Although better known for the events of the Great War, Verdun’s architecture reflects a heritage stretching back 3,000 years. In prehistoric times, Verdun was already a major junction; in the 9th century A.D. it was a “famous town”, where a well-known treaty known as the “Verdun Division” was signed in 843 A.D. The treaty divided Charlemagne’s empire between his three grandsons, creating the borders of Europe as we know it today. It also sealed the town’s fate.

Tour suggestion:
Scheduled arrival in Verdun at 9 a.m.: N.B.: The guide will take charge of the group as soon as it arrives in Verdun. Meet at the Tourist Office (Japiot Pavilion).
9 a.m.: Coach tour of the town
Verdun’s history did not begin in 1916. Set on a promontory overlooking the Meuse Valley, Verdun has its roots in days long gone and it has a particularly rich and diverse heritage. Located at the junction of a number of roads and waterways, the bishopric has been at the centre of territorial issues and major events throughout the ages i.e. battles, invasions and political, religious and diplomatic disputes. As a result of these episodes in its history, the town has a large number of heritage buildings e.g. the Chaussée Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Citadel, the Bishop’s Palace, the Victory monument etc. And Verdun has skilfully preserved and enhanced the many traces of its eventful past.
10.30 a.m.: Tour of Verdun’s Underground Citadel
The citadel contains a reconstruction that is the only one of its kind in Europe. From its strategic location, it illustrates the life of soldiers during the First World War. Visitors board automated carriages to travel through the 15 galleries showing what everyday life was like for soldiers fighting in the 1916 battle. They see the infirmary, meetings of the High Command, an illustration of trench warfare and the selection of the Unknown Soldier etc.
Noon: Lunch in one of the town’s restaurants (“Local Produce” menu).
2 p.m.: Cruise on the River Meuse (duration: 45 mins.) The Meuse was both a natural system of defence and a major waterway and it has played a considerable role in Verdun’s history for many centuries. The river and the many canals in the town and its marina make Verdun a real riverside town with a charm that is appreciated as much by the townspeople as by visitors. Step aboard the delightfully comfortable boat and get a unique view of Verdun’s heritage from the River Meuse.
3.30 p.m.: Tour of the “From War to Peace” exhibition in the World Centre for Peace
Housed in Verdun’s former bishop’s palace, the World Centre for Peace, Freedom and Human Rights was inaugurated in 1994. It was the result of a long period of Franco-German rapprochement marked, in particular, by the minutes of quiet contemplation by President François Mitterrand and Chancellor Helmut Kohl, hand in hand, at the Douaumont Ossuary. The purpose of the Centre is to be part of the determined, ongoing process that is necessary to defend and promote the cause of Peace.
5 p.m.: Guided tour of the Braquier factory (duration: 1 hour)
Did you know that Verdun is the sugared almond capital? The world-famous confectionery known as sugared almonds was invented in Verdun in 1220 by one of the town’s apothecaries who was looking for a way to make the almonds he sold easier to store and transport. Since 1871, the Maison Braquier has been perpetuating the age-old know-how involved in the small-scale manufacture of sugared almonds and this is a chance to tour the factory with a guide to see every stage of production. Visitors then see the museum and its extensive collection of archival material before going into the factory shop which sells all the company’s products.

The tour ends at approx. 6 p.m. Total distance: 25 kms. Total duration of tours: 7 hours.

10 a.m.: Meet at the Tourist Office in Vaucouleurs for a tour of the town and the Joan of Arc Museum. This is a mediaeval town which still has numerous stretches of old town walls and historic buildings dating from the days of Joan of Arc e.g. the France Gate (Porte de France), the 12th-13th century crypt in the castle chapel with its outstanding stained-glass windows and the stone statue of Our Lady of Vaulted Roofs (Notre-Dame des Voûtes, 14th century).
Next comes a tour of the museum devoted to images of Joan of Arc. It contains more than 300 items inspired by literature, history, religion, politics and advertising i.e. drawings, cartoons for stained-glass windows, posters, ceramics and sculptures (Duration of tour: 2 hours). 12.30 p.m.: Lunch in Vaucouleurs.
2.30 p.m.: Excursion along the Meuse where you’ll see the “Valley of Colours”: green pastures dotted with the colours of autumn and spring mists.
The excursion includes sights such as the typical Lorraine village of Maxey sur Vaise, the exterior of the Château de Montbras, the wash-house in Taillancourt, the mill at Traveron, the church in Champougny, the Chapel of the Old Star in Sepvigny etc.

Arrive in Verdun between 9.30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Meet at the Tourist Office.
Morning: Guided tour of Verdun
Coach tour with panoramic views of the town’s main historic buildings, led by a local guide (e.g. Tour Chaussée, Victory Monument etc.) Stop at the citadel, a veritable underground town during the First World War. Tour of the reconstructions – the infirmary, theatre and bakery, a depiction of trench warfare, and the selection of the Unknown Soldier.
Lunch in a restaurant in Verdun.
Afternoon: Guided tour of the battlefield
Set off on your coach, with your local guide, to see a landscape dotted with shell craters that still bears the scars of the war and gain greater understanding of one of the bloodiest pages in the history of the First World War. Stop for a visit of the interiors of the major sites and monuments on the battlefield:
• Verdun Memorial, Museum of the Great War, with a collection of personal items, craft pieces and trench artefacts serving as reminders of the everyday hell experienced by the men who fought here.
• Fort Vaux or Fort Douaumont, designed by Séré de Rivières. The forts pay homage to the fights and struggles between French and German soldiers.
• Douaumont Ossuary, a national cemetery and a memorial to the victims of the First World War in Verdun in 1916.
• Bayonets’ Trench or the razed village of Fleury-Devant-Douaumont.

12.30 p.m.: Lunch in a restaurant in Verdun.
3 p.m. – 7 p.m.: 4-hour guided tour including the following:
Razed village of Fleury: one of the nine villages destroyed during the First World War and never rebuilt.
Fort Vaux: spotlight on the suffering of soldiers during the Battle of Verdun. See the Bourges casemates, the command post, the soldiers’ barracks and the dovecote.
Douaumont Ossuary: it contains the unidentified remains of some 130,000 men collected from the battlefield. It overlooks a military cemetery containing 15,000 graves.
The Bayonets’ Trench: a monument in honour of the French 137th infantry regiment.
Braquier sugared almonds factory: this confectionery, first made in Verdun in 1220, was enjoyed by such prestigious clients as Napoleon Bonaparte, Charles de Gaulle, the Prince of Wales etc. Guided tour to see the various stages in the production process, video and tasting session.
7.30 p.m.: Dinner in a marquee, at the show location (drinks not included).
9.30 p.m.: The show entitled, “From Flames… to Light”, a sound and light show depicting the Battle of Verdun.

Arrival at Madine at 9.30 a.m. Meet at the visitors’ centre (Maison de Madine) for a coffee and brioche. Hear the day’s programme beside the 3D model of the lake and the enlarged, modified documents in the Teaching Kit (Leader: Sylvain Thomassin)
9.45 a.m. – Guided tour of the site by small train with a stop at the bird sanctuary and a short walk along the dyke beside the Etang du Haut Chemin (landscape, flora and fauna); a stop on the Marmont dyke (water cycle) and a forest stop at the end of the Marmont Dyke (various activities depending on the day’s resources: songbirds, medicinal plants etc.).
11.45 a.m. - Lunch
(Menu including drinks)
Pre-lunch drink, ¼-litre wine, coffee, meals built up around local produce at the Lake Madine restaurant, “l’escapade de Saturnin”. Every guest will receive a small gift of potted pork.
1.30 p.m. – Coach leaves for a guided excursion around the lake.
“Côtes de Meuse”: Tour of the village of Hattonchatel, old houses, cloister, Ligier Richier altarpiece, neo-mediaeval reconstructions, panoramic view and Louise Cottin Museum (she was an artist who won the second Grand prix de Rome). Return to the lake via the Calonne Trench and the Hilltop Route, with a stop at a vineyard for a wine and liqueur tasting, with no obligation to purchase. Everybody will receive a bottle of Auxerre-region wine.

Arrive in Verdun between 9.30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Meet at the Tourist Office.
Morning: Sightseeing tour of Côtes de Meuse
With a local guide, take a coach tour of the plains and hillsides clad in vines and mirabelle plum trees, and the hilltop village of Hattonchâtel. Panoramic views. See the hill known as Butte de Montsec and the memorial to the young American soldiers killed during the 1918 offensives. Stop in Viéville-sous-les-Côtes to visit a wine cellar and taste some local products*. Lunch at the restaurant in the Hôtel du Lac de Madine, Logis de France hotel.
Afternoon: Tour of Commercy
Accompanied by a local guide, enjoy a coach tour of Commercy and Place Stanislas, with panoramic views. Stop at the Ivory Museum to see superb collections of ceramics and ivory. Mid-afternoon, see how the famous golden Commercy madeleines are made – then enjoy one with a drink.

9.30 a.m.: Guided walk through the Renaissance District
The Upper Town in Bar-le-Duc is like an open-air museum and is now one of the most priceless examples of Renaissance architecture in France. Follow the guide through the picturesque streets and alleyways of this district and get a feel for the atmosphere of the past. See the façades of private mansions on Place Saint Pierre and in Rue des Ducs de Bar, the aristocrats’ wine press, the observation platform (Les Grangettes) and the old covered market. The most outstanding moment of the tour is the visit to St. Stephen’s Church (église Saint-Etienne) with its elegant Flamboyant Gothic architecture and its treasure, especially the Calvary and Skeleton thought to have been carved by Ligier Richier. 11.20 a.m. - 12.20 a.m.: Deseeded redcurrant jam: a tour, a tradition and a tasting session.
The family-owned Dutriez business known as “A la Lorraine” produces and markets Bar-le-Duc’s world-famous redcurrant jam. Also referred to as “Bar Caviar”, it is a reminder that, once the redcurrants have been deseeded using a goose quill, they have been used to make this divine jam for the past six hundred years. It is the only product of its kind in the world, made in a small family business, and is a luxury item. After watching a 10-minute film, visitors will be able to taste the sweet, ruby-coloured jam with small spoons and, in the right season, watch a deseeding demonstration. There is also a shop.
12.30 p.m.: Lunch in one of the town’s excellent restaurants (including drinks)
(Lorraine punch / Lorraine Pork and Vegetable Stew / Salad / Cheeseboard / Mirabelle Tart / Coffee and a Commercy Madeleine).
2.30 p.m. - 4.30 p.m.: Guided tour of the Bergère de France company
Set up in 1946, Bergère de France has developed its business over the years mainly by creating one of the largest and most competitive spinning mills in Europe. The company now controls the entire production line, from wool to distribution. The guided tour shows visitors the spinning shops, from the arrival of the raw material to the balling of the wool and the order preparation area. Products can be purchased at the factory shop.

Arrival in Verdun between 9 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. Meet at the Tourist Office.
Morning: Guided tour of the Argonne battlefield
Accompanied by a local guide, visit the Argonne battlefield which was at the centre of the fighting during the terrifying period of mine warfare in 1915. It was liberated in 1918 thanks to the American Meuse-Argonne Offensive. The battlefield includes Mort-Homme, Hill 304, the Kaiser Tunnel and the American war cemetery in Romagne-sous-Montfaucon. Lunch in a restaurant in Argonne.
Afternoon: Arts, crafts and traditions in the Argonne area On board your coach, and accompanied by a local guide, enjoy a panoramic view of the Argonne area including a visit to the superb flower-decked village of Beaulieu en Argonne, a chance to see typical half-timbered houses, a stop at the St. Rouin chapel and hermitage and a glimpse of local craft skills with a demonstration of woodturning.
Return to Verdun at approx. 5.30 p.m. / 6 p.m.

9.30 a.m.-11 a.m.: Guided walk around the Renaissance district
The Upper Town in Bar-le-Duc is like an open-air museum and is now one of the most priceless examples of Renaissance architecture in France. Follow the guide through the picturesque streets and alleyways of this district and get a feel for the atmosphere of the past. See the façades of private mansions on Place Saint Pierre and in Rue des Ducs de Bar, the aristocrats’ wine press, the observation platform (Les Grangettes) and the old covered market. The most outstanding moment of the tour is the visit to St. Stephen’s Church (église Saint-Etienne) with its elegant Flamboyant Gothic architecture and its treasure, especially the Calvary and Skeleton thought to have been carved by Ligier Richier. 11 a.m.–noon: Coach tour of the area between Bar and the Argonne
From the green pastures of the Bar area to the forests of the Argonne, and from traditional stone-built cottages to half-timbered houses, this is the heart of the Champagne area of Lorraine where the influences of the two regions mix and blend to create an authentically rustic décor. There will be a stop at St. Louvent’s Church overlooking the village of Rembercourt aux Pots. The sheer size and architectural richness of the church are reminders of the prestigious history of the Dukes of Bar and Lorraine. The tour follows the Sacred Way that became famous in 1916 as the route used to carry supplies to Verdun and which, with its huge windmills, now invites visitors to look to the future.
noon–2 p.m.: Lunch in one of the region’s excellent restaurants (including drinks).
(Pre-lunch drink / Quiche Lorraine / Sliced Chicken with Mirabelle Plums / Apple and Rhubarb Tart)
2.30 p.m.–4 p.m.: Guided tour of the village of Beaulieu en Argonne.
This village is typical of the villages in Lorraine and is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in the Meuse. In the summer, its flowers, laid out in a very natural “English garden” style, provide a setting for the traditional local houses, some half-timbered, others built of brick or pale golden stone. A short distance away is St. Rouin’s Chapel, in the depths of the Argonne Forest, a place for quiet reflection and tranquillity.

9.30 a.m.-12.15 p.m.: Coach Tour of the Saulx Valley
The Saulx is a peaceful stream in some places; in others it is a rushing mountain torrent. In fact, it does what it wants to do, stunning visitors with the beauty of its untamed, elusive landscapes. Located to the south of Bar-le-Duc, the Saulx Valley was once a frontier zone between the Bar area and France, and it still has numerous defensive castles, many of them turned into residential country houses during the Renaissance period. With old wash-houses here and bridges there, the River Saulx has things to see on both banks, amid lush greenery in the summer. The tour is also an opportunity to remember the events of 29th August 1944 perpetrated by enemy troops in Robert Espagne, Beurey sur Saulx, Couvonges and Mognéville.
During the tour, there are several short stops and a guided tour:
Guided tour of the Gilles de Trèves park and gardens in the town of Saulx.
Situated on the banks of the Saulx, the park contains more than 500 varieties of trees, shrubs and flowers. As to the gardens, they have a world-famous collection of seringas and another of peonies.
12.45 p.m.-2.30 p.m.: Lunch in one of the region’s excellent restaurants (including drinks).
(Home-made Country Pâté with Garnish / Pork Noisette with Mushroom Sauce / Salad and Brie de Meaux Cheese / Tart of the Day / Coffee / Fruit juice, ¼-litre rosé and ¼-litre red wine, or mineral water).
3 p.m.-4.30 p.m.: Guided walk around the Renaissance district
The Upper Town in Bar-le-Duc is like an open-air museum and is now one of the most priceless examples of Renaissance architecture in France. Follow the guide through the picturesque streets and alleyways of this district and get a feel for the atmosphere of the past. See the façades of private mansions on Place Saint Pierre and in Rue des Ducs de Bar, the aristocrats’ wine press, the observation platform (Les Grangettes) and the old covered market. The most outstanding moment of the tour is the visit to St. Stephen’s Church (église Saint-Etienne) with its elegant Flamboyant Gothic architecture and its treasure, especially the Calvary and Skeleton thought to have been carved by Ligier Richier.