THE MARGUERRE CAMP-THE CANNON OF DUZEY

Camp Marguerre. Nestled in the forest of Gouraincourt, Camp Marguerre is a former entrenched camp of the German Army. Created in 1915 under the authority of Captain Hans Marguerre, this site has the particularity of having been designed entirely in reinforced concrete. In fact, some thirty buildings were built there entirely, thanks to a concrete plant installed between the trees and using local materials, in particular wood for the reinforcement and the formwork of the concrete. This is a unique case of a "negro village" (term given by the Poilus to the military camps entrenched in the second line) built in hard materials, these camps being temporary and usually built in wood, canvas... Also, different techniques of reinforced concrete construction were used here and make this place totally exceptional in the landscape of Remembrance Tourism.

The Max de Duzey cannon. In view of the Battle of Verdun, many military infrastructures were installed to the east of the town, on the territories occupied by the German Army. Among these, long-range naval guns, including the "Langer Max" installed in Duzey in 1915. This gun fired 380 mm shells in the direction of Verdun. It rested on a reinforced concrete hemicycle, supposed to represent the stern of a ship. The site had underground galleries all around the tank, made of reinforced concrete, to accommodate the soldiers and the ammunition. It is the property of the commune of Duzey, but an agreement of 26/05/1998 puts it at the disposal of the Community of Communes. In 2014, the site welcomed an 80-ton French naval cannon donated by the Gâvres base (Morbihan) to evoke the gigantic artillery pieces used during the Battle of Verdun.... A large-scale enhancement project is currently underway, culminating in a historical evocation with the association Connaissance de la Meuse(From Flames to Light) in October 2017.

Marguerre camp: Departure from the village of Loison.

Canon de Duzey : Departure from the village of Duzey.

Restaurants and shops 5 minutes away.