We enjoyed both an evening and morning walk around because we were enjoying ourselves so much. There was a small picnic table to enjoy dinner, but due to some light rain we ate in the RV.
There were plenty of farm animals for the kids to enjoy. The RV parking is right in the central courtyard. The 13th century convent has been converted into a farm.
They have a Farm Inn and a Restaurant, open on weekends, in addition to a small farm store. We pushed to our France Passion stopover, Ferme Auberge Gite Chantereine. The kids though loved checking out another fort where they could climb and explore. I enjoyed a bit of quiet time because honestly, I was a bit forted out. The Little Little fell asleep during the driving tour, but the Middle and Big Little got out with Jeff to explore Fort Douaumont. There are also several bunkers in the area to visit, a few of them scattered in the woods with only a small pullout nearby. Jeff said that trenches changed the face of warfare and prolonged the war. They are mostly covered over, although sections have been preserved to show what they would have looked like. There are several areas where you can still visit the World War I trenches.
Verdun battlefield then and now windows#
You can peek through the windows lining the outside of the monument and see the bones piled in each of the sections. L’Ossuaire de Douaumont is an amazing structure in the cemetery that holds the unidentified remains of soldiers in the war. We skipped some of the museums he mentioned, sticking to the outdoor sights. We walked back to the car and followed the Rick Steves Verdun driving tour to see a few more of the World War I sights.
He could not resist popping into this telephone booth to see if it led to the Ministry of Magic! The Big Little and I were reading an illustrated version of Harry Potter on this trip. We enjoyed a walk down the river and then through the gates. The medieval gate is the only part of the city walls that remain and it leads onto the main square. Each November 1st, for Armistice Day, the eternal flame from the Arc de Triumph is brought here The monument sits above the center of town and is easy to find.
Verdun battlefield then and now full#
The Victory Monument in Verdun was in full bloom with its French blue, white and red. My Middle Little was not very pleased about walking up the stairs, or just walking in general at this point. We were also hoping to find a playground, which didn’t happen. We went to check out a few of the monuments in the town. Verdun is so cute and yet it only rates as average for me these days. I’m quite jaded from living in Europe now. When we left the fort we went for a walk into Verdun. The ride operator can change the language in your car to whatever language you want – just ask. We tried to keep it light in our car (each group goes in their own vehicle) but when we had to get out and walk through the last part he cried the whole way. If you don’t have kids with you the pace of the ride is slow and sometimes I honestly wasn’t sure what was going on. We thought this would be a good way to introduce World War I to the boys, but it turned out to just be creepy. It now houses a Disney-like ride that takes you through the fort which is staged with dioramas. The fort provided a number of services and served as a meeting spot for the French military. The Citadelle served as the final staging location for troops going to and from battle. The fort served as a strategic location throughout history but is now known for its role in World War I. Our first stop was the Citadelle, built in 1634. Verdun’s surrounding area is full of World War I sights. The Battle of Verdun was the longest battle of World War I on the western front. Verdun was high on Jeff’s visit list for this trip for its World War I sights.
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