Carrière de Froidmont, Historical limestone quarry in Braye-en-Laonnois, France

Carrière de Froidmont is a creute, an underground limestone quarry cut into the Chemin des Dames plateau at Braye-en-Laonnois. It lies 15 metres below ground and covers about 40 hectares, formed of several quarries joined by tunnels dug by German soldiers between 1914 and 1917. Three levels correspond to three extraction beds, from hard limestone for load-bearing work to soft stone for rubble masonry.

The quarry was worked from the Middle Ages until 1870, and its stone is thought to have supplied the transept portals of Laon Cathedral. German soldiers linked several quarries with tunnels between 1914 and 1917, and in April and May 1917 French fire from 370 mm guns targeted the secondary entrances. The site was abandoned after the war and closed in 1991.

The walls bear carvings and inscriptions left by quarry workers and soldiers from the First World War. These handmade marks tell the story of the people who labored and fought in this space.

Visitors must book in advance to gain access to the site. The entrance is now accessible through the neighboring Carrière des Penseurs location.

Since September 2022, visitors can explore the quarry through a virtual reality experience developed in partnership with INSA Strasbourg. This technology opens access to sections that would otherwise be difficult to reach physically.