Today, you can visit several museums, memorials and forts dedicated to the memory of the Battle of Verdun. (Designed by Stripes Staff)
Located about three hours from the KMC and Wiesbaden areas, Verdun, France, was the location of one of the longest and bloodiest battles of World War I. Fought between German and French forces, the Battle of Verdun lasted from Feb. 21 through Dec. 15, 1916, and over half a million soldiers lost their lives. Today, you can visit several museums, memorials and forts dedicated to the memory of this fateful battle.
The first stop my spouse and I made was at the Verdun Memorial Museum. While you can arrive to the museum by train, we found that driving was most convenient to explore the greatest number of war-related locations in the area in one day.
The Verdun Memorial Museum features exhibits, artifacts and artwork that provide historical and contextual information for understanding this location’s importance in World War I. While my spouse was more fascinated by the war stories and artifacts from both German and French soldiers, I found myself drawn to the art on display that was made during the war or inspired by it afterwards.
We spent about two hours exploring everything the museum had to offer. This is a popular spot, and I recommend booking tickets in advance. As a bonus, you can purchase a combo ticket which includes admission to Fort Douaumont, which was our next planned stop. Learn more and purchase tickets at memorial-verdun.fr.
Immerse yourself in one of the battlefield areas at Fort Douaumont. This fort is the largest of the forts protecting Verdun. The Germans captured this large fort only five days into the Battle. French forces were unable to recapture the fort until October 1916. They ultimately recaptured much of the lost land in Verdun by the end of the battle in December. The German loss of soldiers from the battle left a gap in their manpower that they never fully recovered from for the duration of World War I.
Immerse yourself in one of the battlefield areas at Fort Douaumont. (Tamala Malerk)
Visitors of the fort can walk around the exterior of the vast fort as well as head inside and see the various barracks and other interior areas. Bring a jacket no matter what time of the year you visit because the interior of the fort is kept at 54°F (12°C) at all times. Also, you will want to wear closed-toe, water-resistant shoes because the floors of the interior can be quite damp. While we chose to explore the fort on our own, there are options to book a guided tour to get a real behind-the-scenes experience.
While driving around, you can stop to walk along battle areas. My spouse was able to locate some via Google Maps, but you will also find pull-off areas where you can park and walk nearby.
Our final stop of the day was the Douaumont Ossuary. The Ossuary features both interior and exterior memorials for soldiers and military organizations. The final resting place for over 130,000 unidentified French and German soldiers is located in the Cloister area. There is a short film at the beginning of your visit about the Battle of Verdun and the purpose of the Ossuary. Because of its purpose, there is a quiet calm about the place that leaves you with a heavy feeling not only while exploring but long after leaving.
The Battle of Verdun was a significant part of World War I. By visiting the area, you can learn so much about its history and cultural significance.
