Best things to do in Verdun

arrondissement de Verdun: Unmissable Historical & Memorial Sites

The arrondissement de Verdun serves as a solemn testament to the First World War's most grueling conflict. This collection features the Douaumont Ossuary, housing remains of 130,000 unidentified soldiers, and the massive fortifications of Forts Douaumont and Vaux. Visitors can explore the preserved battlefield at Vauquois, the Underground Citadel’s seven kilometers of galleries, and the Romanesque-Baroque Verdun Cathedral. These sites document the strategic military architecture and the profound human impact of the 1916 Battle of Verdun.

arrondissement de Verdun: Unmissable Historical & Memorial Sites — Map

Alf van Beem / CC0

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Douaumont Ossuary

The Douaumont Ossuary is a memorial containing the skeletal remains of soldiers who died on the battlefield during the Battle of Verdun in…

Wolfgang Staudt / CC BY 2.0

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Battlefield of Verdun

The Battle of Verdun was fought from 21 February to 18 December 1916 on the Western Front in France.

historicair / CC-BY-SA-3.0

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Fort Douaumont

Fort Douaumont was the largest and highest fort on the ring of 19 large defensive works which had protected the city of Verdun, France,…

AlfvanBeem / CC0

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Fort Vaux

Fort Vaux, in Vaux-Devant-Damloup, Meuse, France, was a polygonal fort forming part of the ring of 19 large defensive works intended to…

Bel Adone / Public domain

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Memorial de la Tranchée des Baïonnettes

This concrete memorial marks the site where a line of French bayonets was discovered protruding from the ground after a 1916 bombardment, purportedly burying a unit of soldiers alive in their trench.

GFreihalter / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Verdun Cathedral

Verdun Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church located in the town of Verdun, Lorraine, France.

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Monument à la Victoire et aux Soldats de Verdun

Designed by Léon Chesnay, this monument features a monumental staircase of 73 steps leading to a crypt. It commemorates the soldiers who defended the city and holds registers containing the names of those awarded the Verdun Medal.

PRA / CC BY 2.5

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Citadelle Souterraine

A seven-kilometer network of tunnels excavated in the late 19th century that served as a logistical hub during the war. It famously hosted the 1920 ceremony to select the Unknown Soldier now resting beneath the Arc de Triomphe.

TCY / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Mound of Vauquois

Located near the village of Vauquois, these mounds served as a battlefield during WWI.

Other Lists

Historic Sites and Heritage Memorials and Cemeteries