Métrich is the 3rd largest Gros Ouvrage in the Maginot Line and, one of the the
reasons for this, is its mission to protect the Moselle valley, it possessed
some very powerful artillery, seven 75mm cannons, two 135mm lance-bombes, four
81mm mortars. During the war, the Germans transformed the fortress into an underground factory.
The fortress was repaired after the war, but was quickly abandoned by the army
because of the serious ground movement, this was caused by gypsum deposits, this
has caused the floor and tunnel lining to become damaged this was also thought
to a serious problem at the time of the construction.
Because of this the army allowed the Maginot line associations to remove
equipment from the fort, a number of wagons and electric loco's, 75mm gun
barrels, 81mm mortars, electrical and mechanical equipment, munitions stillages,
order transmitters , personal equipment, etc. This has left the fort in order to
help in the restoration of the other works destined to become museums in the
Alsace and Lorraine area's.
During 1986-87 the main magazine was used to grow mushrooms this did not last
long and the fort was abandoned again, it remained open some years but fell pray
to vandals. The army then decide to weld the doors shut, this still did not keep
people out so the Army decided to bury the two entrances and blocks 1, 3, 8 and 15,
The fort did not stay sealed for long !
Update Jan 2006 - The fort has been re-covered over with earth and is now completely sealed
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| The Munitions Entrance an attempt has been made to cover it up | The men's entrance a better job has been made of covering this up | The armored door showing the closing cable still connected, smoke damage is apparent | The entrance to the M1 Magazine some conversion has been done for its use as a mushroom farm | The main corridor near to the station marked "C" notice the floor movement |
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| The Wine Cellar | The Kitchen | The AC/DC Converters all the forts motors and trains were DC type motors | The main Sewer. | The Generators Type "SGCM 230ch" 6 Cylinder |
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| The Generators Type "SGCM 230ch" 6 Cylinder | The Generators Type "SGCM 230ch" 6 Cylinder | This corridor leads to the E.H. | The corridor back from block 3 | The corridor to block 3 |
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| The munitions lifts up to block 1 | A munitions chute in the stairwell to block 1 | The end of the line the M2 magazine at block 1 | Block 1 | Block 1 |
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| Block 1 | Under block 1- filters and munitions chute for empty cartridges | Under block 1- filters and munitions chute for empty cartridges | Block 1 Exterior | Block 5 with 81mm mortar |
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| A plan of Métrich from the book "Il était une fois La Ligne Maginot" By Jean Bernard Wahl | Block 4 with tourelle de mitrailleuse | Block 10 with 75mm Gun turret | Block 11 | Location Map |