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Origin and history

The Fort of Liouville, originally named Fort Stengel, is part of the network of Séré de Rivières fortifications, designed from 1875 to strengthen the defence of the Hauts de Meuse between Verdun and Toul. It was built from 1876 to 1878, with successive improvements: the addition of a Mougin turret in 1881, the digging of powder shops in 1890, and the strengthening of the leatherwork between 1904 and 1910. This fort illustrates the evolution of military techniques of the late 19th century, adapted to the progress of artillery.

In 1887, War Minister Georges Boulanger temporarily renamed the fort in tribute to General Stengel, a military leader of the Revolution. This name, engraved on the pediment, was abrogated a few months later by his successor, Théophile Ferron. In spite of this, registration remains, attesting to this brief period of political renaming.

During the First World War, the fort underwent heavy German bombardments from September 1914, with shells of 21 and 30.5 cm. A 155 mm turret was damaged on 27 September, leading to its evacuation three days later. Although rendered inoperative, he served as an observation post until 1918, where his intact turret supported the American troops when the St.Mihiel salient resumed.

After the war, the fort fell into disuse until the Association for the Protection of Liouville Fort, founded in 1988 by Jackie Bruneteau, undertook its restoration. Nicknamed the Poilu de Liouville for his commitment to living like the soldiers of 1914-1918, Bruneteau spent four years clearing the remains, without water or electricity. His work made it possible to rediscover this historic place before his death in 1992.

The fort was also linked to literature: Émile Driant, alias Captain Danrit, stayed there in 1880 for topographical surveys. He drew inspiration for his novel La Guerre de Fortresse (1892), the first part of The War of Tomorrow, where he described the plans of the fort he himself had drawn.

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