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Origin and history

The Monument to the Victory and Soldiers of Verdun is a memorial building located in the city of Verdun, in the department of Meuse (Great East Region). It was erected on the Place de la Libération, at the site of the former Magdeleine collegiate church (XI century), destroyed during the shellings of 1916. This historic site is also based on the remains of the Roman Castrum ramparts, brought to light by World War I fighting. The monument thus symbolizes the city's resilience, marked by centuries of military and religious history.

Designed by architects Léon Chesnay and Louis-Alfred Berthémy, the monument was built between 1926 and 1929 and inaugurated on March 23, 1929. It consists of a staircase of 73 steps leading to a crypt, where the records of soldiers decorated with the Verdun medal are kept. Each year, from November 1 to 11, the flame of the tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Arc de Triomphe, Paris) is transferred there, commemorating the Armistice of 1918. The structure peaks at 30 metres, dominated by a warrior statue by sculptor Jean Boucher, framed by two Russian cannons symbolizing the battles of the region.

The monument is also remarkable for its integration of pre-existing historical elements, such as the Roman ramparts, and its role in collective memory. It was listed as a historical monument by order of 30 October 1989, recognizing its heritage and symbolic value. The crypt, a place of recollection, and the tower, visible from afar, make it a central point of the memorial ceremonies of Verdun, martyred city of 1916.

The sculptures and architectural design reflect the art of the 1920s, combining classicism and modernity. The choice of Russian guns, captured and then taken over, illustrates the geopolitical stakes of the Great War. Today, the monument remains a place of pilgrimage for the descendants of the combatants and a symbol of peace, anchored in the Verduno urban landscape.

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