Navarin Ossuary: Monument to the Dead of the Champagne Armies

The Navarin Ossuary is a war memorial near Souain-Perthes-lès-Hurlus that holds the remains of 10,000 soldiers from the Champagne battles. The site features an elevated monument with sculptural elements overlooking the former combat zone and surrounding battleground landscape.

The memorial was built in 1924 to honor soldiers killed during the Champagne campaign from 1914 to 1918. Its construction followed the selection of this site as a final resting place for those who died on the front lines.

The site honors soldiers who died defending the Champagne sector and shows how France preserves the memory of those lost in war. Visitors can see the physical reminders and inscriptions that mark the sacrifice made on these hills.

The site is open year-round with free access, making it easy to visit at any time. From the elevated position of the monument, visitors can survey the surrounding landscape and spot traces of the former trenches.

The site earned recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, marking it as one of the region's most significant monuments. This designation underscores its importance in preserving the memory of World War I on a global scale.

Location: Sainte-Marie-à-Py

Location: Souain-Perthes-lès-Hurlus

Inception: 1924

Creator: Maxime Real del Sarte

Part of: Funerary and memory sites of the First World War (Western Front)

GPS coordinates: 49.21853,4.54203

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:00