Attractions and Places To See around Gercourt-Et-Drillancourt - Top 20

Tevens stands at the church's image: The Cross of the Hunters of Briant Cross of the Hunters of Driant in Vacherauville (Meuse) after the First World War. At the end of 1915, the monument in the form of a statue of France, sword in hand, imploring the heavens for victory was erected, but destroyed by the Germans in February 1916. At the end of the conflict, the former hunters erected a new, identical statue, but this time with the sword in its sheath, as shown on the Bleujonquille website.

The church of Vacherauville was rebuilt after the destruction of the Battle of Verdun (1916) and is an example of sober reconstruction architecture. Inside is the “Vitrail du souvenir”, a commemorative stained glass window in honour of Lieutenant-Colonel Émile Driant, who died at the Bois des Caures. The window, designed by Jean-François Aute, shows Driant at the head of his battalions and was donated by veterans of the 56th and 59th Chasseurs à Pied.

This church, dedicated to Saint-Baudel, originally dates from the 11th century, as evidenced by the use of the typical opus spicatum masonry in the north wall. Over the centuries, the building has been modified and restored several times, resulting in a striking mix of architectural styles. Inside, you will find wooden seating boxes for the faithful and a 19th-century pulpit – silent witnesses to religious life in this village on the Meuse. Note the symbolic animal figures at the ends of the roof beams.

The first church of Saint-Martin in Vacherauville was built in the 16th century. The house of worship was damaged by the Great War and was rebuilt. In 1930, the house was accessible again.

The Saint Martin's Church was destroyed during the Battle of Verdun. After the Great War, the Saint Martin's Church was restored. The opening took place in the presence of Bishop Jean-Paul Gusching, Bishop of Verdun. Note that the church, before it was destroyed in 14-18, originally stood in the old village. Triggered to the full story? You can read it here on the large information board.

Villages détruits, Cumières-le-Mort-Homme is one of the nine villages that were destroyed during the Battle of Verdun. Historical context: Nine villages: Beaumont-en-Verdunois, Bezonvaux, Cumières-le-Mort-Homme, Douaumont, Fleury-devant-Douaumont, Haumont-près-Samogneux, Louvemont-Côte-du-poivre, Ornes and Vaux-devant-Damloup. They were all in the “Red Zone” of the front line in the Battle of Verdun. The villages were wiped off the map and never rebuilt. Erected chapels remind passers-by of this war horror. Triggered to the disappeared villages? Click through to https://www.landofmemory.eu/nl/sites-historiques/vernielde-dorpen/#:~:text=Vernielde%20dorpen,-In%20de%20Maasstreek&text=Deze%20dorpen%20zijn%20Beaumont%2Den,geveegd%20en%20never%20weer%20opopbouw.

The German offensive to conquer Verdun began in February 1916. In early March, the fighting took place on the heights of Mort-Homme. The French put up a heroic resistance under a torrent of fire. In this sector, 10,000 poilus died. Monument du Mort-Homme, by sculptor Jacques Froment-Meurice. The soldier's skeleton detaches itself from its shroud and lets out its cry of victory. On one arm, he carries a flag, the symbol of the nation for which he sacrificed himself, and on the other arm, he waves the torch of victory. At the foot of the monument, the phrase "They have not passed" recalls the sacrifice of French fighters for the possession and preservation of this observation hill on the left bank of the Meuse. The village of Cumières, declared a "dead village for France", became Cumières le Mort-Homme in 1922. In memory of the village, the Saint-Rémi chapel was built with the stones of the old church, in the middle of an enclosure, preceded by a monument to remind us that there was a peaceful village here. More information on https://www.tourisme-verdun.com/decouverte/post/site-du-mort-homme

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.