A collection of cars tucked away during the turmoil of World War II has been unearthed in France.

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Now decayed and covered in rust while left to the elements, the vehicles were likely hidden at the start of the war so that they would not be seized for military use. 

Vincent Michel, a physical education teacher from Belgium, stumbled across the automobiles stashed inside of a pit, the Telegraph reports. 

“It felt like we were walking back in time, 70 years ago, and I just wondered how on earth it was possible,” Michel said in a statement obtained by the Telegraph. “Almost all the cars were empty, with the shells the only things remaining.” 

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He added that the owner of the quarry pulled a few of the cars out to auction off, but most of them were left behind because they’re too damaged to move.

“It was an unbelievable experience, and I really hope to find a similar place in the future,” said Michel. 

World War II was fought from 1939 until 1945 and was as the largest war in history.

Check out the photos of the WWII relics in the slideshow above. 

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