Verdun, Military heritage site in Grand Est, France
Verdun is a commune in eastern France positioned along the banks of the Meuse. The town combines old residential neighborhoods with fortifications and large forested areas shaped by the first World War.
In 843 a treaty was signed here that divided the empire of Charlemagne among his grandsons. Between 1916 and 1918 some of the longest battles of the first World War took place here.
The name traces back to a Celtic word for fortress and reflects the long military role of the place. Today it serves as a center for remembrance with monuments and cemeteries drawing visitors from many countries.
Many visitors reach the place by car via motorway A4 or by train from Metz. Most memorial sites lie outside the center and require a vehicle or guided tour.
The ossuary at Douaumont holds the remains of 130,000 unidentified French and German soldiers. Through small windows on the outside you can see bones and skulls kept behind glass.
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