Located in Lorraine, in the heart of the Meuse department, Verdun occupies a special place in the international collective memory. A mecca of history and memory, Verdun is forever synonymous with one of the greatest battles of the 20th century. Battle sites, destroyed villages, museums and museographic sites.... But Verdun also has a remarkable architectural heritage, a heritage of thirty centuries of history. There are therefore many sites not to be missed, starting with those of the 1914-1918 war. An essential duty of memory. On November 11th, moreover.
Duty to remember
For a first approach to the must-see sites that marked the First World War, a coach with a guide from the tourist office offers a guided tour punctuated by stops at all the must-see sites of the 1914-1918 war: the Douaumont fort, the Douaumont ossuary and its necropolis, the destroyed village of Fleury-devant-Douaumont and some war remains. This turnkey tour is a great starting point to discover and understand the Battle of Verdun.
But the unmissable visit is undoubtedly the World Centre for Peace, Freedoms and Human Rights. Located in the superb episcopal palace since 1994, on the grounds of the most deadly battles of the First World War, it is a place of exchange, reflection and encounter. Its programme, divided into three temporary exhibitions to be visited, attempts to answer the question of the emergence of wars and the means to be implemented to maintain a lasting peace, thanks to important iconography and numerous contents, particularly relating to Franco-German relations and European integration. A space for dialogue, it also hosts numerous events and complementary activities that contribute to providing educational explanations on contemporary conflicts. Its very rich shop offers more than 300 references (books, comics, youth) that allow each visitor to continue his reflection. Its 18th century gardens offer, in addition to a superb view of the city of Verdun, a citizen space accessible free of charge, including a section of the Berlin Wall. A place of contemplation for some, curiosity for others, the World Peace Centre does not leave anyone indifferent. A must see.
We will then head towards the underground citadel, which emerged from the ground in the 17th century. Retouched and consolidated by Vauban, it played a key role in the Battle of Verdun in 1916. With the Sacred Way, it allowed the front to hold. All the galleries were dug between 1886 and 1893. It takes us on a discovery of a vast 4 km network where more than 10,000 men lived sheltered from countless bombardments, as we know today. The latter was organized to support 2,000 men with 6 powder magazines, 7 ammunition magazines, a bakery, a mill, a telephone and telegraph centre, water lifting machines and kitchens. The 9 bread ovens produced 28,000 loaves of bread per day. The Unknown Soldier is one of the 300,000 dead in the 1916 battle, out of the 700,000 victims (killed, wounded...) recorded. In order to make the memory journey more intense, the soldiers' lives during the battle were reconstructed into 15 recreated scenes using very realistic holograms that can be found in automated rail-borne nacelles. At the end of the visit, you will see the reconstruction of the scene of the choice of the unknown soldier, which took place on 10 November 1920; he is now buried under the triumphal arch in Paris. Unavoidable and moving!
Paying tribute to the fighters
First head for downtown and the Monument to the Victory and Soldiers of Verdun. Inaugurated in 1929 by the President of the Republic Gaston Doumergue, it was built opposite the new Avenue de la Victoire. The designers sought to make this building a place for patriotic ceremonies in the city centre. Facing Avenue de la Victoire, a 73-step staircase carved into the old rampart provides access to the monument and the upper town. At the top, the crypt houses the Verdun veterans' guest books, photos, newspaper clippings and a file of fallen veterans and medalists. On two plaques were engraved historical sentences pronounced by André Maginot, Raymond Poincaré and Marshal Pétain. The custodian is there for more information on the different sites. The crypt is surmounted by a pylon supporting a warrior, leaning on his sword and looking east, flanked by two Russian guns taken from the German front. In spring, the central "islet" is decorated with flowers of a thousand colours, brightening up the monument for one season.
We will then go out of town to discover the Faubourg Pavé military cemetery belonging to the 19 national necropolises of the stronghold, testifying to the scale of the battle during the First World War. 4,884 soldiers are buried there. In this cemetery, we can also discover a monument to the victims of the barbarism of the two world wars, tortured and shot. Another square is lined with old cannons. The Carré des Sept inconnus recalls the ceremony of the choice of the Unknown Soldier, which took place on November 10, 1920. It houses the coffins of the other unknown soldiers presented at the Verdun Citadel on November 10, 1920. Poignant
Other must-see visits
But if Verdun was forever marked by the First World War, visitors are surprised to discover many monuments and to be able to stroll around in an old city that has been able to rebuild itself. The omnipresence of the cathedral or the medieval charm of the Chaussée tower are the symbol of this architectural richness. So many testimonies left in the memory, the local identity and the landscape..
A visit to the city would not be complete without taking a look at its cathedral, Lorraine's oldest. Dominating Verdun, it was built in 990 on the remains of old churches. In the 12th century, the oriental choir, the crypts and two portals (of the Lion and Saint John) were added. Destroyed and rebuilt many times, victim of internal unrest in the city, the current cathedral is the sixth successive building on this site since the 5th century. This "double cathedral" with its two choirs, two transepts, two crypts and four towers was fired upon during the First World War and benefited from a long restoration campaign. It houses 12th century statues depicting Adam, Eve, Abel and Cain. Don't miss the visit to the crypt, a Romanesque jewel with a tribute to the soldiers of 1916
Finally, it will be necessary to discover the very varied collections of the Princerie Museum, the Museum of Art and History. Since 1932, it has been housed in a 16th century mansion house, providing an insight into Verdun's rich history from prehistoric times to the eve of the First World War. You will find various collections, distributed in several rooms: archaeological objects illustrating daily life and funeral customs, medieval sculptures, traditional Lorrainian furniture, paintings by renowned local artists such as Jules Bastien-Lepage and Louis-Hector Leroux. The tour ends with a weapons room containing military equipment and weapons from the 16th to the 20th century.
In any case, Verdun is today a dynamic, lively city that is open to the future. A stroll along the banks of the Meuse, a moment of relaxation on the terraces of London's quay, shopping in the pedestrian streets of the city centre or a stopover at the marina will suffice to convince you. To end his escapade in a slightly lighter way
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When? When? All year round.
Getting there. By car (via the A4) or by train (Verdun gade or Meuse-Voie Sacrée TGV station).
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