Remembrance

World War 1
Centenary

Remembrance / World War 1 Centenary

Verdun, symbol
of the Great War

Verdun, the greatest and longest battle in 20th century world history…
and a name that resonates through history as a universal symbol of dreadful conflict that raged through Lorraine during four long years from August 1914 to November 1918. War was not confined to Verdun, throughout Lorraine and particularly in the Meuse, events have been organised to commemorate the conflict from the Vosges Mountains (the only sector to involve mountain warfare) to German-held Metz and French-held Nancy. Lorraine still bears the scars of war and the sites and battlegrounds form a unique world heritage and a historically poignant tribute to the thousands of men who fought and died on its blood-soaked earth.

Sites and monuments

Re-live the History of Lorraine from 1914 to 1918 by visiting the many monuments, museums, forts and battlefields that still remain as silent witnesses to the carnage of the First World War.

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B. Jamot

Not to be missed

Verdun Memorial

At the very centre of the battlefield of Verdun, the Memorial offers an exceptional museum experience that helps visitors understand the history of the battle and experience the daily lives of the soldiers on the front lines.

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Ossuary of Douaumont

Inside the Ossuary memorial site lies the remains of 130,000 soldiers who perished on the battlefield. The site includes a cloister, a chapel and a tower symbolising the handle of a sword thrust into the ground up to its hilt.

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“Des Flammes... à la Lumière” show

The largest show in Europe on WWI: 250 French and German actors, 900 costumes and a stage area of 2 hectares. This sound and light show, staged in an exceptional natural setting, tells the emotional story of one of the greatest pages of our history.

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Verdun in images

Discover images of the must-see sites of the Verdun battlefield and its surroundings.

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The History of the Battle of Verdun

The Battle of Verdun is a symbol of the First World War. On the occasion of the centenary and to better understand the events, find here the history and timeline of this battle.

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Western Front 14 - 18

Discover all the remembrance sites of the Western Front. From the German borders of the Grand Est region to the combat zones of northern France, this front was the main theatre of war of World War I.

DES FLAMMES…
À LA LUMIÈRE, BEHIND THE SCENES

Every summer, the sound and light show on the Battle of Verdun depicts this great historical event in a spectacular natural setting, with a two-hectare stage, 900 costumes and 250 actors and passionate volunteers.

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