General Mangin Observation Tower, Military observation tower in Retz Forest, France.
The General Mangin Observation Tower is a wooden structure rising 25 meters (82 feet) above a hilltop in the Retz Forest, offering views over the treetops and the Ourcq Valley below. Visitors climb through several platforms, with the top level providing a full circle of forested ridges stretching in every direction.
General Charles Mangin used this hilltop in July 1918 as a command observation point during the French counteroffensive at Villers-Cotterêts, which helped push back the German advance toward Paris. The current wooden structure was rebuilt in 2018, replacing the original military installation that had disappeared over time.
Local walkers often pause at the memorial stone before heading into the forest, treating the site as both a place of reflection and a starting point for their hikes. Families sometimes bring children here to explain the war through the panels, which present the conflict in a way that even younger visitors can follow.
Access to the platform is free and possible from sunrise to sunset, with three marked trails departing from the area for those who want to continue walking. Sturdy shoes help on the forest paths, which can become slippery after rain or during colder months.
A British military cemetery sits near the base of the hill, marking the graves of 98 soldiers who died trying to slow the German push toward Paris in the summer of 1918. The white headstones stand quietly among the trees, adding a somber note to the otherwise peaceful woodland.
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