Département: Meuse
The old and much fought-over fortified town of Verdun lies at what is strategically the most important crossing of the Meuse, on the road between the Rhine and Paris. Surrounded by fortified hills, Verdun was one of France's strongest fortresses in the First World War.
The Roman
town on this site was called Virodunum, and became the see of a bishop in the third C. When, under the treaty of Verdun in 843, Charlemagne's Frankish empire was split up into the three territories of France, Germany and Lorraine Verdun was at first included in Lorraine, but in 870 passed to the East Frankish kingdom, and then, under the name of Virten, became a free imperial city in the Holy Roman Empire. In 1552 Henry II of France occupied the town, and in 1648 it was permanently incorporated in France. Thereafter its defenses were built up, particularly by Vauban (1633- 1707).
During the First World War Verdun was the pivot of the French front line, and between February 21 and July 12 1916 withstood all German attempts to take it. The number of dead on both sides is estimated at between 500,000 and 800,000, and the name of Verdun has become a synonym for senseless slaughter. After the war the town was completely rebuilt.
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