Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial

The Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial is a burial ground in Belleau containing roughly 2,300 graves arranged in rows across flat, well-kept grounds. A chapel sits at the center, inscribed with the names of those whose remains were never recovered.

The cemetery was established to honor American soldiers who died in 1918 during World War I, particularly in the Battle of Belleau Wood. This battle was one of the bloodiest engagements for American forces in the war.

The grounds inspire quiet reflection on the human cost of conflict, drawing visitors who move slowly among the rows and pause at the chapel. This place has become a destination where people from many countries come to remember and honor those lost.

The grounds are open to visitors daily and feature clear pathways between graves that are easy to walk through. Staff members can help locate specific graves and answer questions about the history.

A shell impact hole is deliberately preserved on the chapel wall as a reminder of the destruction warfare brought. This mark provides a stark connection between the physical landscape and the lives lost there.

Location: Belleau

Architects: Cram and Ferguson Architects

Creator: Alfred-Alphonse Bottiau

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

GPS coordinates: 49.07945,3.29143

Latest update: December 8, 2025 13:42