Verdun is a small city in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. Verdun is the biggest city in Meuse, although the capital of the department is the slightly smaller city of Bar-le-Duc.
Verdun was the site of a major battle of the First World War. One of the costliest battles of the war, Verdun exemplified the policy of a “war of attrition” pursued by both sides, which led to an enormous loss of life. There are many French and German cemeteries throughout the battlefield. The largest is the French National Cemetery Douaumont ossuary, near Fort Douaumont. Thirteen thousand crosses adorn the field in front of the ossuary, which holds roughly 130,000 unidentified remains brought in from the battlefield. Every year yields more remains, which are often placed inside the ossuary’s vaults.
The Châtel Gate is the only remaining part of the medieval city walls. It leads onto La Roche Square.
La Citadelle was built in the 17th Century. It is still in military hands but the underlying tunnels can still be visited.
Notre-Dame de Verdun Cathedral was consecrated in 1147 but was built on the site of an earlier church. The 12th Century Lion Door on the north side has a lavishly decorated tympanum. The whole building was heavily restored in the 18th Century.
The Episcopal Palace was built in the 18th Century by Robert de Cotte and has a fine façade. Part of the building is occupied by the World Peace Centre.
The Princerie Museum is located in the former residence of the princes of Verdun. It contains historic works of art from the region.
[caption id="attachment_231038" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Very interesting. While a Persian carpet with the motif of an orgy can be admired in the museum, thousands of women are currently being abused, raped and/or killed outside the museum because they no longer want to wear a headscarf and ...
