Douaumont Ossuary — Attraction in Verdun

It's a tragic monument to visit, and fairly evocative, but it is bizarre and extremely off-putting that they have made it into a stereotypical tourist attraction and charge €6.50 to enter the ossuary and pay your respects. There are probably days where it is free to enter, but it is still odd to "commodify" it so much.

On terms of commodification, it is also weird that all three main sites (the museum, the ossuary, and the fort) are on unrelated tickets - there is no combination ticket, so you're looking at something like €20 per adult to visit all three sites (€12 for the museum and €6.50 for the ossuary and around €4 for the fort). €6.50 for visiting the small ossuary (~15 minute visit if you don't watch the film, which is OK but only in French and only runs about 20 minutes) is the strangest and most off-putting. Paying for a museum is fine. I'd be fine donating and paying for the other sites, it is just extremely uncomfortable to make the ossuary a commodified...

A profoundly moving memorial dedicated to the soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of Verdun. The architecture is stunning, and the atmosphere is solemn yet respectful. Inside, the ossuary houses the remains of countless unidentified soldiers, providing a poignant reminder of the war's devastating toll. The informative exhibits offer deep insights into the history of the battle and its significance. A must-visit for anyone interested in history and remembrance. The ossuary contains the bones of approximately 130,000 unidentified soldiers who died during the Battle of Verdun. These remains were collected from the battlefield and surrounding areas, as many soldiers were left unburied or were too badly decomposed to be identified. The bones are housed in a glass-walled crypt, allowing visitors to see them as a stark reminder of the heavy human...

The views overlooking the cemetery & the surrounding landscape alone are worth the drive to see it. The monument is a sight to behold. The amount of time & physical labour that went into constructing it, is in itself, a tribute to the many men who gave their last full measure on the very grounds it stands. This is a very popular sight & on the day we visited had quite a few busses full of teenage school kids visiting. It was sad that there was such lack of respect for the grounds they were on as they ran around inside & out playing & using their cell phones. These are hollowed grounds & signs posted asking those who visit to show the respect that should be given. Aside from that, this is a place that should definitely be on your must see list if you have the means...