Verdun is a small city on the Meuse River in eastern France, roughly halfway between Paris and Strasbourg. Its name is known worldwide for the devastating battle fought here in 1916 — one of the longest and bloodiest engagements of the First World War, with an estimated 700,000 casualties on both sides. The battlefields and memorials in the hills north of the city are the principal reason to visit.
The town itself is pleasant, with the Meuse running through the centre, the Cathédrale Notre-Dame, and a handful of restaurants and cafes along the Quai de Londres. Verdun's history stretches back over 2,000 years — the 843 treaty signed here divided Charlemagne's empire — and events here have shaped French and European history multiple times. It is the most decorated city in France, having received medals from nations around the world on behalf of its defenders.
The WWI battlefield sites are concentrated in a hilly, forested area north of the city. Allow at least half a day — a full day is better — to visit the key monuments. Start at the Mémorial de Verdun for context, then Fort de Douaumont, the Ossuaire de Douaumont and the destroyed village of Fleury-devant-Douaumont.