verdun battlefield

My wife and I visited the Verdun Battlefield during the off season. The absolute lack of crowds, the cool misty morning and the grey, grey skies all combined to make a very memorable visit. Since this was the off season (early December) the opportunity for private tours was very limited. I made the decision to research the battle and the battlefield so that I could be my own tour guide. Even with advance preparation, it is imperative that you visit the city of Verdun's tourist office as the maps and information regarding the battle are excellent and very, very helpful.Sites not to be missed include The Ossuary, Fort Douaumont, the Bayonnet Trench and the destroyed village of Fleury devant Douaumont.Walking through a trench, or seeing the moon-shaped landscape that 100 year old shell destruction wreaks, are memories that will stay with me forever. I highly recommend a day (or two) visiting the battlefield and the town of Verdun. Lest we forget...

There are a number of WWI sites to see in this area and you can see a lot in one day if you plan properly. Some of the forts are not overly impressive, if you were to see one, just go into Fort Douaumont. It is the largest one. The reason is that many of the rooms are empty. I think they could have had a display of equipment from life inside these forts on display. Some had a display but there is so much more that could be done to make a better presentation of what happened here during WWI. This would enhance the experience and show how these brave men lived during the war. There is a charge to enter the forts.The citadel tour is OK, but I was not completely wowed by it at all. Allowing folks to walk through part of it with some additional displays would be good and go a long way to showing how life was inside these tunnels. There are a few display cases here with some equipment. The ossuary is large and impressive. Take the tour up the tower to see the entire cemetery.Signage in the area is great as you can easily find many of the places like the forts, trench, ossuary, and others.

I was here on a Friday morning in January. I was the only one. An entire battle field to myself. The wind and the blowing rain, with the isolation made it eerie. Gave me a true feeling of a minute version of he suffering endured.The only other battle field I've seen better preserved is at Vimy ridge. If you really want to get a feel for the true horror of the war, visit this place. Try to go in low season as I did, might not be as biting with hundreds of other tourists around, although, it will always be moving no matter the circumstances.

It was a very somber experience the reality of standing there seeing the trenches and imaginings how those men coped in those conditions thousands died. The most important battle of the 20 th century so many young young men well worth seeing. Walked all around the area taking it all in

Consider taking more than one day and if practical engage a local guide, Douaumont is worth half a day on its own,

Leaders of all countries of the world should visit sites like this as part of their initiation. How can individuals be part of starting something that leads to such carnage. The piles of bones send quite a message!

The Battle of Verdun can claim to be the most important single battle of the 20th Century, given what led from it. There's so much to see on the battlefield that enables one to understand what happened, and far more left behind than on any other battlefield I've visited.

It is truely a tangible way of seeing the excess of war, it is a very moving experience for anyone with an interest in WW1

I have been here twice before and it never fails to move me, the staggering amount of lives lost, makes war futile. We went to the top of the ossuary, a lot of steps but with plenty of passing places and areas to catch your breath! There is a film show and headphones are supplies in differing languages. Outside there are windows at the back where you can see hundreds of bones of the lost victims. A moving place

This place is a sobering reminder of the futility of war. It and the surrounding area are very interesting even if your not really into ww1.The film show is excellent and gives both french and german perspectives, one point though if you intend to view the film take some wet wipes with you to clean the ear pieces of the headsets, just in case.Don't be put off of climbing the tower the steps are a lot easier than they appear and the views are outstanding.Well worth a visit

Moving place, every grave has growing flowers. It takes dedication to keep it as perfect as it is. The history of the battle is astounding - over 9 months in this one area! Be aware that the little picture viewers have photos that are extremely sensitive, so if you ave children it may be best not to let them view those. Was disappointed by the person on duty not being able to speak English at all - would have expected at such a large memorial, there would be a multiple language speaker, sadly French is a language I cannot speak.While here, take a trip into the city of Verdun to see the church riddled with bullet marks - sobering indeed.

I had been reading about WWI in preparation for this visit, but being there is still so awe-inspiring. The Ossuary should not be missed. Be sure to see the small museum in the lower portion of the tower and the film downstairs adjacent to the gift shop (one of the best explanatory, historical museum films around). And don't miss the town of Fleury nearby, the town that is no more. Just amazing. We also made a brief stop at the Memorial of the Bayonettes. Be sure you understand that story before you go. Then, walk around to the rear of the monument and venture a few paces into the woods. It appears that traces of the Allied trenches are still there, so close to the German line, it's eerie.

At the end of July, we took the morning train from Paris to the Meuse TGV station where we were welcomed by local guide Florence Lamousse (her site is Lorrainetouristique.com), who took us on a day long adventure to perhaps a dozen sites, including the underground bunker at Les Chiminees, Fort Douaumont, Fleury ......and the Butte du Vauquois. Regarding the latter -- it was on this hill that the Germans and French dug tunnels beneath the opposing forces positions, packed them with explosives and detonated them. The massive craters from numerous mammoth explosions are eye popping......the entire hill basically split in two. This is an incredible site that must be seen to be believed. Not only does Ms. Lamousse have a remarkable understanding of the events surrounding the battle of Verdun but she is very accommodating and quite pleasant to spend the day with. We cannot stress enough the importance of hiring a private guide for the day. She knows the lay of the land and will take you to interesting out of the way spots that just wouldn't be possible with a larger group (bus) tour. This for sure was one of the highlights of our two week visit to Paris......not to be missed!

A sad but beautiful place.The town of Verdun is a poignant reminder of the horror that took place 100 years ago.A visit to the forts (Vaux and Douamont) brings home the immensity of the trajedy There is a whole day of site visits but the Monument de la Victoire at the center of WW1 biggest battle and the forts surrounding it left a lasting impression.A beautiful part of France a little off the beaten track.

A must visit to pay respects to the fallen of WW1.Cemeteries are immaculate and contain thousands of young men, some who haven't been identified.