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- The airfield at Châtelet-sur-Retourne
Preventive archaeological surveys conducted on the outskirts of the village of Châtelet-sur-Retourne, on the southern edge of the Ardennes département in the Retourne Valley, half-way between Reims and Rethel, unearthed a large quantity of ruins: bunkers, munitions depots and a series of trenches indicating the former presence of buildings. These ruins and the objects found in and around them confirmed that this was the site of a WWI German air base.
Châtelet-sur-Retourne is known to have been the site of a major German military base during the Great War. An extract from the artillery map of Warmeriville dated 28th August 1918 confirms the presence of a substantial German military contingent in the area. This document indicates that Châtelet-sur-Retourne possessed a military hospital, various unidentified buildings and an airfield. It should also be noted that in 2001 archaeologists came across a large cache of munitions (almost 8000 shells) which required the evacuation of the village. The geographical position of the village, at a major railway intersection not far from the front, made it a key strategic point in the rear lines.
Associated media
Open Media Library![](https://archeologie.culture.gouv.fr/sites/archeologie/files/styles/master_page_media_vignette/public/upload/mediatheque/originales/images/fig.02_-_chatelet_sur_retourne_-_canevas_de_tir.jpg?itok=zFTS-Nmu)
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Plan of preventive archaeological research in the municipality of Châtelet-sur-Retourne (Ardennes)
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Aerial photograph of the Châtelet-sur-Retourne aviation camp SPA 156 Neuflize
![](https://archeologie.culture.gouv.fr/sites/archeologie/files/styles/master_page_media_vignette/public/upload/mediatheque/image/p1040842.jpg?itok=N5RFjZ2d)