Ouvrage Fermont

Ouvrage Fermont is an underground military fortification in Montigny-sur-Chiers with multiple levels and corridors connecting different combat positions across its grounds. The structure includes reinforced blocks housing gun emplacements, control centers, and barracks for the personnel who operated it.

The fortification was built in the early 1930s as part of the Maginot Line, a French defensive system along the German border. It served as a fortified position during World War II until the military situation changed dramatically for French forces.

The site reveals how military planners of the 1930s approached national defense and the choices they made to protect the border. The spaces still feel lived-in, with equipment and furnishings that show what daily life was like for the soldiers stationed here.

Visitors travel through the underground sections on a narrow-gauge railway and can explore different rooms and functional areas. Most corridors are straightforward to walk through, though stairs and tight passages lead to certain sections.

The site also displays a collection of gun turrets from another fortification, showing how these defensive structures functioned. These turrets are presented in their original condition and offer a rare glimpse into the engineering solutions of that era.