COLDMONT QUARRY

The Froidmont quarry is an underground concentration of history, from the Middle Ages to today. First exploited by quarrymen, it served as a refuge for German, French and American soldiers during the First World War, because of its proximity to the Chemin des Dames, which was the scene of terrible fighting from April 1917. The walls of the quarry are adorned with inscriptions from both the quarrymen and the soldiers, witnesses of the long days spent here. Classified as a historical monument since 1998, the creute, another name for the stone quarries, has even become a place better known by the Americans than the French. High ranking American soldiers visiting the region regularly come to pay homage to their elders. And it is even a must for any new U.S. ambassador to France.

On September^1, 2022, the Froidmont quarry could be visited in virtual reality at the Caverne du Dragon Visitor Center, thanks to the work of INSA Strasbourg and archaeologist Gilles Prilaux, a quarry specialist (Somme).