DOUAUMONT OSSUARY

The Douaumont Ossuary is without doubt the most emblematic remembrance site in the Meuse region. It was the scene of the historic Franco-German reconciliation ceremony, and the famous handshake between Helmut Kohl and François Mitterrand in 1984. From February 21 to December 18, 1916, the Battle of Verdun raged, with its incessant rain of shells and artillery fire. The toll was apocalyptic: over 300,000 soldiers, both French and German, lost their lives. Thousands of them could not be identified. In November 1918, just as the hour of the armistice had struck, Monsignor Ginisty visited the battlefield, which had remained untouched. All he discovered was the horror of the mass grave and the remains of these young men, who had died anonymously. He was inspired to create a shrine to these unknown men. The first two stones of the edifice were officially sealed in 1920 by Mgr Ginisty, accompanied by Marshal Pétain. Winners of the 1921 competition, architects Léon Azémat and Max Edrei drew up plans for a 46 m tower with 2 branches at its base, forming the hilt of a sword. 130,000 servicemen are buried here. Inside the cloister (1932), the names of 5,000 missing are engraved in stone. From the top of the 204 steps, orientation tables provide a view of the entire battlefield. The Douaumont Ossuary also houses a chapel, a store and a projection room. Allow at least 1 hour for your visit.