What a great day in this picturesque place! We got a late start this morning as we began the day with a huge breakfast, including many pastries and breads, then worked on streamlining some efforts on the blog. Our Audi A3 and GPS took us to the battlefield sites around Verdun by noon. We were in awe of the Douaumont Ossuary and it’s emotional tribute to the French troops lost in the Great War. The visual combination of the Meuse River valley, the beautiful day, and the cemetery left one emotional.
Next on the agenda was a stop at Fort Douaumont just a few minutes away. This fort is a massive installation built during the 1880s and saw much action during World War I as both French and German forces occupied it at different times during the Verdun campaign. The most stunning aspect of the site was the still visible damage from artillery shells on and around fort as well as everywhere you look around Verdun. The landscape still shows damage nearly 100 years later. There are still visible trenches everywhere though much of it is overgrown with vegetation. What a surreal feeling to stand in those trenches…
Our last site today was the cathedral known as Notre-Dame de Reims. It is impossible to do it justice in a photo, mainly because you can’t get the whole thing in a picture! This amazing structure recently celebrated its 800th birthday. Though damaged by wars over the years, the floors we walked are the same ones tread on by French kings as they walked to their coronation. Stunning statues and glorious stained glass adorn this massive building. I have never seen a room as cavernous as the main hall here. That may change tomorrow!
Just outside the cathedral we found a perfect outdoor restaurant. We are a fine French meal! What a great way to end the day! The weather has been so cool and comfortable, the cities are clean and beautiful, the people are friendly and understanding, and it keeps dawning on us that WE ARE IN FRANCE!
FYI the toll road issues got worked out today! Stay tuned…
Bill and Jeff's Historical Travel Blog 