Chemin des Dames Memorial Chapel

The Chemin des Dames Memorial Chapel is a stone structure in Cerny-en-Laonnois featuring three arches on its front facade and topped with a statue of the Virgin and Child. Built from local cream-colored limestone, the chapel stands near separate burial grounds for soldiers from both sides of the conflict.

The chapel was built to honor soldiers who fell in major battles along the Aisne river and was dedicated in 1951, decades after the conflict ended. The cemeteries surrounding the site were established to provide dignified resting places for the dead from both nations, reflecting a commitment to remembrance and reconciliation.

The chapel takes its name from the Chemin des Dames road, which became a major battlefield during World War I. Visitors can read names of fallen soldiers on memorial plaques and understand how local communities remember this collective loss.

The chapel and cemeteries sit on open ground and are easily accessible on foot, though the terrain can be uneven in places. Allow time to explore both burial grounds, as they are located in different areas of the memorial site.

A light beacon erected in 1960 near the chapel burns continuously day and night, shining across the former battlefield. This constant flame serves as an enduring symbol of remembrance, visible from many spots across the memorial grounds.

Location: Cerny-en-Laonnois

Inception: 1950

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

GPS coordinates: 49.44302,3.66709

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:24