Blogs from Verdun, Lorraine, France, Europe

The next day we started early again. We drove all the way to Verdun, to be more exact: To the battlefields of Verdun. We first visited the small museum, where we learned all about the war, well at least what we didn't know yet. After watching a small movie - which was very one-sided and not well made at all - in the museum cinema, we left the building and went to the real battlefield. We went underground to see a fort, where the soldiers stayed and where the longest and most devastating gas attack happened. The cold down there was very refreshing and you can get lost in the long and confusing alleys. It was a very wierd feeling to be down there, where there are only bats, and sometimes some visitors. After we came ... read more

The girls were studying WW1 in school and Kee was really fascinated that she was going to see the trenches and forts that were used in the war. Excitement was replaced by sadness as we relived the horrors of the war. The fortifications were impressive, but we could only see the parts of them that were above the ground - and for me that was not enough. I wanted to go inside, but Ben said it was not allowed and besides now with the snow it was just too dangerous:( I was really disappointed! But Ben said there was a fort that was turned into a musuem and he would take us there so we could get an impression of what it was like inside the fort - but no such luck - the fort/museum was ... read more

After having arrived in Verdun, France...we immediately had a four course lunch at Le Picotin. Wonderful food: Bienvenue a la France. Next, we toured the Battlefields of Verdun; the American equivalent being Gettysburg. The Battle of Verdun was the longest battle in recorded history lasting 11 months! Due to the military strategy of the day, the French and the German operated with trench warfare in WWI and thus the goal was instead of to advance and conquer, was to maintain and bleed the other army dry. Whoever decided enough had died would surrender. The Germans thought that the French would surrender the outdated and understocked fort of Verdun somewhat easily...but for the French, Verdun had become a national image of unity, of France, and to be defended at all cost. France won the battle...after 400,000 Frenchmen ... read more

Joyeuse Pâques à tous! J'imagine que dans le froid et la neige... le printemps ne semble pas trop présent! De notre côté, c'est un peu la même chose mais en version accélérée: il pleut 10 minutes, vient ensuite la grêle pour 5 minutes et ensuite le soleil se pointe a nouveau... 30 minutes plus tard voila la neige qui s'en mêle! Et ainsi de suite... On garde tout de même le moral, au contraire des touristes qui fuient plus vite que les nuages:o)! Nous avons occupé notre vendredi et samedi de Pâques à visiter un lieu "saint" pour la France: Verdun. Suivant notre quête pour une meilleure compréhension de la Première guerre mondiale, un arrêt à Verdun s'imposait. Avec Stephen (collègue de Terre-Neuve) nous avons loué une auto (130 euros pour 2 jours et 800 km ... read more

East of the city of Verdun you will find the battlefield of the greatest battle in World War I. Verdun is a symbol for the massive slaughter of soldiers in this war. Even the landscape has its scarves today as you see on the pictures. On the top of the battlefield stands Fort Douaumont which the Germans were able to occupy for nine months. Verdun keeps the memory for us how cruel a war is. In the Ossuaire the bones of 600 000 German and French soldiers are buried. Let’s hope their victim for us was not in vain. ... read more