Douaumont ossuary, War memorial in Fleury-devant-Douaumont, France.
The Douaumont Ossuary is a concrete structure built in Art Deco style that stretches 137 meters long with a central tower rising 46 meters high. It holds the remains of approximately 130,000 unidentified French and German soldiers who died during the Battle of Verdun.
The ossuary was built following the First World War, with its cornerstone laid in 1920 by Marshal Philippe Pétain. The official inauguration took place on April 7, 1932, under President Albert Lebrun.
The building houses stained glass windows depicting wartime scenes: a frontline soldier, a nurse, and other moments of combat. These artistic works by Georges Desvallières visually tell the stories of those whose remains rest here.
The site is open to visitors on most days and offers exhibitions and documentary films about the Battle of Verdun. It is advisable to allow enough time to explore the interior and the various displays at a comfortable pace.
The central tower functions as a lantern projecting light outward at night, creating a solemn glow visible across the former battlefield. This symbolic illumination serves as a constant reminder of those interred within.
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