Mémorial de Verdun – Champ de bataille

Mission & Vision

The Verdun Battlefield is one of the most powerful historic landscapes in Europe, situated on an open-air site outside of the city Verdun, France that witnessed one of the longest and most devastating battles of World War I. Fought in 1916 between French and German forces, the Battle of Verdun became a symbol of endurance, sacrifice, and shared loss.

Today, this once-devastated terrain has transformed into a forest, where traces of the conflict remain etched into the land. At its heart are three major sites that together preserve and transmit this history: the Mémorial de Verdun, Fort Douaumont, and Fort Vaux.

The Mémorial de Verdun – Champ de bataille is a cultural institution responsible for preserving, managing, and bringing to life these three emblematic sites. Its mission is to share the history of the Battle of Verdun with broad audiences through a combination of historical research, immersive storytelling, and cultural programming. 

Through exhibitions, digital tools, and on-site experiences, the institution offers visitors a deeply human perspective on the conflict, highlighting the lived experiences of soldiers on both sides, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors each year from around the world.

In 2026, marking the 110th anniversary of the Battle of Verdun, the Mémorial is leading an ambitious cultural program designed to broaden access to this history and deepen public understanding. From April 2 – December 31, 2026, a major exhibition, “Worlds Within the Battle: Verdun 1916” will shed light on the often seldom-talked about minorities that fought on both sides of the war and left their mark on history.

Among these stories, the exhibition highlights the important contributions of American soldiers and volunteers who fought for France during the Battle of Verdun, in line with the Mémorial’s ongoing commitment to preserving their legacy through a dedicated space within the museum.

Actions Led

The Mémorial de Verdun – Champ de bataille operates and animates three major historic sites, offering a comprehensive and immersive experience of the Battle of Verdun:

The Mémorial de Verdun
Founded in 1967 by veterans under the leadership of writer and war witness Maurice Genevoix, and fully renovated in 2016, the museum provides a modern, immersive exploration of the battle. Through a unique collection of objects, archival materials, and advanced audiovisual installations, visitors gain insight into the daily realities faced by French and German soldiers.

Fort Douaumont
The largest fort in the Verdun defensive system, Fort Douaumont played a central role in the battle and was occupied by German forces for much of the conflict. Today, visitors can walk through this massive structure and experience the physical environment where thousands of soldiers lived and fought under relentless bombardment.

Fort Vaux
A powerful symbol of resistance, Fort Vaux endured intense shelling of up to 8,000 shells per day during the battle. Its defenders held out under extreme conditions, running out of water, ammunition, and medical supplies before ultimately surrendering. The site offers a deeply moving experience of the persistence and determination of allied soldiers.

Currently, Fort Vaux is undergoing major restoration and enhancement work to improve the visitor experience. Its reopening will be a central moment of the 110th anniversary commemorations.

Projects That U.S. Donors Can Support

U.S. donors can make tax-deductible donations in support of the Mémorial de Verdun – Champ de bataille to the following projects, helping preserve this globally significant site and share its history with future generations: 

• To restore the Fort Vaux and Fort Douaumont, two iconic strongholds from the Battle of Verdun
• To support the Verdun Memorial and its cultural events and exhibitions, for example an exhibition scheduled in 2028 about the Americans engaged in Meuse and Lorraine during WWI