The history of the fort.

A FORT BENEATH THE LANDSCAPE

The construction of the fort.

The fort belongs to the fortified position of Liège. Construction began in 1935: the fighting structures above ground connect to underground installations.

The guided route takes you through the galleries to the fighting positions and underground barracks. Your guide explains how the spaces were used and places what you see in context.

THE TRIALS OF 1942 AND 1943

The Röchling shell trials.

During the Occupation, the Germans used the fort for Röchling projectile trials.

Piercing the fort’s defences

Long and narrow, Röchling shells were designed to penetrate fortifications. Their four-fin tail stabilised flight. The projectile’s mass, concentrated over a small cross-section, helped it penetrate soil and concrete. Some models carried an explosive charge intended to act inside the structure.

Aubin-Neufchâteau as a testing ground

Les essais de 1942 et 1943 sont postérieurs aux combats de mai 1940. Le fort déjà conquis devient une cible pour tester ces armes contre un ouvrage moderne. À Aubin, les tirs utilisent notamment un canon de 21 cm et une pièce française de 34 cm sur voie ferrée, capturée par les Allemands.

The underground barracks, built around 35 metres below ground, still bear impact marks. CLHAM observations describe the narrow channels bored through the ground by the shells, followed by perforation and destruction of rooms. This damage reflects experiments during the Occupation, separate from the fort’s defence in 1940.

Today, the standard tour lets you see projectiles and the damage they caused. Guides help you understand these traces, including in the underground installations.