The best road cycling routes around Amel-Sur-L'Étang

An observation tower from which, apart from the cemetery, you can see the battlefield (now overgrown with trees) of Verdun.

The monument was created in 1930 by the sculptor Duilio Donzelli, originally from Lacroix-sur-Meuse. Like many French villages after the Great War, Bonzée erected this monument to pay tribute to the local soldiers who gave their lives for France. The names of the fallen are listed on the monument, often with inscriptions such as "Mort pour la France" or "Tué à l'ennemi". What makes it extra special is that Bonzée is located in an area that was badly affected during the war, near the infamous ridge of Les Éparges. The monument is therefore not only a symbol of mourning, but also of the deep scars that the conflict has left in this region.

The Saint-Laurent church in Bonzée, originally from the 18th century, destroyed in 1914, rebuilt in 1927.

Beautiful view over Verdun and the Meuse valley. On the nearby main road it is wonderful to drive downhill, but uphill is only recommended to a limited extent due to the busy traffic.

The Ossuary of Douaumont is an impressive memorial that holds the remains of more than 130,000 unknown French and German soldiers who died during the Battle of Verdun (1916). The bones are visible through small windows in the base – a confronting reminder of the horrors of war. In front of the ossuary is the Nécropole nationale de Douaumont, the largest French military cemetery of the First World War, with 16,142 graves, including a Muslim and Jewish plot. The complex was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023.

The Mémorial de Verdun, located near the ruined village of Fleury-devant-Douaumont, is a leading museum and commemoration site for the Battle of Verdun (1916). The museum displays more than 2,000 objects and uses authentic objects, photographs and audiovisual installations to show how French and German soldiers experienced this battle – in the exact same place where they fought.

The Ossuary tower, also known as the 'Lantern of Death', is 46 m high and offers a beautiful view of the battlefield. The bell tower was donated by the Americans and is, together with the chapel, one of the oldest parts of the monument. Halfway up the climb, you can see the equipment and some scenes highlighting the soldiers of each camp behind glass. At the top of the tower you can enjoy the view, signs indicate in which direction you are looking. Here you will also find the two symbols of the monument: the beacon and the bell. The red and white light of the beacon swings over the battlefield every night and can be seen from dozens of kilometres away. Louise Anne Charlotte, the bell of victory, was donated by the American Mrs. Thorburn Van Buren. She was cast in Orléans and is honoured in every procession through the towns in the vicinity of Douaumont. The bell was inaugurated in 1929 by the founder of the Ossuary, Monsignor Ginisty, and rings three times a day and during major ceremonies to remind everyone of the fate of the fallen soldiers.

Take a moment to pause between the ossuary and this stone garden; tranquility reigns here. Don't forget to thank our brave soldiers for their ultimate sacrifice.