Caverne du Dragon

Cavern of the Dragon

Useful Information

Location:	Oulches-la-Vallée-Foulon, Département Aisne. (49.441475, 3.732421)
Open:	Visitor Center: 16-JAN to MAR Tue-Sun 10-17. APR to 14-NOV Tue-Sun 10-18. 15-NOV to 14-DEC Tue-Sun 10-17. Dragon’s Cave: 16-JAN to MAR Tue-Sun 10-17, by reservation. APR to 14-NOV Tue-Sun 10-18. 15-NOV to 14-DEC Tue-Sun 10-17, by reservation. Guided tours every 30 minutes, last tour 90 minutes before closing. [2022]
Fee:	Adults EUR 9, Children (7-17) EUR 4.50, Children (0-6) free, Student (-25) EUR 4.50, Teacher EUR 4.50, Disabled EUR 4.50, Family (2-4) EUR 24. Groups (25+): Adults EUR 6, Children (7-17) EUR 3. [2022]
Classification:	Rock Mine World War II Bunker Underground Museums Dragon Cave
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	T=12 °C.
Guided tours:	Max=49.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	yes
Bibliography:
Address:	Centre d'Accueil du Visiteur du Chemin des Dames • Caverne du Dragon, Chemin des Dames - RD 18 CD, 02160 Oulches-La-Vallée-Foulon, Tel: +33-323-25-14-18. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1914	transformed into an underground fortress.
JUN-1917	partly occupied by the French army.
MAY-1918	reconquered by German army.
OCT-1918	finally, under French control.
1999	opened to the public.

Description

The name Caverne du Dragon (Dragon Cave) is the French translation of the German name Drachenhöhle. It was given to this underground quarry by the German occupiers during World War I. In 1914 the Germans transformed the old quarry into an underground fortress with command posts, dormitories, hospitals, power station, and chapel. The fortress was the place of fierce fighting during the bataille du Chemin des Dames.

A strange thing happened in June 1917, when French troops succeeded to occupy a part of it. They lived in one side of the fortress while the German troops lived in the other part, separated only by concrete walls. At the same time the battle on the surface went on. The fortress was recovered by the Germans in May 1918, but in October 1918 it finally came under French control.