アザンヌ＝エ＝スーマザンヌ周辺のアトラクション＆必見スポット - トップ20

An observation tower from which, apart from the cemetery, you can see the battlefield (now overgrown with trees) of Verdun.

The Ossuary of Douaumont is an impressive memorial that holds the remains of more than 130,000 unknown French and German soldiers who died during the Battle of Verdun (1916). The bones are visible through small windows in the base – a confronting reminder of the horrors of war. In front of the ossuary is the Nécropole nationale de Douaumont, the largest French military cemetery of the First World War, with 16,142 graves, including a Muslim and Jewish plot. The complex was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023.

The Mémorial de Verdun, located near the ruined village of Fleury-devant-Douaumont, is a leading museum and commemoration site for the Battle of Verdun (1916). The museum displays more than 2,000 objects and uses authentic objects, photographs and audiovisual installations to show how French and German soldiers experienced this battle – in the exact same place where they fought.

The Ossuary tower, also known as the 'Lantern of Death', is 46 m high and offers a beautiful view of the battlefield. The bell tower was donated by the Americans and is, together with the chapel, one of the oldest parts of the monument. Halfway up the climb, you can see the equipment and some scenes highlighting the soldiers of each camp behind glass. At the top of the tower you can enjoy the view, signs indicate in which direction you are looking. Here you will also find the two symbols of the monument: the beacon and the bell. The red and white light of the beacon swings over the battlefield every night and can be seen from dozens of kilometres away. Louise Anne Charlotte, the bell of victory, was donated by the American Mrs. Thorburn Van Buren. She was cast in Orléans and is honoured in every procession through the towns in the vicinity of Douaumont. The bell was inaugurated in 1929 by the founder of the Ossuary, Monsignor Ginisty, and rings three times a day and during major ceremonies to remind everyone of the fate of the fallen soldiers.

A very nice walk starting from my charming village

This spot is the perfect place to travel back in time. From the beginning of the Battle of Verdun, Fort de Vaux was one of the priority targets of the German offensive. In early March 1916, the Germans came within a few hundred metres of the fort and began a siege that lasted 100 days. Inside the fort, under a barrage of artillery fire, resistance was organised despite the lack of food and water. On 1 June 1916, the Germans reached the fort: the French garrison, isolated and without outside support, fought a week of heroic fighting inside the fort before being defeated by exhaustion. Triggered? Buy a combined ticket and immerse yourself in the history of this episode in the war of 14-18 with a visit to Fort de Vaux. The tour gives an insight into the daily living conditions of the besieged soldiers in the heart of the fort. A must-see for any history buff.

Small pond near the ruined village of Vaux devant Damloup, at the confluence of the Fausse-Côte, Bazil and Fontaines gorges. It was the centre of the fighting in March and April 1916. Nearby is a monument in memory of the aviator Guy Dussumier-Latour, who was shot down on 2 June 1916. Source: Tourism Verdun

The Verdun Memorial, located in Fleury, and the forts of Douaumont and Vaux lie at the heart of the Verdun battlefield, on the heights of the town of Verdun. The memorial was built on the site of the former railway station in the ruined village of Fleury-devant-Douaumont.