche garrison resisted gloriously for six long months before opening the doors of the fortress on 27 March 1871, not before receiving Battle Honours. Now German, the citadel was once again refurbished to house a garrison: the perimeter walls were destroyed, the chapel was used to house troops and two barracks were built. When Alsace and Lorraine were returned to France, the city received the Legion of Honour from the hands of President Poincaré in testimonial to the suffering endured during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871.
During the Second World War, Bitche was the theatre of fighting starting in the winter of 1944, during which the population took refuge in the underground galleries of the citadel. Liberated by American troops, the city received the War Cross in 1949, and was commended in the Army Order.


The citadel still bears the scars of its close ties to the history of France. Some buildings of the bastioned central plateau central have miraculously escaped the many bombardments that have tried to conquer the legendarily invulnerable fortress. The chapel can still be admired – it is only vestige of the château built under Vauban – as well as the former bakery and the arsenal. Visitors to the site can notably admire the two bastions placed at the ends of the citadel, protecting the long south curtain wall, the “Grosse Tête” and “Petite Tête” walls, which defend the short curtain walls, and the wealth of the fortress’s underground network built by Louis XV’s engineers. A first museum is located on two levels in the chapel and presents a collection of weapons as well as a relief map of the citadel in the 18th century. In the former bakery, the second permanent exhibition houses a museographical area dedicated to Bitche during the Second Empire.

Visitors to the citadel can enjoy a unique feature: infrared transmitters placed along the itinerary provide commentaries in several languages through audio headphones, while olfactory effects give visitors a realistic perception of life at the citadel over the centuries.


Citadel of Bitche
Tel.: +33 (0)3 87 96 18 82
Fax: +33 (0)3 87 06 11 78

Opens the last Saturday of the month of March and closes the first Sunday of November. Every day from 10 am to 5 pm. Sundays, bank holidays and the months of July and August: 10 am – 6 pm.

Visits take 2 hours. Group visits by appointment

Access: From Strasbourg (65 km): Take the A4 motorway in the Strasbourg-Paris direction, and take the Haguenau Nord exit. Before reaching Haguenau, take the Sarreguemines exit and continue on toward Bitche. From Metz (110 km): Take the A4 motorway in the Paris-Strasbourg direction, take the Sarreguemines exit and continue on toward Bitche.

http://www.siegebitche.com

Website of the Pays de Bitche Tourism Office

Quizz : Forts and citadels

Twenty minutes by sea off the coast of Marseille, on the smallest island in the Frioul archipelago, not far from the islands of Pomègues and Ratonneau, the island of If displays its three hectares of limestone rock. Until the 16th Century, If was a wild islet, an occasional refuge for pirates and smugglers, or fishermen caught out by storms. In 1516, François 1st became aware of the place's strategic importance and decided to build a fortress there as an outpost of the town, designed to control entry into the Phocean port. Work began in 1524 and was completed in 1531. The fortifications consisted of ramparts erected on the white rocks, and a keep flanked by three round towers, linked by high walls and equipped to house a defensive system composed of heavy artillery.

The structure still retains the oppressive appearance of a feudal chateau of pre-bastion craftsmanship, but it is definitely a fortress, most notably because of its corner towers, which are more compact than medieval towers. Housing canons whose range was no more than 150 metres, the château d'If could not fulfil its defensive duty during the siege of Marseille in 1536 by Charles Quint's troops. Having never experienced war, the fortress was converted into a state prison at the end of the 17th century. From 1689 onwards, many protestants died within the damp walls of its terrible dungeons, whilst more favourable conditions of imprisonment were offered to eminent prisoners, wayward women or the bad boys of the family, such as the young Mirabeau.
The insurgents of 1848, the communards: the château d'If held political prisoners before losing its prison status in 1890, when it was opened to the public. Today, within the compound's walls, commemorative plaques still evoke the memory of the thousands of protestants and political internees of 1848. Contrary to the legend, the Iron Mask and the Marquis de Sade were never incarcerated at the château d'If. Between myth and reality, the château d'If also conjures up images of Alexandre Dumas' "Count of Monte-Cristo", although José Custodio Faria and Edmond Dantès probably never stayed there. During the First World War, Germans and then French draft dodgers were detained there. Classified as a historic monument in 1926, the château was taken over by German troops during the Second World War.
Château d'If Ports Iles du Frioul 13000 Marseille Crossings Embarkation: 1, quai de la Fraternité - Old Port - Marseille Tickets available on the day from the ticket office. Reservations for groups by fax on + 33 (0) 4.42.82.33.48. Opening times 1st May to 31st August, every day from 9 am to 6.30 pm 1st September to 31st March, every day except Monday from 9 am to 5.30 pm 1st to 30th April, every day from 9 am to 5.30 pm Last entry depends on the timetable of the boat Closed: 25th December and 1st January Full (adult) price: 5 € Reduced rate (18 to 25 years old): 3,50 € Group rate (from 20 adults): 4,20 € Free up to and including 17 years old Marseille Tourist Information Office Tel. +33 (0) 4 91 13 89 00 - fax +33 (0)4 91 13 89 20 E-mail: info@marseille-tourisme.com

The citadel of Besançon, Vauban's masterwork, was built between 1668 and 1711 and covers 11 hectares. It looks down from a height of more than 100 metres on the old town, which is nestled in a magnificent loop formed by a meander of the Doubs river. The citadel is a remarkably restored fortress, which is nowadays a unique place of great cultural and tourist importance that enables visitors to experience history and life.

The Resistance and Deportation Museum, which is housed in the enclosure of the citadel, takes the visitor on a voyage through history organised around 20 exhibition halls, half of which are dedicated to Nazism, Nazi repression and the concentration camps. It also contains a documentation centre and educational service. Finally, visitors can also see an exhibition of paintings by Jean DALIGAULT made on scraps of paper that were kept by surviving comrades. Jean DALIGAULT was deported to and executed in Dachau in March 1944. There is also an exhibition of rough sketches made while on the move by Léon DELARBRE, a member of the Resistance arrested in 1944 and deported to Auschwitz, Buchenwald, Dora and Bergen-Belsen.

Tourist information: /33 (0)3 81 87 83 33

E-mail: :sem.lacitadelle@besancon.com 

Opening hours The citadel is open daily, except on 25 December and 1 January: 9:00 to 19:00 from July 5 -August 31 9:00 to 18:00 from 29 March to 4 July and 31 August 24 October 10:00 to 17:00 in low season.

Opening hours may be subject to slight amendments. Recommended duration of visit: At least half a day on site. Museums closed on Tuesdays between All Saints' Day and Easter.

Dogs are not permitted.

Admission Adults: 8.20 € Concession: 6.80 € Children (4 -14 years): 4.60 € Children (-4 years) Free. Group and regular visitor rates are also available.

The Resistance and Deportation Museum Free for school groups. Open all year round.

The Resistance and Deportation Museum La Citadelle 25000 BESANÇON - Telephone. /33 (0)3 81 83 37 14

The purpose was to strengthen fortifications south of the town and to make an impression on the working-class population of Saint-Sauveur who were becoming troublesome. It was used to store weapons and had a small garrison with a commanding officer, like at the Citadel.

Fort Saint-Sauveur was decommissioned in 1859. Because of this, only a few buildings and a classical-style chapel dating from 1707, built in white stone from Lezennes are all that remain. Only a few additional constructions have been added since 1947.

The Fort still accommodates military engineering services today.

Quizz : Forts and citadels

Place Richebé has been home to the statue of General Faidherbe since 5th October 1896. He became famous during the 1870 war leading the Armée du Nord. This bronze equestrian statue by Mercie fortunately survived the following two wars. The monumental base is an allegory representing the city of Lille dictating to History the General's deeds, who was victorious in the Battle of Bapaume.

Located in the town of Mont-lès-Neufchâteau in the Ouest Vosgien, Bourlémont is a “stopping fort” in the Séré de Rivières system of fortifications that extended the fortified town of Toul.

Built from brick between 1878 and 1881, its purpose was to defend and keep watch over the rail and road hub of Neufchâteau and slow down the advancement of the enemy who would be forced to pass through the Trouée de Charmes or Charmes Gap. Considered as a second line outpost following the torpedo shell crisis, Fort Bourlémont was declassified in 1885.

The structure, called Fort Choiseul from 1887, has remained in its original architectural state, with the exception of a few modifications made by the Germans during the Second World War. It presents the military organisation of the 19th century with its vast barracks, powder stores and remarkable double caponier.

Its perfectly symmetrical footprint alone conveys the harmony and precision of construction from this period. Its style is just as aesthetic as strategic; its vaults, orillons and sheltered rooms are excellent architectural masterpieces.

In 1996, the town of Mont-lès-Neufchâteau bought the fort then entrusted its rescue and management to the AAFB (Friends of Fort Bourlémont Association) founded the following year. Today the association organises guided tours to show visitors how life was in the barracks between 1881 and 1914 (the garrison provided a roof for 700 men and 19 officers) and remind them of the tensions that reigned during that time between France and Germany.

For example, during the First World War, the structure received those wounded during the Battle of Verdun, Bourlémont being the only fortification to have been equipped, at the time of its construction, with a group of casemates intended to serve as an infirmary.

For young visitors, treasure hunts are organised during which they can discover the architecture of the fort and some military features including the optical telegraph which, using Morse code, provided a means of communication between the forts. The association regularly organises events.

Fort Bourlémont

Contacts: Asssociation des Amis du fort de Bourlémont (AAFB)

9 place de l'Eglise 88300 MONT LES NEUFCHATEAU +33 (0)3 29 94 35 69

email :aafb@ifrance.fr

Available on site: Picnic area, arboretum, car and coach parking, toilets including disabled facilities, snack bar with patio, gift shop.

Opening hours: Open from 2.30 to 5 pm (last tours). From 1 May to 30 June and 1 to 30 September: Sundays and public holidays. From 1 July to 31 August: every day except Monday. All year, by appointment only. Late night visits by appointment only from 1 to 22 August, Tuesdays and Fridays from 9.30 pm.

Admission: Individual adults: €4; teenagers (10-18 years): €1 ; Children under 10: free; Groups: €3

Site du fort de Bourlemont (88)

Following the defeat of 1870 and the annexation of Alsace-Moselle, the defence of the new eastern border was organised along fortification lines that formed defensive curtains, the product of the ideas of General Séré de Rivières. Two lines were built in the east: the defensive curtain of Hauts de Meuse (from Verdun to Toul) and Haute Moselle (from Epinal to Belfort). Two gaps designed to trap the enemy were also built between each line: Stenay (Meuse) and Charmes (Vosges). Apart from the advantage it had of providing geographic continuity with the curtain of Hauts de Meuse, Toul also served as an important crossing point on the main route between Paris and Strasbourg. The city also had an old fortified wall, which allowed it to quickly prepare for a defence of the city, and closed in the openings of the Haye forest and the Woëvre plain. Four forts were planned for construction in the short-term, marking out the four corners of the fortified twon of Toul : Ecrouves, Domgermain, St-Michel and Villey-Le-Sec. Villey-Le-Sec was charged with monitoring the openings of the Haye forest and was located on an elevated point 345m high on the right bank of the Moselle, alongside the ravine formed by this river as it runs through the Haye plateau.

By the time the planning of the fort began on 5 December 1873, the site had already presented major difficulties: the village occupied the site best-suited to the construction of the fort. Although it was suggested that the village be demolished, engineers decided to put the site to the best possible use in view of the urgent nature of the works: the demolition of the village would have also meant a delay in the construction of the fort and increased its cost. Nevertheless, work on the project began on 26 July 1875, even though the question of acquisitions had not been fully resolved. (The sites of the Nord and Sud batteries would not be acquired until October). What would follow was a long 4-year period of construction during which hundreds of workers would labour at a frantic pace. Given these lengthy horizons for completion and following an early crisis with our German neighbours, four redoubts were hastily built in Toul in late 1875 on points from which enemy artillery could bomb the heart of the town. In the sector of interest to us, the redoubts of Dommartin and Chaudeney (1km behind the fort of Villey-Le-Sec) were the state-of-the-art in military fortifications. The fort of Villey-Le-Sec was completed in 1879; only the Mougin turret, known as « G » and ordered on 14 August 1878 from the company Forges in Chatillon-Commentry was installed at a later date (1882). This turret required the construction of an inclined plane and railway track 203m long. The fort was now able to hold a garrison of 1301 men made up of 37 officers, 56 non-commissioned officers and 1208 soldiers, the manpower required to operate 36 ramparts, 8 mortars and 24 pieces of flanking artillery. Villey-le-sec was one of the more expensive forts in the fortification system. However, it was also an exceptional, unique complex; the inability to build the complex in the desired location meant that the whole village was fortified and protected by a surrounding wall and batteries. It is the only example of a village within a modern French fort.
Villey-Le-Sec is a surrounding fort made up of a Redan flanked by two batteries closed at the groove and two linking enclosures that have been hit by infantry fire. The complex is closed in by a square keep, a single-rampart stronghold. Built entirely of masonry covered in dirt, it was resistant to artillery used at the time. However, the useful life of the fort, as well as that of the Séré de Rivières system as a whole, suddenly came to an end in 1885 with the discovery of melignite and the development of new cylindrical-ogival shells capable of destroying forts made of stone. This was what would become known as the «torpedo shell» crisis. A series of experiments was thus carried out to strengthen the forts; the era of concrete and armour had just begun. In 1888, a directive would stipulate the first modifications to be made to the structures. As a result of these modifications, Villey-le-Sec was equipped with four barracks made of special concrete on 3 July 1890 : one in the keep, one in each battery and one in the redan. This cost 150,000 francs.
However, these first modifications were insufficient. At the instigation of the Haute Commission des Places Fortes (HCPL), created in 1899, a decision was made to embark on an ambitious programme to modernise the fort of Villey-Le-Sec, with work commencing on 11 July 1903. The former entrance of the keep was sealed and replaced with a new concrete barrack with an entrance at the end of the ditch. From winter 1905, other works, carried out by entrepreneur Benoît Estrade, would see the replacement of the caponniers of the keep with chests, the construction of concrete communication shafts and the building of armoured observation points. On February 7, delivery was taken of the redan's 75 turret (number 10). In 1907, the Nord battery took delivery of a 75 turret (number 13) and a machine-gun turret (number 25); the batteries and redan that flanked the ditches remained unchanged. Finally, from 1912, the fort would have an armoured battery for two 155 Court turrets. Although all of the substructures were completed, the turrets were never installed due to the declaration of war. The Sud battery was never modernised; it contains the features of the earliest forts. The fort of Villey-le-Sec is an exceptional complex not only due to its size, but also due to its originality in the sense that it surrounded a village. Owned by the council of the department of Meurthe-et-Moselle, this site, which is maintained with great professionalism by the Association La Citadelle, could become an important tourist destination within the schema for the development of the Boucles de la Moselle. It is for this reason that the department recently launched a definition study, which will enable it to develop a plan to develop the fort of Villey-Le-Sec. Naturally, the project has the support of the ministry of defence.
Hours: Open Sundays and public holidays to 15h from 1 May to 30 September Every day to 15h from 14 July to 15 August, except Monday at 15h. Groups welcome all year round, subject to reservation. Admission : Adults : ?5 Ambassadors of Lorraine : ?4 Children under 16 : ?2.50 Groups (more than 25 persons) : ?4 Contact : Monsieur Régis BERGER, Chairman Association La Citadelle 2 place de l'Eglise 54840 Villey-le-Sec 03.83.63.90.09 email :fort@villey-le-sec.com

In West Africa, tata is a Wolof word meaning “plot of sacred land”, the place where warriors killed in combat are buried.

In Chasselay, in the Rhône, this name takes on its true meaning when you delve into the local annals and learn the history of the events that took place here during the Second World War.

The battles

On 19 and 20 June 1940, ignorant of the fact that Lyon had just been declared an “open city”, the 25^th Senegalese Infantry Regiment confronted the German army in Chasselay and the surrounding area.

Despite their bravery, they were finally forced to lay down arms. The battles were terminated by the massacre of African prisoners by the SS division Totenkopf (Death’s Head).

The tata

Rectangular in shape, surrounded by high walls surmounted on each corner and above the entrance by a spiked pyramid, the tata is architecturally inspired by Sudanese architecture.

The massive oak door bears eight different stylised sculpted masks displaying idols that keep watch over the deceased at rest. The surrounding walls and grave stones are red ochre in colour.

The cemetery holds the remains of 196 infantrymen of various nationalities from West Africa. They originated from Senegal but also Burkina Faso (Upper Volta at the time), Dahomey, Sudan, Chad and other nations.

The origins of the cemetery

This unique building in France is owed to Jean Marchiani. A veteran of the war of 1914-1918, in 1940 he held the position of General Secretary of the Departmental Office of disabled ex-servicemen, veterans and victims of war.

As soon as he heard about the events of 19 and 20 June, he decided to bring together the bodies of the African soldiers, some of whom were buried in local cemeteries while others were often simply left to lay in ditches in the middle of the countryside.

After identifying the villages where bodies were buried, Jean Marchiani bought a plot of land in Chasselay, near the locality of Vide-Sac where 50 Senegalese prisoners were shot by the enemy, and raised funds. He was backed by General Doyen, former commander of the Army of the Alps, and Senegal Deputy Calendou Diouf.

The inauguration took place on 8 November 1942, three days before the invasion of the free zone by the Germans.

This memorial and site for contemplation was classified as a national cemetery in 1966. The property of the Ministry of Defence, it is managed by the interdepartmental department of veterans’ affairs for the Rhône-Alpes region.

Nécropole nationale de Chasselay (Chasselay National Cemetery)

Getting there: Take the D100 in the direction of Les Chères Chasselay (Rhône)

Opening times: 10 am to 6 pm

Guided tours: 10 am to 12 pm and 2-5 pm

Admission: free of charge

La Doua French National Cemetery was inaugurated in 1954. This site honours the memory of French military casualties, Commonwealth war casualties and other Allied soldiers killed during the wars of 1914-1918 and 1939-1945.

La Doua was also an important site in the history of the French Resistance. During the Second World War, a number of Resistance members held at Montluc prison for resistance crimes were executed here. A plaque affixed to the "Mur des fusillés" (Execution Wall) commemorates the memory of the sacrifices made by 78 patriots shot by the Germans during the occupation , near the hill at the centre of the cemetery. The site also contains the burial places of soldiers from contingents killed in Indochina, Algeria and Lebanon.

Nécropole Nationale de la Doua (La Doua National Cemetery)

30, avenue Albert-Einstein 69100 Villeurbanne

Tel (mobile): +33 (0)6 70 64 00 53

Getting there:

• Take the ringroad in east Lyon (Boulevard Laurent Bonnevay) and exit at Villeurbanne-Croix Luizet

• T1 tram, IUT Feyssine stop

Opening times:

10.00 am to 6.00 pm

For more information visit the website: www.memorial-genweb.org

Bunker S.Z.247. On a hillside on the territory of Dreslincourt, this German concrete structure is a vestige of static warfare. Hidden in the forest, inaccessible from the path, a stairway and a discretely signposted trail provide access today. This type of Great War heritage action aims to preserve these painful historical testimonials and respect the natural environment at the same time.

The soldiers buried here include Marcel Gueugnon, who died for France on 9 June 1940 and is buried alongside his father, Lieutenant Marius Gueugnon, who died on 20 August 1918. Grave 8 contains the remains of two brothers killed in 1917, Georges and Prosper Humbert.

Built at the beginning of the 15th century (in 1402), the Noble Tower was completed under King Philippe the Good. Designed using regional materials (Lezennes stone), it is covered with earth for protection against the cold and fire, with a width of 14 m and walls that are 3-m thick. The masonry and mouldings date from the Burgundy period. The “Noble Tower” has existed for 6 centuries.

Destroyed during Louis XIV’s siege, it was restored by Vauban. The upper section is missing, however, as is the ground floor, which has been buried. Inside we can admire the gothic vault and the urn symbolising the Martyrdom of the Deportees.

 

The urn inside the Noble Tower contains the ashes and cremated remains of deportees who were horribly murdered in the death camps. The cover, in bronze, bears the names of the camps in raised lettering.

Departmental Resistance and Deportation Memorial
Rue des Déportés in Lille

The site is open to the public during commemorative events, such as the last Sunday in April each year for the Deportation Commemoration Day and for the Historic Monuments Open House Days in September.

Information: for group visits, contact the Cultural Service at +33 (0)3 20 49 52 81.

Lille Tourism Office
Palais Rihour Place Rihour BP 205 59002 LILLE Cedex

Tel. from France: 0891 56 2004
Tel. from abroad: +33 (0)359 579 400

Website of the Regional Tourism Committee of the Nord region

Website of the Nord Department Tourism Committee

Website of the Lille Tourism Office

Quiz: Forts and citadels

The cemetery on the Route de Solesmes

Located on the road to Solesmes, this cemetery not only evokes the fate of this town, occupied by the Germans from 26 August 1914 to 9 October 1918, but most importantly the first battle of Cambrai, from 20 November until 3 December 1917, the German offensive of March 1918 and this second battle of Cambrai, the last battle on the Hindenburg line, which was to finally liberate the city in October 1918, the town by then having endured terrible destruction.

Later the town was "adopted" by the County Town of Birkenhead. The cemetery had been created by the Germans during their occupation from March 1917. They had constructed a few monuments and a stone cross there. On 11 August 1918, the Bavarian commander of the town had handed over the maintenance of the cemetery to the town. Afterwards the German Military cemetery that was in Cambrai was transferred there to the Saint-Sépulcre cemetery. The graves have now been regrouped. The remains of 10,685 Germans, 192 Russians, 6 Romanians and 502 British are to be found there.

13 km to the north east of Bapaume on the road between Cambrai and Bapaume is the Louverval Memorial. It commemorates the 7,048 British and South African soldiers who died at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917 and whose graves are unknown. The Battle of Cambrai, marked by a breakthrough on 20 November, a cessation on positions on 22 November and a German counter attack between 23 and 29 November, resulted in a limited gaining of ground but taught the Allies some valuable tactical and strategic lessons. For their part, the Germans had discovered that their line of defence was vulnerable. The Memorial, situated on a terrace at the far end of the military cemetery, was designed by H. Chalton Bradshaw and the sculptor C.S. Jagger, whose two bas-reliefs illustrating battle scenes are to be admired.

1917 had been a terrible year for all the fighting nations during the ongoing First World War. At the end of the year, the British, seeking to destroy the Hindenburg line (the defensive system for the territories occupied by the Germans), decided to launch an offensive to the south of Cambrai involving the large-scale use of tanks. The battle was merciless: the first battles were a great success for the British troops, except at Flesquières, but the Germans, at first thrown into confusion, very quickly started a powerful counter-offensive. For 15 days, attacks and counter-attacks were to follow in succession, with neither of the two armies chalking up decisive success. The human losses were enormous: 45,000 British and 55,000 Germans were killed, as whole villages were destroyed. During the First World War, a new weapon appeared on the battlefields: the tank. Tanks were designed to support the attacks of the infantry, driving them across enemy lines. During the battle in November 1917, the "Tank Corps" of the third British Army (a total of 476 tanks) was engaged to break through the Hindenburg line.

The objective of the battle was to take the strategic positions of the Flesquières ridge and the Bourlon woods before targeting the liberation of Cambrai. At Flesquières, the British attack came up against fierce resistance from German troops, who managed to destroy or immobilise several tanks. One of those destroyed was buried by the Germans in the spring of 1918. In November 1998, thanks to a handful of enthusiasts, it was unearthed. Today this war relic can be seen in Flesquières. At Cambrai, the memory of this battle lives on through the monument to the soldiers from the Cambrai regiments, opposite the gate to the citadel and through the French Remembrance monument listing all those from Cambrai who died in combat during the Great War. The Louverval cemetery is an important place of remembrance for them.

Characteristics: - 26.5 tonnes - 8.50 metres long - 3.20 metres wide - 52 cm wide tracks - 5 machine guns with 13,000 to 30,000 cartridges - Crew of 8 men.
It was on the Flesquières ridge that the most important episode of the Battle of Cambrai took place. Overlooking the valley, it is possible for us to imagine the starting point of the British attack on 20 November 1917, on a front of about 8 km stretching from Havrincourt to Bonavis. There used to be a mill there, but since it could be used as a reference point for the British artillery, it was destroyed by the Germans. Today there is a project to build an orientation table showing the Hindenburg line's defensive system and erect a monument to the glory of the soldiers who fell on the battlefield.

This raised German bunker is characterised by its shape and its use, as it served as an observation tower. In fact, its position allowed communication with Cambrai using visual signals. The observation post was attached to the château garden. The building is still very well preserved today.

An exact replica trench was created for the filming of the documentary "he Trench" by the BBC. Tours of the site are possible on request to complement a tour of the tank.
 

Flesquières Hill British Cemetery

In this cemetery, as in all those with more than 400 graves, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has built a "Remembrance Stone" on which is engraved the inscription "Their Name Liveth For Evermore". In addition, the cemetery contains the graves of 589 known and 332 unknown soldiers. Next to the British are buried the soldiers from New Zealand and Australia who took part in the fighting at the end of the war.

Orival Wood British Cemetery

The remains of the famous English poet, Lieutenant Ewart Alan Mackintosh are buried here. In the same place there are also the graves of Canadian and German soldiers killed in the Flesquières sector.

This 38 metre high islet with its natural beauty, battered by wind and tide, overlooks the entrance to the Brest Narrows. Protected by the sea but accessible at low tide, it has been used as a refuge since prehistoric times. Its position made it highly coveted, and the Dukes of Brittany set Le Perzel Château on it in the 5th century. However, its moment of glory came during the 17th century, when the King's engineer proposed that the island be fortified by building on the existing ruins. Vauban established a battery which was involved in driving back the English.

At the end of the 19th century, the islet was abandoned and a more powerful battery was created on land, behind it. The last time it was armed was by the Germans, who sited 75mm and 20mm canons on it, and hid machine guns around the fort. Under heavy bombardment, it surrendered to American troops in September 1944.

Bertheaume lay abandoned for 45 years until it was reborn out of its turbulent history in 1992. After Herculean restoration work (when workmen physically carried materials to the site) it was opened to the public once again.

Today, the accurately restored site invites you to discover its past through numerous exhibitions and events.

Bertheaume Fort

Tel: +33.(0)2.98.48.26.41

Group visits can be arranged on request. Evening visit entitled "Tales of Bertheaume": every Wednesday in summer

Open April to November: 5 April to 4 May 2pm to 6.30pm every day. 5 May to 27 June and 6 to 28 September, 2pm to 6.30pm Tuesday to Sunday. 28 June to 31 August: 10am to 7pm.
October: 2pm to 6pm on Wednesdays and Sundays, 25 October to 2 November 2pm to 6.30pm every day. Open 2pm to 6pm on 5, 8, 9, 10 and 11 November.

Ticket office closes 1 hour before the site.
 

Entrance: Adults: €3.80 Preferential rate: €2.90 Reduced tariff (young people aged 12-18, students and job seekers): €2.10 Children aged 6-11: €0.80
 

Plougonvelin village official website

A prestigious museum The Army's Health Service Museum, is situated in the monument grouping of Val-de-Grâce in a splendid cloister. This museum is a traditional institution, which was completely restructured and attached to the Army's Health Service School. A historic site The Benedictine abbey, transformed into a military hospital in 1793, and thus preserved from the revolutionary destructions, was built on the XVII Century. It results from the wish of Anne of Austria, thanking this way the birth of Louis XIV. Its realization is the result of the work of several famous architects, for example: François Mansart, Jacques Lemercier, Pierre Le Muet, Pierre Mignard, Michel and François Anguier. The church symbolizes the nativity and is the most sculptured church of France. It is the most exhaustive example of the French Baroque art.

The voluntary pedagogic presentation of the collections helps to give, to all kind of visitors, a better understanding of the bases and multiple vocations of the Medicine of the Armies. Every topic is further developed by the use of an audio-visual production. It is developed in occasion of temporary exhibitions. The first halls of the museum evoke the personnel of the Health Service, in particular the evolution of their uniforms and their teaching. It also illustrates the principal mission of the service : the medical support of the armed forces during the conflicts, from the collecting of the wounded men on the battle spots and their evacuation, to the hospitals in the rear on the ground, the sea and the air.
The visitor also discovers the research activities of the Health Service, which so often were put into rhythm by the conflicts and for the benefit of the armies. The wax forms point out the research activities in the oral and face surgery field, during the war of 1914-1918. The Carli, Sudre or Leriche statuettes testify to the research of the Health service in the domain of the psychiatry. A decompression chamber as well as a "Véronique" rocket head, illustrates the underwater medicine and the aerospace medicine. The research undertaken by the military pharmacists, during their discovery journeys around the world, on war poisons is exhibited as well.
The participation of the Army's Health Service in the civil domain is recalled since the XIX century, by its human actions, its care for the population, the creation of medical schools or Pasteur Institutes and the fight against the big diseases. Exemples are Calmette, Yersin, Jamot. The Army's Health Service has also a vast experience in the progress of hygiene. In particular the food and clothing hygiene but also the general house and behaviour hygiene. Its experience is predominant in the fight against metropolitan or exotic infectious diseases. For example, diseases like typhoid, meningitis, the plague, the viral hepatitis and malaria.
The visitor can also admire the collection of pharmacy objects of the doctors Debat. It is fitted out in the old kitchens of the Benedictine nuns and gathers Italian and French pieces of earthenware, instruments of medicine and mortars. The "Majoliques" are Italian ceramics of the Renaissance and which illustrates the production of Faenza, Montelupo, Deruta or Venice. Here it is possible to discover the instruments of the pharmacy and medicine domain, like the amputation saws or special trepans, first-aid kits and microscopes, for the majority coming from the 18th century. A pharmacy is reconstituted and exhibits earthenware and porcelains coming from Ile-de-France or the Netherlands. Other ceramics, coming from factories in Lille, Rouen, Nevers, Nîmes, Saint-Cloud, or also in the South-west or even the Far East are exhibit close to the blown glass bottles. The collection of the 103 mortars is one of the most prestigious worldwide. This splendid typology shows objects of the ancient Egypt to our days, coming from productive areas and realized in all kind of materials.
Museum of the Arm's Health Service (Musée du Service de Santé des Armées) : 1, place Alphonse Laveran 75230 Paris Cedex 05 Tél. : 01 40 51 51 92 - Fax : 01 40 51 51 93 Timetable Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday : from 12 a.m. to 5p.m. Group visits on reservation under the Phone number : 01 40 51 51 94 Tariffs Adults :4,60 €. Children (under 12 years) : 2,30 €. Free entrance for children less then six years, active militaries, the civil staff of the Ministry of Defence. Public Transports RER (Train) : Port-Royal. Subway : Goblins. BUS : 91, 83.