Douaumont Ossuary World War 1 Memorial - Fort de Douaument - ending the day in the city of Nancy🇫🇷

Ivor's Travels
Ivor's Travels
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Published 2024-03-21
We pause today in the midst of the WW1 battlefields around Verdun. For 10 months in 1916 German forces tried to break the French lines around the city of Verdun. By the end of this battle of about three quarters of a million casualties over 300,000 were dead. Many others had horrific wounds that changed their lives forever. The Ossuary at Douaumont contains the bones of around 130,000 soldiers (from both nations) who could not be identified. Outside a further 16,000+ graves honour fallen soldiers of France who were identified. We continued to the Fort of Douaumont (one of twelve which surrounded Verdun) and gazed out over the forests which now cover the battlefields. The forests were planted after the war and shelter the remains of tens of thousands who died here and have no other grave.
Our second overnight stop was in the city of Nancy. At the heart of the city is the Place Stanislaus, a magnificent 18th century creation and now World Heritage Site. Named for exiled Polish King Stanislaus the square is surrounded by gloriously elegant buildings, fountains and decorative grills. As the deposed Stanislaus was the father in law to the French King, Louis 15th , he was given the Duchy of Lorraine by his son in law. Stanislaus, who had no real independence, concentrated on beautifying is capital in a light baroque style. Nancy became part of France on the death of Stanislaus in 1766.
A meal here as the daylight faded was a lovely way to end the day.

#france #douaumont #ossuary #douaumontossuary #ossuairededouaumont #fortdedouaumont #verdun #battleofverdun #batailledeverdun #worldwarone #lorraine #nancy #placestanislaus #stanislausleszczynski #polishking #louisXV #worldheritagesite
All Comments (21)
  • @Packsalot
    Whoa, that is a huge memorial. So beautiful to see the building and the headstones on full display. Nancy was a beautiful town. Lovely buildings and architecture. Awesome visits and video highlighting the areas. Well done. Have a great day.
  • @FloridaFlipFlops
    Hello from your friends in Naples, Florida. That was awesome! We enjoyed the tour of the historic Fort. Thank you for sharing the amazing views with us, have a great weekend 👍 💯 ❤
  • @Terry.W
    A very sombre but well cared for monument..
  • @CityWalksLondonVlog
    Magnificent history to see a beautiful memorial Ivor👌🙏😍thank you for sharing 🙏
  • @dnbtravels
    Really great World War 1 Memorial, place definitely worth to visit 👌👌and Nancy looks very beautiful, thanks for such a lovely video my friend, have a great weekend
  • @CowboyJojosAdventures
    The cemetery would have been a sad place to walk around. So many died! :eyes-purple-crying: Nancy is a beautiful city. Love the architecture. Those Gates are stunning. So much beauty. Thank you for taking us along Robert and Ivor. Have a wonderful weekend. :hand-purple-blue-peace::face-red-heart-shape::hand-pink-waving:
  • @WalkandTalk_Toronto
    Beautiful editing, my friend, enjoyed watching, great job👍👍thank for sharing🙏🙏🌹🌹
  • @jimvoitstraveller
    Very nice video 👌,my friend!!!! thanks for sharing!!!😊😊🙋‍♂️🙋‍♂️👍🏼
  • @trvlnthru
    The tour of the WW1 battlefields was quite a solemn experience. Seeing that place where so many died in battle - with the remains of so many not being able to even be identified. It is great that the French have honored the fallen French soldiers that they were able to identify. And it was fascinating to see the inside of Fort Douaumont - and the forest of millions of trees sheltering the remains of so many on the land that was once used as battlefields. The city of Nancy looks beautiful with wonderful architecture and fountains. Thanks for sharing your travels in France with us!
  • @MyTravelChannel-RO
    Hey there, my friend! Thanks a bunch for sharing that lovely video. Nancy looks absolutely beautiful, and that World War 1 Memorial is truly something special and impressive. Definitely worth a visit! Have a fantastic new week ahead! 👍
  • @SergeCousineau
    Oh wow ! Nancy in Lorraine …we have been there before , I remember very well Stanistlas Place so beautiful, we also went to a restaurant that was not far from there and was from the 30’s in art deco and original…such great memories for us , we also stayed in a chateau for the night and had a meal there with others from different countries it was so nice 🥰 And I fell so sad for all these soldiers who died 😔 we didn’t stop there . Nice video Ivor 👍👌😉 Have a great weekend my dear friends Serge Hélène et Serge 👩‍❤️‍👨🌈⚜️
  • @CraigKoppel
    Wow there is so much history here. I wouldn’t think human bones would be visible for people to see? You did a great job showing this off. It was very moving. 👍
  • @FXWalesAnnaAlf
    Wow guys that was a lot soldiers graves and a lot of trees planted after the war. This was very moving and thought provoking to read what you put in the description box too. Beautiful in Nancy and looks well worthy of its World Heritage status. Wonderful architecture as you walked around and your filmed it so beautifully as always. It was lovely at night 🙂👍~ Anna
  • @NBNatureTrailvan
    Very sobering Ivor. Worthless loss of so many lives. We’re in a tiny hamlet in Wales - about five houses - just visited the little Church. Two brothers died in 1917. Crazy! We are thinking of stopping off in Verdun in the Autumn. Nancy looks gorgeous. 😍😍 The night footage is wonderful mate Hope you guys are doing ok 👍👍🤞🤞
  • @inbetween-days
    Hi Robert and Ivor a very moving video you can't comprehend the scale of the loss of life on all sides during both wars. The numbers you showed were unimaginable. Nancy looks fabulous such a contrast to see the beauty that can some from humankind when we put our minds to it. It looked truly magical lit up in the evening the images around 5:30 were our favourite. A big 👍 as always for a video of such contrast. Best wishes Dave and Dawn ❤