The best traffic-free bike rides around Montfaucon-D'Argonne

This impressive American WWI memorial was dedicated in 1937 to commemorate the victory of the American First Army during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive (26 September – 11 November 1918). The 54-metre-high Doric granite column, designed by John Russell Pope, is topped by a statue symbolising liberty. The monument stands on the hill of Montfaucon, where a medieval monastery once stood and where the Americans achieved a strategic victory in 1918.

This little road is wonderfully quiet, a much better option than the D946 which runs parallel to it.

Tips: Climb the 234 steps to the viewing platform for a panoramic view of the former battlefield. Read the inscriptions at the foot of the monument with the names of the participating divisions.

This impressive American WWI memorial was dedicated in 1937 to commemorate the victory of the American First Army during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive (26 September – 11 November 1918). The 54-metre-high Doric granite column, designed by John Russell Pope, is topped by a statue symbolising liberty 1 2. The monument stands on the hill of Montfaucon, where a medieval monastery once stood and where the Americans achieved a strategic victory in 1918.

The Grand church is worth a stop. It offers a curious contrast between the massive tower of its facade and its delicate bell tower.

The American military cemetery in Romagne-sous-Montfaucon contains the graves of 14,246 soldiers who died during the First World War in northwest France. It is the largest American military cemetery in Europe. The cemetery site is located in the old front line of the Meuse-Argonne offensive that took place between September 26 and November 11, 1918. The plot of land was used as a cemetery on October 14, 1918 after it had been occupied by the American forces just before. 32nd Infantry Division. The site was given on permanent loan to the US by the French government. The 14,246 graves are spread over eight fields. There are lime trees surrounding the fields, the fields themselves are covered with grass. Each grave has its own stone. For Jewish graves, the top of the stone is shaped like a Star of David. The text on each stone states the soldier's name, rank, division, state and date of death. Of the 14,246 graves, 486 soldiers have not been identified. The stones of the unidentified soldiers bear the text: Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to god. On the south side of the cemetery is a memorial building, designed by the architectural firm York and Sawyer from New York. The center of the memorial gives access to a chapel containing the flags of the US and the other allied countries. The stained glass windows show the insignia of the various divisions that operated in the region. The two loggias outside the chapel display the names of 954 missing soldiers. The visitors building is located on the north side of the cemetery. There is a book here in which a visit can be registered. The entrance to the cemetery, both on the west and east sides, is 'guarded' by two white towers with the American eagle on top. There is a large pond in the middle of the site. The maintenance and management of the cemetery is the responsibility of the American Battle Monuments Commission.

Romagne-sous-Montfaucon was heavily fought over in the First World War. The small museum is definitely worth it. Owner and driving force is the Dutchman Jean-Paul de Vries

This small German cemetery is in stark contrast to the American one a little further on. The German Military Cemetery in Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, also known as Deutscher Soldatenfriedhof Romagne-sous-Montfaucon and Romagne-sous-Montfaucon Cimetière Militaire Allemand, was established in 1914 at the start of the First World War, but saw its heaviest use during the Battle of Verdun in 1916. The cemetery is located 220 meters north of the village center along the road to Bantheville. It contains 1,407 German and eight French soldiers who fell during the First World War in northwestern France.