Career creation XIXe siècle (≈ 1865)
Initial exploitation by Mr. Regnier.
septembre 1914
German occupation
German occupation septembre 1914 (≈ 1914)
Ammunition depot near the front.
6 mai 1917
Taken by the French
Taken by the French 6 mai 1917 (≈ 1917)
Release by the 127th Infantry Division.
27 mai 1918 - 28 septembre 1918
Resumption and final release
Resumption and final release 27 mai 1918 - 28 septembre 1918 (≈ 1918)
German and then French occupation.
années 1950
Career closure
Career closure années 1950 (≈ 1950)
End of mining.
9 avril 1999
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 9 avril 1999 (≈ 1999)
Full site and bas-relief protection.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
La Creute, with the exception of the parties classified (Box ZA 68): registration by order of 9 April 1999 - The wall with motifs (Box ZA 68): classification by order of 27 September 1999
Key figures
M. Régnier - Initial owner
Name gave the career before 1914.
Soldats français (anonymes) - Authors of bas-reliefs
Sculptures made between 1917-1918.
127e division d'infanterie française - Release unit
Died back in May 1917.
Origin and history
The Caïd cave is an ancient underground limestone quarry, operated in the 19th century near Aizy-Jouy (Aisne). It was first used for the extraction of barbed stone and royal bench, before being transformed into an ammunition depot by the Germans in 1914, due to its proximity to the front. Between 1917 and 1918, she changed hands several times during the fighting, before she was finally released by the French in September 1918.
On its walls, thirteen bas-reliefs were carved by French soldiers, eight of whom were remarkable: a shield of Jeanne d'Arc, Parisian monuments, a crucifix with Jerusalem in the background, or the French and American flags intersected. These works bear witness to the life of the hairy and their patriotic or religious faith. The cave, exploited until the 1950s, was classified as a historic monument in 1999 for its rock heritage and role during the Great War.
Originally owned by Mr. Regnier, the career bore his name before being renamed Caïd's creuse (a career term). Its military occupation made it a symbolic place: the Germans used it as a depot, while the French left artistic traces after its resumption in May 1917. These sculptures, protected since 1999, make it a unique memorial site, combining industrial history, speleology and ephemeral war art.
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