Name: Lion of Souville Monument
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Fleury-Devant-Douaumont

Lion of Souville Monument

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France

Great East

Verdun

Fleury-Devant-Douaumont

Lion of Souville Monument

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Recommended by 30 cyclists

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Location: Fleury-Devant-Douaumont, Verdun, Great East, France

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Top cycling routes to Lion of Souville Monument

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1. La Meuse – André Maginot Monument loop from Verdun

35.5km

02:13

330m

Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

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2. Fort de Souville – Mémorial de Verdun loop from Watronville

58.5km

05:06

980m

Expert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Expert

5.0

(2)

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3. André Maginot Monument – Étang de Vaux loop from Verdun

46.7km

02:49

360m

Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

Tips

Willem VS

May 17, 2025

The Lion of Souville Symbol of resistance at the gates of Verdun; This impressive monument, unveiled on 1 October 1922, stands on the site of the former Sainte-Fine chapel and commemorates the fallen of the 130th French Infantry Division. Designed by animal sculptor and veteran René Paris, the statue depicts a dying Bavarian lion – a powerful allegory for the defeat of the German troops and the heroic French defence during the Battle of Verdun.

On 23 June 1916, the German attacks reached their peak at Fort de Souville, the last obstacle to the fall of Verdun. Thanks to the courage of a small French garrison led by Lieutenant Dupuy, the fort remained in French hands. The lion marks the extreme point of the German advance – the “last gate” to Verdun remained closed.

Translated by Google •

🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

March 25, 2025

Ten months Battle of Verdun

On 21 February 1916, the Germans launched an attack north of Verdun. The heavy fighting of 1916 around this French town on the upper reaches of the Meuse was the longest battle of the war. It lasted a full ten months, from February to December. The Battle of Verdun began with the largest artillery bombardment the world had seen up to that point.

The ten months of fighting around Verdun cost an enormous number of casualties: some three-quarters of a million, of whom perhaps 300,000 were dead.

This makes Verdun the most deadly battle of the Great War, together with the (possibly even bloodier) Battle of the Somme, which took place around the same time. The infamous Battle of Passchendaele or Third Battle of Ypres (1917) came in a distant third with 150,000 dead...

About 160,000 were French. This is the largest death toll for a single country during a single battle of the war.

It is striking that 4/5 of the dead were victims of artillery bombardments (for the entire war, this ratio is more like 2/3). Due to an enormous concentration of guns, the attacking troops had to fear artillery fire much more than man-to-man fighting.

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🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

March 25, 2025

Discover a historic monument that marks the extreme advance and defeat of the German troops during the Battle of Verdun. This site commemorates the key moments of 1916: the occupation of Fort Douaumont on 25 February and Fort Vaux on 7 June, followed by the German attempt to break through the French defence line and reach Verdun. On 12 July, German troops launched an attack on Fort Souville, the last bastion of the fortified line around the city, but were driven back by a brave French garrison.

This monument was unveiled on 1 October 1922 and pays tribute to the 130th Infantry Division. Created by the animal sculptor René Paris (1881-1970), a member of this unit, it evokes the heroic resistance to the enemy attacks of 23 June 1916. It symbolises the defeat of the German troops and pays tribute to the courage of the French soldiers.

Come and discover this place steeped in history and emotion, a moving testimony to the courage and sacrifice of the defenders of Verdun.

Source: Information panel on site Tourisme Verdun

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 400 m

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Friday 3 October

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Location: Fleury-Devant-Douaumont, Verdun, Great East, France

Lion of Souville Monument

1. La Meuse – André Maginot Monument loop from Verdun

2. Fort de Souville – Mémorial de Verdun loop from Watronville

3. André Maginot Monument – Étang de Vaux loop from Verdun

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