Maginot Lines
Ouvrage Rochonvillers is one of the largest of the Maginot Line fortifications. Located above the town of Rochonvillers in the French region of Lorraine, the gros ouvrage or large work was fully equipped and occupied in 1935 as part of the Fortified Sector of Thionville in the Moselle. It is located between the petit ouvrage d'Aumetz and the gros ouvrage Molvange, facing the border between Luxembourg and France with nine combat blocks. Rochonvillers saw little action during World War II, but due to its size it was repaired and retained in service after the war. During the Cold War it found a new use as a hardened military command centre, first for NATO and then for the French Army.
Few days near Metz with the good lady gave me the opportunity to explore some of Frances finest so to not do one of the Maginot would of been a sin.
Big thanks to a few of you who helped me out immensely with these European splores, you know who you are.
Now I probably haven't done this place justice, the place is huge & I only saw a small portion.
As most of you may know Im not shy of being underground & I spent best part of 2hr on this one, but I suddenly got the realisation that absolutely no-one knew where I was, I was in a foreign country & didnt know any of the language (with the added bonus the french authorities have recently taken unkindly to people entering these) & I was potentially getting very lost in there, so I made the most sensible decision to retreat leaving this half explored.
What I did explore was pretty epic though.
As always I have way too many pics, but I have had the grace to leave the above ground camp for a separate report.
That will have to do, thanks for looking.
