More than a Museum...

G u n s § H o r s e s - d r a w n § S o l d i e r s § T a n k s § W e a p o n s

A Passionate Family

   Around 40 years our family have searched for, studied and preserved objects from the WWI. Since 1996, we have restored an 1870 fortification area in order to create an historical centre on WWI.

   Our horse-drawn military collection is one of the most complete you can find in France. Discover the atmosphere of the 1900's where military art was composed of technical evolution, uniforms and military school traditions.

The Fort, an Historical Place

    This "Séré de Rivière" fort was built in 1870 on a strategical area already used by the Romans.

   During WWI, a Bavarian regiment occupied it and supplied the front with men and equipment that covering the sectors of Ypres, Arras, Fromelles and Vimy. From its heights and by clear weather, the Canadian memorial of Vimy can be seen.

    It's on 16th/17th October 1918 that the 6th battalion of King's Liverpool regiment of the 5th British army took it over.

Collections

    Its vaulted rooms house authentic artillery harness, guns from 75 "Père la Victoire" to 155 Schneider, engravings of principal military painters, uniforms and a weapon collection, a saddlery that redraws the 1870 to 1918 period as well an FT17 Renault tank. (As well as many more interesting items of equipment ;-)

In other respects, the fort is on of the last that still posses its caponnières, which are the keystone of the close defence of Séré de rivière. Those advances posts were destroyed or bombed at first in order to make them useless. Now, museum tour are completed with the discover of the fortification, when the weather allow it!