The Douaumont ossuary was built in the towns of Douaumont and Vaux Fleury-devant-Douaumont, a few km from Verdun.
It housed the remains of 130,000 soldiers, French and German, could not be identified, killed at the Battle of Verdun, which lasted 300 days from February to December 1916.
The first was laid in August 1920 by Verdun Bishop Charles Ginisty, and Marshal Pétain, the ossuary was inaugurated in 1932 by President Albert Lebrun.
Romanesque Revival style, the building consists of a long horizontal building 130 m and has in its center a high tower of 46 m from where a panoramic view overlooking the former battlefields. The facade of the building is adorned with the coat of arms of the cities that contributed to its construction and the bronze door, the word "Pax" (from the Latin "peace") overcomes a sword and two palms. A museum, a monastery and chapel are also included in the ossuary.
In a room are also screened documentaries on the history of the terrible battle of Verdun.
Besides its vocation memorial, the monument has also become since the handshake from President Mitterrand and Chancellor Kohl in 1984 the symbol of Franco-German friendship.
The ossuary is all the more impressive that dominates the national necropolis at Douaumont, a set of more than 16,000 graves of soldiers (identified).
Open daily (maintenance and correct behavior of rigor). Rates: from 3 to 6.50 euros. Information +33 3 29 84 54 84.