#VERDUN MEMORIAL WINDOWS#

The figure holds a laurel wreath in her hands. Baptised in 1929 by the founder of the Ossuary, Monsigny Ginisty, its role was to ring three times, and during large ceremonies, to honor those who gave their lives in battle.Description Two stepped base surmounted by a pillar which is decorated with a relief of a figure of a draped Victory on the front face. Cast in Orléans, it was celebrated by a procession in each city bringing it closer to Douaumont. These can be seen from miles away. Louise Anne Charlotte, the bell of the Ossuary, in French known as the Bourdon de la Victoire was donated by American Mrs Thorburn Van Buren.

It was one of the first parts of the monument to have been built with the chapel. Halfway up the tower, a few window displays show equipment and small scenes highlighting soldiers of each camp. Finally, at the top of the tower, in addition to the lookout stations and rotating tables, you can find two symbols of the monument: the beacon and bell. At night, the beacon lights the battlefield with its red and white lights. Created by the artist Georges DESVALLIERS and donated by the soldiers’ families, they depict historical-religious scenes melding the battling soldiers’ destiny with the heavenly welcome awaiting them. Last but not least, you can take a look at the chapel statues sculpted by Elie Jean VEZIEN.Įspecially the magnificent work of Pieta on the main altar.Īlso called “The lantern of the dead”, the Ossuary Tower with its 46 meters offers a stunning view onto the battleground.

#VERDUN MEMORIAL WINDOWS#

This place, abundant with symbols was a gift from French, Belgian, Swiss, Canadian and American Catholics. In fact, this is the resting place of ossuary founder Monsignor GINISTY and Canon NOEL both strived for the soldiers buried in the monument wishing to accompany them to their sacred resting place. Another noteworthy fact concerns the chapel altar on which the names of a hundred members of the clergy slain on the battlefield can be seen on a golden plate. The stained glass windows are also a main element of the chapel. The chapel of Roman-Byzantine style is one of the first parts of the Ossuary to have been built along with the tower. The first big step towards reconciliation and fraternisation between our two countries.Ģ016 : Second French-German meeting for the centenary of the battle between president François HOLLANDE and Chancellor Angela MERKEL. The first unknown bodies were repatriated from the temporary chapel to the final monument.Īugust 7th, 1932 : Official inauguration of the monument by President Albert LEBRUN.ġ984 : Famous historical handshake between president Francois MITTERAND and Chancellor Helmut KOHL. On the monument’s main facade, there are coats of arms from the 147 cities, regions and donator countries having participated in the financing of the edifice.ġ927 : The Ossuary, at this time still under construction, welcomed its first large ceremony in front of nearly 30 000 people. An architecture competition was initiated by AZEMA, EDREI and HARDY for the construction of the monument.ġ924-1932 : While the first unidentified remains found on the grounds were temporarily placed in a chapel, the construction of the monument continued with the money collected throughout the world by Monsignor Ginisty, his team and the Ossuary Committee. This discovery led to the idea of a sanctuary for these unknown soldiers.Īugust 22th, 1920 Symbolically, the first two headstones of the future monument were sealed by the founder Monsignor Ginisty, Marshal PETAIN and the Lafayette Escadrille. 300 000 men lost their lives amongst which many disappeared or will never be identified.Įnd of 1918 : In the first hours of the Armistice, the bishop of Verdun, Monsignor Ginisty went to the battlefield to find a terrible sight, thousands of bodies who will unfortunately never be identified. A frightful death toll, both on the French and the German side. Incessant surges of artillery and shells. 300 days and 300 nights of relentless battles. The Battle of Verdun : February 21 – 18 December 1916.

Verdun memorial