Discovering Verdun and the Côtes de Meuse

Day 1 - Verdun

Your 2-day stay begins with a 33km tour of the battlefields. Allow 3 hours to visit Fort Vaux, the Verdun Memorial with its 2,000 artefacts and testimonies from men, and finally the fort, the ossuary and the Douaumont Cemetery.

Return to Verdun for lunch before exploring the city. Built on the highest point, the cathedral is well worth a visit, particularly to admire its Lion monument and the cloister on its southern flank. End the day with a visit to the underground citadel that housed various services and resting soldiers along its 7kms of galleries. A tour, on board a self-guided vehicle, illustrates the daily life of the soldiers during the Battle of 1916. You can then retrace your steps in the avenue, avoiding the covered market to reach Le Quai de Londres remodelled into a pleasant pedestrian area.

My TripTailor Tip: During the summer season, book to see the show “Des flemmes in La lumière” in Verdun.

Day 2 - Verdun - Saint Mihiel

Leave Verdun the next morning for an 83km route along the Côtes de Meuse until you reach your last stage: Saint-Mihiel. Between forests and sites of the Great War, this circuit is memorable for its charming rural heritage. The Eparges spur dominates the plain of the Woëvre. A combat hotspot, it was a coveted vantage point in the First World War. Further down the Butte de Montsec, you will find an extensive view of the Côtes de Meuse. Take the road to Saint-Mihiel where you can stop overnight after an evening at the Côtes de Meuse Observatory which contains one of the most powerful telescopes in Europe.

MyTripTailor Tip: The wines of the Côtes de Meuse, which benefit from a protected geographical indication, have enjoyed a sustained quality since the 1970s. Check with the different tourist offices for tasting tours.