A Visit to the Verdun Memorial

On Feb. 21, 1916, the Germans descended upon French forces in the town of Verdun in what most historians consider one of the most taxing and lengthy battles in the history of any war. It lasted 300 days and more than 300,000 soldiers from both sides lost their lives. Today, at the site of the conflict, stands a tribute to those soldiers and the civilians caught in the crossfire.

Mémorial de Verdun stands as a testament to the bravery and dedication of French soldiers who believe they were fighting for country and freedom, as well as the lives of the Germans who were lost in the fight. It reopened in early 2016 after two years of renovations with new attractions to help give insight into the life of a soldier during the conflict.

Visitors walk through the footsteps of a French soldier as he heads toward the front lines and along the way get to view a replica of the battlefield along with informative audiovisual displays and objects left over from the battle. The memorial itself was designed and built by ex-servicemen who served at the battle of Verdun so you can rest assured you’ll get an authentic experience.

Entrance to the memorial is only €11 and the museum and surrounding attractions are open all throughout the year.