Fort de la Pompelle Museum

Fort de la Pompelle stands as a silent sentinel on the outskirts of Reims, a powerful reminder of the city's frontline role in World War I. Built after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 as part of a defensive ring around Reims, the fort saw intense action during the Great War, especially in 1918 when it helped block the German advance toward the city. Today, it houses the Musée de la Fort de la Pompelle, a military museum that focuses on the fort's own history and the broader conflict. The museum's standout feature is its extraordinary collection of German helmets, over 1,500 examples, from standard issue to rare prototypes, making it one of the largest such collections in the world. Visitors also see uniforms, weapons, artillery pieces, and dioramas depicting life in the trenches. The fort itself is a massive polygonal structure with thick stone walls, moats, and underground passages. You can explore the ramparts, peer through gun embrasures, and walk the same corridors where French soldiers once stood watch. The site is deeply moving, offering a tangible connection to the soldiers who fought there.

Don't miss

• View the world-class collection of over 1,500 German helmets from WWI
• Explore the fort's interior: barracks, gun positions, and underground passages
• See the artillery pieces and a rare German A7V tank replica
• Walk the ramparts for views of the surrounding countryside and battlefields

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Fort de la Pompelle Museum

Cheapest way inReims Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour4★ · 16 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$7 per personSee dates →Most bookedLouvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour with Access4.5★ · 12,905 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$74 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleReims From Roman Ruins to World War II self-guided walking tour4.4★ · 25 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$8 per personSee dates →