Fort de Liouville

Fort de Liouville is a stone military fortress with thick walls, underground passages, and several gun positions designed to defend the region. The site contains exhibition spaces displaying artifacts and information about soldiers' lives and military operations from that period.

The fortress was built between 1876 and 1878 as part of a large French defensive system to protect the border against Germany. During World War I it suffered heavy bombardment but survived and was later preserved as a testament to that era.

The fort shows how military engineers thought about defense and control in the late 1800s, with its thick walls and tight corridors built to survive cannon fire. Moving through these narrow passages gives visitors a sense of how soldiers lived and worked in confined conditions.

The site is walkable but stairs and narrow passages can be tiring, so wear comfortable shoes and move at your own pace. It is wise to bring warm clothing since the underground areas remain cool.

The fort was strategically placed to control river crossings over the Meuse and protect the flat Woëvre plains behind it. This location explains why this place was so heavily contested and bombarded during the war.