Attractions and Places To See around Maucourt-Sur-Orne - Top 20

An observation tower from which, apart from the cemetery, you can see the battlefield (now overgrown with trees) of Verdun.

The Ossuary of Douaumont is an impressive memorial that holds the remains of more than 130,000 unknown French and German soldiers who died during the Battle of Verdun (1916). The bones are visible through small windows in the base – a confronting reminder of the horrors of war. In front of the ossuary is the Nécropole nationale de Douaumont, the largest French military cemetery of the First World War, with 16,142 graves, including a Muslim and Jewish plot. The complex was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023.

The Mémorial de Verdun, located near the ruined village of Fleury-devant-Douaumont, is a leading museum and commemoration site for the Battle of Verdun (1916). The museum displays more than 2,000 objects and uses authentic objects, photographs and audiovisual installations to show how French and German soldiers experienced this battle – in the exact same place where they fought.

The Ossuary tower, also known as the 'Lantern of Death', is 46 m high and offers a beautiful view of the battlefield. The bell tower was donated by the Americans and is, together with the chapel, one of the oldest parts of the monument. Halfway up the climb, you can see the equipment and some scenes highlighting the soldiers of each camp behind glass. At the top of the tower you can enjoy the view, signs indicate in which direction you are looking. Here you will also find the two symbols of the monument: the beacon and the bell. The red and white light of the beacon swings over the battlefield every night and can be seen from dozens of kilometres away. Louise Anne Charlotte, the bell of victory, was donated by the American Mrs. Thorburn Van Buren. She was cast in Orléans and is honoured in every procession through the towns in the vicinity of Douaumont. The bell was inaugurated in 1929 by the founder of the Ossuary, Monsignor Ginisty, and rings three times a day and during major ceremonies to remind everyone of the fate of the fallen soldiers.

This spot is the perfect place to travel back in time. From the beginning of the Battle of Verdun, Fort de Vaux was one of the priority targets of the German offensive. In early March 1916, the Germans came within a few hundred metres of the fort and began a siege that lasted 100 days. Inside the fort, under a barrage of artillery fire, resistance was organised despite the lack of food and water. On 1 June 1916, the Germans reached the fort: the French garrison, isolated and without outside support, fought a week of heroic fighting inside the fort before being defeated by exhaustion. Triggered? Buy a combined ticket and immerse yourself in the history of this episode in the war of 14-18 with a visit to Fort de Vaux. The tour gives an insight into the daily living conditions of the besieged soldiers in the heart of the fort. A must-see for any history buff.

As the starting point of the Battle of Verdun, the fort of Vaux remains one of the symbols of soldiers inspired by a sense of duty. A visit to the fort tells the admirable story of commander Raynal and his men. Besieged for 7 days, they fought, mercilessly, until they were overcome by thirst. Triggered? Read the full story at https://www.landofmemory.eu/nl/sites-historiques/fort-vaux/

A landscape marked by the madness of destruction and even scarred by WW1

The Verdun Memorial is a museum dedicated to the history and memory of the Battle of Verdun in 1916. The museum is very comprehensive, with an immersive experience that offers a complete chronology of the First World War. Living conditions and technological advancements during the war are well illustrated. From the top floor, there is a beautiful view of Verdun, including the ossuary.