Verdun

We visited the Ossuiare de Douaumont and then Fort Douaumont and Fort de Vaux. These two forts were part of a larger set of fortifications protecting Verdun during the first war. Both were captured by the Germans. Unlike fortresses of earlier years these were largely buried under several meters of sand and soil said to make them impregnable.  German 1 ton bombs proved otherwise. The tour said it was like being in a submarine.  I left thinking it might have been better fighting in the trenches. 

Verdun is hillier than expected. The craters of the battle fields remain visible and deep. The only difference is the land is forested.