ELECTRIC BIKE TOUR - DISCOVERING THE CITY OF VERDUN

Erected in 1928, the War Memorial dedicated to the Citizens of Verdun is built inside the La Chaussée demi-lune, part of the fortifications constructed by Marshal Vauban in the 17th Century. The Memorial occupies the site of the former military slaughter-house destroyed in 1916. The statues represent the five arms of service of the French Army engaged in the battle of 1916. From left to right we can make out: a cavalryman, an Engineer sapper, an infantryman, also known as a “poilu”, an artilleryman and a reservist. These five soldiers form a human wall symbolising the motto of the City: “They will not pass”. On the base of the monument are inscribed the names of the soldiers from Verdun who died in the First and Second World Wars. See also: A statue of General Sarrail facing the monument, and a bust of General Mangin fixed on the rampart wall to the right. NOTE : The patriotic calendar of Verdun is well-filled, and among others, the commemoration ceremonies of 1st and 11th November take place in front of this monument.

This fortified gatehouse served as the official entry to the city ever since its construction in the 14th Century, as part of the Grand Rampart which surrounded Verdun in the Middle Ages. The gatehouse was offered to the city by Wautrec, a rich citizen who was an alderman. It symbolised the new status of Verdun which was made an “imperial free city” in 1374. By this the city was obliged to maintain its own ramparts and to look to its own defence in the case of an attack. See also : The defensive features of a medieval rampart, the portcullis, arrow-slits and the drawbridge mechanism, the decorative and useful features of a medieval building such as the gargoyles.

The initiative was launched by the Association des Membres de l'Ordre du Mérite Agricole (AMOMA) Meuse, organizer of the Congrès National de l'Association des médaillés de l'Ordre du mérite Agricole in Verdun from June 17 to 19, 2016. In this context, AMOMA Meuse has decided to make up for the lack of recognition given to rural women, by erecting this monument. To bring this project to fruition, a public subscription was set up to raise the necessary funds. Made of Lorraine stone from Savonnières en Perthois and Jaumont, the work comprises a sculpture by Denis Mellinger and a base containing the "Ordre du Mérite Agricole" medallion and the following inscriptions: "HONOR AND AGRICULTURE 1914-1918 1939-1945 "

Added to the ramparts in the 19th Century, it is composed of two arched passages (entry and exit), each one protected by a drawbridge. The Gate allowed the Army conscripts arriving at the Station to enter the city centre, and reach the Jeanne d’Arc Barracks. In the 1920s the ramparts around the lower city, weakened by the bombardments of 1916, were pulled down. The only surviving remnants are the Saint-Paul Gate along with the Tour Chaussée. The former has been decorated with commemorative plaques dedicated to victory in the Battle of Verdun and to the reconstruction of the city.

The first abbey dedicated to Saint Paul was built in the 10th Century outside the city ramparts, on the spot where the sixth Bishop of Verdun, Paul, was buried. It was attacked by the citizens of Verdun in the 13th Century during a dispute with the current Bishop, then demolished in 1552 on the orders of the King of France. It was rebuilt on the present site in around 1560, then remodelled for the third time in the 18th Century. The buildings of the former Abbey are shared by the Sub-Prefecture and the Court of Justice. NOTE : The library of Saint Paul’s Abbey is now the Cloche d’Or Hotel.

This chapel was built in the 18th Century, and was formerly the chapel of the Jesuit College, established in Verdun in 1570. It was dedicated to Saint Nicolas because it was built on the former site of the medieval Saint Nicolas de Gravière Hospital. It also bears the name of an adjoining college, in memory of the Buvignier family, notable citizens of Verdun. See also : The impact of an explosion during the 2nd World War.

Verdun's cathedral was the first religious building to be dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is one of the oldest churches in Europe. Wars and the conflicts arising from the geographical situation of the Bishopric of Verdun have left their marks on the cathedral but it has become a symbol of a town that constantly rises from its ashes. Because of its history, it displays every architectural style, from Rhenish Romanesque to Baroque. It has 10th-century pillars, a 12th-century crypt and chapels dating from the 14th to 16th centuries and 18th-century. A fire destroyed the cathedral roof on 2 April 1755 and the building then had to undergo restoration. This was when Bishop de Nicolai and Canon Chaligny de Plaine, who had extensive knowledge of art history, brought the Baroque style into the cathedral's interior decoration. The baldaquin at the junction of the transept and the east side of the chancel dates from this period. The cathedral's stonework bears traces of First World War artillery shells. Make sure you visit the crypt, a gem of Romanesque architecture and a memorial to the soldiers who fought at Verdun in 1916 (west pillars in the crypt). Guided tours available.

This is the oldest gateway in Verdun. Built in the 12th Century, the Châtel Gate was part of the former ramparts which enclosed the upper part of the city. It controlled access to the city from Mont Saint Vanne, on which was built the famous Benedictine Abbey of Sainte Vanne. This gate and a remnant of the old rampart still show medieval defensive features such as battlements and loopholes. SEE ALSO The attached dwelling, built during the Middle Ages in the ramparts of the city, The water tower, offered by the City of London during the rebuilding of Verdun.

In 1959 Minister of Culture André Malraux offered to François Schleiter, Mayor of Verdun, a collection of 16 large statues representing Generals and Marshals of the First and Second Empires as well as the First World War. They had originally been intended to line the boulevards of Paris. Among the historical personages represented are Cambronne, Oudinot and Exelmans. See also The bastions dating from the 17th Century, the New Gate (under restoration) and its guardroom, the entry to the “Artillery” galleries leading to the powder magazines of the Underground Citadel.

Located in the former guardhouse just opposite the Citadelle Souterraine in Verdun, visitors discover a museography that bears witness to the soldiers' daily lives, following the careers of Michel Dupré, a Mayenne draughtsman who joined the army in August 1914, and Pierre Brancher, a photographer in the same regiment. Camille Tridon's private collection of drawings, photographs, objects and costumes by Poilus is on display. On-site militaria store and restaurant La Cantine des Poilus.

A former ballastière, the Pré l'Evêque lake is a real gem in the heart of the town. This magnificent stretch of water offers a multitude of activities for the whole family: fishing, swimming, beach sports and much more. Come and enjoy this haven of leisure and relaxation, where nature blends harmoniously with the pleasures of the water. Whether you're a fishing enthusiast, a keen swimmer or simply looking for a place to relax in the sun, the Pré l'Evêque lake promises unforgettable moments.

The church of Saint-sauveur is the third to be built with this name. The first was built during the 11th century in the street that still bears its name. It was knocked down in 1798 because it had fallen into disrepair. The second was built in 1830, in the site of the Couvent des Minimes (yhe convent of the order of Siant Francis of Paola). The last one was built in 1931, on the site of the old Siant-Hippolyte Hospital, which was destroyed during the Firt World War.

Located in the commune of Verdun, the Bévaux National Cemetery contains the remains of soldiers who died for France during the fighting at Verdun between 1916 and 1918. Created in 1914, the cemetery, like a number of other cemeteries on the Verdun battlefield, should have been transferred to the Douaumont necropolis. In response to the concerns of the bereaved families, the cemetery was finally retained in 1924, then redeveloped in 1967 to accommodate more bodies of soldiers who had fallen in the Verdun sector. In 1962, 569 bodies were brought back from the Petits Monthairons cemetery. This cemetery contains more than 3,500 bodies of French soldiers who died in 1914-1918, and 485 bodies of French soldiers who died in 1939-1945.

Built in the 14th century, it forms part of the Grand Rempart de Verdun. Shaped like a horseshoe, it is also known as the Tour du Puty. The name "Plaids" comes from the judicial hearings held here in the Middle Ages. SIGHTSEEING : > The old ramparts along the Canal du Puty and the Tour de l'Islot. > The Canal du Puty runs beneath the Tour des Plaids. This is one of the many canals running from the Meuse to Verdun. These canals are a reminder of the time when tanners' workshops, working for the army, represented a major part of Verdun's industrial activity.

Built in the 14th Century, it was part of the Grand Rampart around Verdun. Horseshoe-shaped in plan, it is also known as the Puty Tower. The name “Plaids” comes from the court sessions which were held in the tower during the Middle Ages. See also : The old rampart bordering the Puty Canal and the Islot Tower. NOTE : The Puty Canal flows underneath the Tower of the Plaids. It is one of the many branches of the Meuse. These canals remind us of the period when the tanners’ workshops, involved in work for the Army, formed an important sector of the industrial activity of Verdun.

Built on piles at the end of the 19th Century, the Officers’ Mess was one of the buildings essential for the life of the garrison. It was offered to the Army by the contractors who built the forts, ouvrages and gun batteries which encircle Verdun. In 1890 the population of Verdun counted as many military personnel as there were civilians. Several barracks are still to be seen in and around Verdun.