261km (162 miles) E of Paris; 66km (41 miles) W of Metz
Built on both banks of the Meuse and intersected by a series of canals, Verdun has an old section, the Ville Haute, on the east bank, which includes the cathedral and Episcopal palace. Today stone houses on narrow cobblestone streets give Verdun a medieval appearance. However, most visitors come to see the famous World War I battlefields, 3km (1 3/4 miles) east of the town, off N3 toward Metz. With the centennial anniversary of the Great War from 2014–18, many special events and exhibits will be commemorating this at the various sites throughout the region.
