Day Three...and a sobering visit to Verdun
On the road we go...
On Day three we said hello to our bus driver, Hilde, and boarded our comfortable Heidelburg bus. At our first stop, Verdun, we were met by a local tour guide, Flo, who provided an informational tour of the Verdun battlefield, where the landscape of trenches remains a visible reminder of the tragic battle of WWI where so many lives were lost. At the tomb of the soldiers - "L'Ossuaire de Douaumont" - you can peer through the windows and see the millions of bones left behind.
Equally sobering was the visit to Fort de Douaumont where soldiers (at one point up to 3,000 German soldiers) lived in cold, damp quarters. Despite its fortification, the soldiers had to endure deafening explosions - a minor example of which we experienced. Before we left the area we had a lunch stop with delicious sandwiches (my tuna sandwich had eggs on it), a tart with plums, and (of course) a glass of red wine to warm our somewhat chilled bodies.
This was not the most enjoyable experience of our trip - but it was a good reminder of the high cost of war and the sacrifices of those who fought!
Equally sobering was the visit to Fort de Douaumont where soldiers (at one point up to 3,000 German soldiers) lived in cold, damp quarters. Despite its fortification, the soldiers had to endure deafening explosions - a minor example of which we experienced. Before we left the area we had a lunch stop with delicious sandwiches (my tuna sandwich had eggs on it), a tart with plums, and (of course) a glass of red wine to warm our somewhat chilled bodies.
This was not the most enjoyable experience of our trip - but it was a good reminder of the high cost of war and the sacrifices of those who fought!
Traveler's Tip:
Wear a warm jacket when you visit the Fort. It can be bone-chilling.