Museum The Armistice Memorial association

The Armistice Memorial association welcomes you to this universally known clearing.

Please do not leave anything visible inside of your car. The parking lot is under video surveillance, but it’s better to avoid enticement.

You stand at the entrance of the path that bears the name of General Estienne nicknamed the father of tanks. A visionary, he was a pioneer in supporting and developing the idea of using tanks and airplanes as means of combat during WWI.

The state forest of Compiègne where you are extends over 14 000 hectares (around 35 000 acres).

This path leads to the clearing of the Armistice, known worldwide as “the clearing of Rethondes”. This name comes from the nearby village of Rethondes. From the village train station, two barrages ensued. In November 1918, the Allies chose this place because it was both calm and isolated without being too far away from their headquarters in Senlis and the front. The trains of Marshal Foch and the German delegation were brought here on the 7th and 8th of November 1918. Let’s go down this aisle.