In May, on behalf of Valor Tours, I led a Centennial Tour of the Verdun Battlefield. The group members have been sending me photos for over a month here are some I thought the readers of Roads might enjoy.
First Stop
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjS6N3kZ2VVlG86FYnWsRIAeZ4eXFUk2r2xjKCjWJdq47T8iZy_vLjwDJdk_1WTpVl7vAnsT6LBduX_9HmRGFbLjxVrXksWzKftgG1aDdOuOxUs6KledQUrD3pls6crvBefGjgwGn-Kqh-/s640/roads_v16_21.jpg) |
The Tour Leader Describes the Importance of Butte de Vaquois to Verdun |
Then and Now
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu93lrgG-WDPEN9dPQWlmq4srVoaHsvfZz-Cv7ImDAsgwSCFHEqE8ZKquyHchMjlbZaoeBzqPhhBmXLiSvQByuAJkGzhaxgLopgmbCc-9_JIS3kRy1jSqUZhts41YUyooqmExj95myGDvI/s640/langemax_firedfirstshotverdun.jpg) |
The German 380mm Lange Max Battery at Duzey That Fired
the First Shot of the 1916 Battle |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DKZws-hcKj_2JtUgvsQrSQ6wmirKHeJkthV1wTjJby5DZHCUq-QVQpPAwLKajUEFKOiZVm_GSr6OSdxKnSVczZqc4u1ns-4F-MGKotcs28OLVTyutZbmxqL-XSd4pbpEr9aOKvu5zKXD/s640/Lange+Max+Artillery+Site+at+Duzey+-+14.JPG) |
The Site Today |
Voie Sacrée
We drove the entire length of the famous road from Bar-le-Duc to the Verdun train station.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuM6tvBPrSKXEc35C2QqVV8AGkf2-su-KKOfiblWqpHemYkX50n8oYgQC6sJCmSgrfCrqdVQQhZnsMXl2QtVPBrm3XdAPQW4pVTAwFrShESyzZVEfz9CWQE-FVXrdi25d2tvLGrVvn4sw/s640/Start+of+Voie+Sacree+Marker+1.JPG) |
The Start Near the Bar-le-Duc Railyard |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDpPbAMSDNGHi7XPbdLWOou7A65-kpsWdr2rDS3I_Kq-Nmyznt_54vDV7vRfxU8fNrTvWXLrYGLNIMe2dRTD91VOw3KCWq3-0D1wvw7UeAANilxckVOEaqWcYqmiu-Wkn0VeiQsfszMC-/s640/vs_map_road+and+rail.JPG) |
The Entire Route: Map Shows the Parallel Light Rail Line in Red |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MEhsp6jNh7VC99jAXUhORo7JYNzmj-S3xRyscoNpl1WPMhPh8HMsTdndCqic8UTAUG_1nv5bJJ7kw6V6xVEYoKVrYoVwNtXI5mwPSbYBmQt0PkEbtAsQW_OVTZOj9dWmVmi65u_ueYgf/s640/TerminusVoieSacree_WWII+Marker.JPG) |
The End: Gare de Verdun Is Visible to the Rear. At This point the Voie Sacrée and the WWII Utah Beach-Bastogne Victory Road (right marker) Overlap |
Wounded in Action
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitu__X-esu4XTWyqAH0pSBHhDrHsyV51QJWUkEjOaVU8j92Q1ZTddYxFUHMkdzNWesZn-TYQrqQOJ38SXA_26IhCjx9teNB_KQrA1jJXb9E87r4VLRTwWSHR4QBp4_Ls3z95fLv8g4ogo8/s640/FtSouville.JPG) |
The Distinguished Tour Guide Pulled a Calf Muscle Charging Up to the Top of Fort Souville |
Expanded and Redesigned Verdun Memorial
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknvRH-WIX2yK0CES3eaUqvagLhY16LIQb8D4iAa80J-AY6qrxATz2lDLyHHe1g-CfSXDGmdAh1FR0V5IPt9C4YjevijZ5BzH02cm4PkByEdyBn5nPOZQIcUE3jHKA65DbtHv46IexA6Fx/s640/Memorial-Verdun5.jpg) |
The Nieuport and Eindecker Fighters Were Retained for the New Museum |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvryeTI1Lh_y3siIsdTSVIwt6aWEXFWfNFGuoaDKgjJgGlkSKKbUUQpk1FlmERpMg4FMnvZiIb97poPZ9ycoqMMRdfUGflfeRE3gdCeFezNphqZiUKCZ1WryZL3l1WQwnGwtvseaiaaNXq/s640/VerdunMem23.jpg) |
Moving Tribute to the Men Who Fought at Verdun
|
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfvHwrNhZb-Ksri_j3tqYfeDik2UPIilEOFybgzXwMsrwDyeb_zeD7xROgDCPWSRKPiAQnRgqjY8mMvKWdBy5kGOBcRVLOYyrk8eA6Kfi91jNnjiPDveZJStGoOX07GkPq9NH-ZG7s2ZY/s640/Memorial-Verdun-11.jpg) |
New Three-Dimensional Depiction of the Battlefield |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZnZWXChR0Hgxgb9tUv2WTjnhVCdB6qL24pmScSAt8A8FVJX8yQUEAwwWqhvWrqiDuCSgAgOifV5pg8r0YfzmSDgHsuxhjPd7Y507GqBIpVpDXrKLPjQatRABEY0MeBWWSe71-XU8eNNS/s640/roads_v16_1.jpg) |
The Group in Front of the Remodeled Memorial |
Thanks to Dru, Mary, Mark, Tom, Bill, Dale, Barry, Scott, and Pieter ~ You Were Great Traveling Mates, and I Hope Our Paths Cross Again
Vauquois -- what a special and haunting place. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete