Richebourg-L'Avoue Portuguese National Cemetery, Military cemetery and World Heritage Site in Richebourg-l'Avoué, France.
Richebourg-L'Avoué Portuguese National Cemetery is a burial ground for Portuguese soldiers who died during World War I, with their remains gathered from multiple locations after the war ended. The graves are carefully organized and maintained, with some soldiers identified by name while others remain known only by their Portuguese military affiliation.
Following the Battle of Lys in 1918, this cemetery was established to gather Portuguese soldier remains scattered across France, Belgium, and German prisoner camps. Its founding came years after the conflict, as the systematic work of recovery and reburial took place.
The cemetery displays Portuguese artistic traditions through its monuments and design elements that reflect the nation's military heritage. Visitors can directly experience the Portuguese artistic approach in how the graves and memorials are arranged.
The site is open for visitors to walk through at their own pace and reflect on the soldiers buried there. Bring time to read the individual memorials and understand the stories within this place.
This cemetery is the only place in France where a large number of Portuguese World War I soldiers are buried, making it a singular memorial site. One grave belongs to João Augusto Ferreira de Almeida, the sole Portuguese soldier executed during the war.
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