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.
Location: Fleury-devant-Douaumont
Inception: 1920
Architects: Léon Azéma, Max Edrei, Jacques Hardy
Creator: Berthe Girardet, Jean-Elie Vezien, George Desvallières
Architectural style: Art Deco
Height: 46 m
Made from material: concrete
Creator: Berthe Girardet, Jean-Elie Vezien, George Desvallières
Part of: Funerary and memory sites of the First World War (Western Front)
Address: Sous Thiaumont
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 14:00-17:00
Phone: +33329845481
Website: https://verdun-douaumont.com
GPS coordinates: 49.20826,5.42367
Latest update: December 6, 2025 21:23
The French memorial sites and museums of World War I bear witness to the events of 1914-1918. The monuments, military cemeteries, forts, underground quarries, and interpretation centers present major battles like Verdun and the Somme. These places preserve the remnants of the battles and document the history of French and allied soldiers through objects, photographs, and period documents.
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