Verdun — Shadow of the Seven Unknowns

Your journey begins in Verdun, at the Douaumont Ossuary, a monumental edifice built between 1920 and 1932. It houses the remains of 130,000 unknown French and German soldiers, silent witnesses to the Battle of Verdun (1916). 240 meters long, this classified site overlooks the national necropolis and was inaugurated on August 7, 1932, by President Paul Doumer, in the presence of Marshal Pétain. It even contains the remains of the unknown French soldier, buried under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris in 1921, a symbol of national unity regained after hardship.

Nearby, the Douaumont National Necropolis spans 15 hectares. Created in 1920, it is marked by 16,142 crosses of French soldiers who fell during the Battle of Verdun, from February to December 1916. Designed by architect Jacques Gréber, it was classified as a Historic Monument in 1924. This vast field of crosses, where soldiers from all French departments rest, embodies the sacrifice and unity of the nation in the face of adversity, a poignant testimony to the First World War.

Your path then leads you to Fort Douaumont, a major fortification of the Séré de Rivières system, built between 1885 and 1913. This fort, covering an area of 30,000 m² and equipped with 4 artillery turrets of 75 mm, was captured by the Germans on February 25, 1916, without a fight, then recaptured by the French on October 24, 1916. It was the scene of intense underground fighting in October 1916, causing 800 deaths in its galleries, marking one of the darkest pages of the Battle of Verdun. Nearby, the Monument to the Children of the Meuse, erected in 1936 by sculptor Émile Sulpice, pays tribute to the 73,000 inhabitants of the Meuse affected by the war, a WWI soldier from the Meuse protecting a child.

Continue towards the Verdun Memorial, home to the Bayonet Trench, a monument erected in 1920. It commemorates the 57 French soldiers of the 137th Infantry Regiment buried alive during the explosion of June 12, 1916, a symbol of heroic resistance. The inscription 'See what courage they showed here' engraved on the monument, designed by architect André Ventre, still resonates. In Fleury-devant-Douaumont, one of the 9 French villages 'dead for France', the Saint-Nicolas Chapel, rebuilt in 1927-1929, incorporates 420 mm German shells into its structure, remnants of the massive bombardments of 1916.

By completing this remembrance circuit in Verdun, you will have explored emblematic sites of the First World War, from necropolises to forts, including war memorials. Each step will have immersed you in the history of the Battle of Verdun 1916, allowing you to understand the extent of the sacrifices and the resilience of the Grand-Est. This interactive visit is a unique opportunity to connect with the past and pay tribute to those who shaped our history, an unforgettable journey for any family looking for things to do in Verdun for an immersive visit.