Built in the 1880s as part of the fortified belt around Verdun, Fort Vaux became one of the hardest-hit sites on the battlefield during the Battle of 1916 in World War I.

A place of historical memory that opened to the public after the war, it retained an outdated museum layout that no longer met contemporary expectations regarding visitor experience and accessibility.

Left without its main facade and subject to damage that jeopardized public access, the fort no longer reflected its pre-war appearance; its main elevation, obscured by the site’s parking lot, was only noticeable upon closer inspection.

The project, led by Chatillon Architectes and building on the works carried out at Fort Douaumont in 2017, combines restoration, safety measures, accessibility, and storytelling.

The overall approach was to exercise the utmost restraint in the intervention, so as not to detract from either the lunar landscape of the site or the commemorative nature of the Verdun battlefields.

The scenic route now begins at the forecourt, which follows the historic path of the old moat, revealing the fort’s facade once again while redirecting vehicular traffic to the edge of the wooded area. At the intersection of the forecourt and the approach path, a reception pavilion made of Corten steel and local wood opens up a dual view—one of the fort’s architecture and the other of its surrounding landscape—with its cantilevered roof providing shade and shelter.

The tour continues through the original galleries and casemates, following the route taken by the soldiers in 1916: the interpretive elements are integrated into the space without altering its atmosphere, where the cold, humidity, and darkness all contribute to the experience. Metal, chosen over wood for its resistance to the extremely high ambient humidity and for its malleability, evokes through its physicality the silent and violent history of the site; the rust-colored hue of Corten steel distinguishes the contemporary additions from an older historical layer, while the exhibition design follows the architecture, using the same colors and materials.

Location
Douaumont-Vaux

Project type
Restoration, museum tour, and landscaping
Construction of a Welcome Pavilion

Program
Culture

Project owner
Mémorial de Verdun – Champ de bataille,
DRAC Grand Est, SEBL Grand Est

Team
Chatillon Architectes

Budget
3,1 M€ HT

Timeline
2022-2026