Russian Military Cemetery of Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand

The Russian Military Cemetery of Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand holds the graves of 915 Russian soldiers and officers who died during World War I on French soil. The orderly rows of headstones and memorial structures form a quiet testament to those who fell.

The cemetery emerged after World War I to honor the Russian troops who fell during the Western Front campaigns. It later received recognition as part of the broader UNESCO World Heritage Sites commemorating the First World War.

The gravestones display inscriptions in both Russian and French, marking the bond between these two nations forged during the war. Walking through the rows, you see how the two languages stand side by side as a sign of shared remembrance.

The cemetery is accessible to visitors and maintained regularly by the French State. When visiting, move respectfully through the grounds and allow time to observe the memorials without haste.

Few visitors realize this cemetery is part of a larger network of World War I memorial sites scattered across the Western Front region spanning multiple countries. This connection reveals how different nations work together to preserve the memory of those lost.

Location: Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand

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

GPS coordinates: 49.15844,4.39949

Latest update: December 9, 2025 20:25