Verdun

We left Freiburg yesterday morning and after one of the most wonderful journeys through Colmar and across the Vosges we travelled through Alsace up to Verdun. For anyone who loves scenery, beautiful buildings, lakes etc this is a must road. At the highest point of the road, we saw a ski lift  taking walkers and mountain bikers up to the summit,sadly we could not park up so missed out.

Verdun is another fascinating city. We English have a reasonable knowledge of the battle of the Somme but very little of Verdun. The Battle of Verdun was largely a German/French affair. Each country lost over 275000 men and a further 800000 were injured over the 10 months of siege. The stories are similar to the depravity of Ipres and the Somme. Trench warfare, with mud and rats playing major parts.

We visited the fort which formed part of the Maginot line. The 6 euros entrance fee included an automated car ride underground through a series of tunnels depicting the life of a Verdun soldier. This was 6 euros well spent. We even got our own little interpreting machine to hang round our necks.

The town has many memorials and of course cemetaries. Most are free to visit while others are very reasonably priced. The following picture celebrates the five branches of the French army involved in the defense of Verdun.

Of course we could not visit France without paying homage to the true French icon.