Douaumont Ossuary
Douaumont-Vaux, France
A long vault and tower holding the bones of some 130,000 unidentified soldiers of the Battle of Verdun, above a field of crosses. Fort Douaumont and the Verdun Memorial are close by.
The Douaumont Ossuary holds the remains of some 130,000 unidentified French and German soldiers of the Battle of Verdun. The building, over 130 m long and drawing on Romanesque-Byzantine forms, was designed by the architects Léon Azéma, Max Edrei and Jacques Hardy and inaugurated on 7 August 1932. In front lies a military cemetery with 16,142 graves of French soldiers, along with a Muslim section of 592 headstones and a Jewish memorial dating from 1938. On 22 September 1984, François Mitterrand and Helmut Kohl joined hands here, a symbol of Franco-German reconciliation.
The cloister and chapel are freely accessible. The 46 m tower, the "Lantern of the Dead", offers a panoramic view over the battlefield; its beacon shines white and red. In the cinema, the 20-minute film "Verdun des Hommes de Boue" is shown every half hour (as of October 2026). Fort Douaumont, Fort Vaux and the Mémorial de Verdun lie a few kilometres away.
- Nearest town
- Douaumont-Vaux, France
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 49.2077, 5.4213
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. Cold, short days in December–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- France: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autoroutes; the limit drops to 110 km/h in rain. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
© Marc van Rossum du Chattel · CC BY-SA 4.0Montsec American Monument
© Quentinv57 · CC BY-SA 3.0Metz Cathedral
© Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0Bock Casemates
© Ad Meskens You are free to use this picture for any purpose as long as you credit its author, Ad Meskens. Example: ©… · CC BY-SA 4.0Bouillon Castle
Campsites nearby
- Charny-sur-MeuseMotorhome stopover4 km from Douaumont Ossuary · 50 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Aire de Gare VerdunMotorhome stopover5 km from Douaumont Ossuary · 4 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalFree
- Aire Dragées BraquierMotorhome stopover6 km from Douaumont OssuaryMotorhomesToiletsFree
- Camping Les BreuilsCampsite7 km from Douaumont OssuaryTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Camping des Etangs de MandreCampsite10 km from Douaumont OssuaryTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Camping à la ferme de l'EspéranceCampsite21 km from Douaumont OssuaryTentsCaravansMotorhomesShowersToilets
All campsites in France · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Douaumont Ossuary?
Douaumont Ossuary is in Douaumont-Vaux, France, at GPS 49.2077, 5.4213. It is about 6 km from Verdun.
Can you camp near Douaumont Ossuary?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Charny-sur-Meuse, about 4 km away; within 25 km there are 17 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Douaumont Ossuary?
Douaumont Ossuary is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Lorraine: Metz, Nancy and Verdun.
What is there to see near Douaumont Ossuary?
Places worth a stop nearby: Montsec American Monument (41 km), Metz Cathedral (56 km), Bock Casemates (68 km) and Bouillon Castle (70 km).
When is the best time to visit Douaumont Ossuary?
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)