Left bank : through the walking and cycling path

At the entrance to the village, the Vacherauville bridge catches the eye with its unusual architecture. It is made up of metal modules from the artificial “Mulberry” ports used during the Allied landings in Normandy in June 1944. These elements, known as “Whale” pontoons, were used to create floating jetties for landing troops and equipment on the beaches. After the war, several of these structures were reused in different regions of France, particularly for crossing rivers and canals. The Vacherauville bridge is one of the few remaining examples of this Allied technical ingenuity, which contributed to the success of the Liberation. Still in use today, it connects the two banks of the Meuse River and is an iconic crossing point for locals and visitors alike. Discovering this bridge also means delving into a history that goes beyond Verdun, linking the memory of the Great War to that of the Second World War.

In the heart of the village, Saint-Martin Church tells the turbulent history of Vacherauville. Of ancient origin, it was completely destroyed during World War I and then rebuilt in 1930 in a sober and harmonious style. Inside, visitors can admire a remarkable stained-glass window of remembrance, donated by former infantrymen in tribute to Colonel Driant, a heroic figure who fell during the Battle of Verdun. This artistic testimony gives the building a strong memorial dimension. Between 2018 and 2021, the church and its surroundings underwent major restoration work: masonry, stained glass windows, electricity, and enhancement of the nearby war memorial. Today, the complex is a place of contemplation and remembrance, but also a fine example of heritage rebuilt after 1918. An essential stop for anyone wishing to discover the local history and spiritual heritage of the Meuse Valley.

A stained-glass window by Paris and Hendaye glass-maker Jean François Aute, donated by the 56th and 59th Chasseurs, is dedicated to Colonel Driant. Below it is a coat of arms also representing him. Another stained-glass window depicts hunters resting in the village.

This village, the only one on the left bank of the Meuse among the nine villages destroyed during the war of 1914-18, had 205 inhabitants in 1913. It has very ancient origins, as a sepulchral well dating from the Neolithic period was discovered there in 1873. In the Middle Ages, one of the lords of Cumières began to extort all those who passed through his lands, particularly the inhabitants of Verdun. The latter banded together against him and destroyed his castle in 1439. Nearly five centuries later, the entire village would suffer the same fate, but for different reasons. Indeed, after the German army launched its massive offensive in February 1916 to capture Verdun from the heights on the right bank of the Meuse, the German general staff decided to outflank the French resistance from the west... The Germans first sought to seize the heights of Mort-Homme during a particularly deadly battle that lasted 10 days, from March 6 to 16, 1916. They succeeded and extended their attack on March 20 towards Hill 304, located further west. The fighting was fierce under a veritable deluge of fire and in appalling weather conditions. Further to the east, Cumières, held by the 5th Battalion of the 254th Infantry Regiment, was attacked from May 16 to 23, 1916. The village fell into German hands on May 24, 1916, despite the heroic defense by French infantrymen. It was not until August 20, 1917, that the ruins of the village of Cumières were recaptured by the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion. At the end of the war, in 1918, Cumières was placed in the "red zone" along with the entire Mort-Homme hill, then received the unique status of "destroyed village" along with eight other equally devastated villages in the Meuse. Between the two wars, veterans, very active in honoring the memory of the countless soldiers who died, were wounded, or disappeared in the mud of this significant battlefield, helped erect the impressive skeleton monument on Mort-Homme in 1922 and eventually added the name of this bloody hill to that of the destroyed village of Cumières, "Died for France," just like the 10,000 soldiers who fell in this Mort-Homme sector. Finally, like in the other eight destroyed villages on the right bank of the Meuse, Cumières le Mort-Homme erected the Saint-Rémi chapel on August 6, 1933, using the stones from the old church to remind people that this was once a happy village, at the foot of its hill. To see: The Saint-Rémi chapel built with the stones from the old church (paintings by Lucien Lantier); The war memorial; The skeleton monument (a striking work by sculptor Jacques Froment-Meurice, erected by the association of veterans of the 63rd Infantry Division) at the top of Mort-Homme hill; The remains of the mill's former lock.

Le 6 mars 1916, les Allemands étendent leur offensive à la rive gauche de la Meuse. Leur objectif est d’enlever en priorité la position du Mort-Homme. Pour disposer de la vue offerte par ses 295 mètres d’altitude, des dizaines de milliers d’hommes meurent entre 1916 et 1917. Au cœur d’un terrible duel d’artillerie, le village de Cumières est rayé de la carte. Il est aujourd’hui la seule localité classée “Zone Rouge” sur la rive gauche. Enfin, cette visite a pour vocation de retracer le destin de nombreux combattants, dont certains reposent à la nécropole de Chattancourt.  Le transport au cours de la visite est à votre charge (véhicule personnel). 20 participants maxi.

The German offensive to seize Verdun was launched in February 1916. At the beginning of March, fighting broke out on the hills of Mort-Homme. The French put up heroic resistance under a deluge of fire. 10,000 poilus died in this sector. Monument du Mort-Homme, by sculptor Jacques Froment-Meurice. Rising from his shroud, the soldier's skeleton cries out in victory. On one arm, he carries a flag, symbolizing the nation for which he sacrificed himself, while on the other, he brandishes the torch of victory. On the base of the monument, the words "Ils n'ont pas passé" (They didn't pass) recall the sacrifice of French combatants for the possession and preservation of this observatory hill on the left bank of the Meuse. Cumières, declared a "village that died for France", became Cumières le Mort-Homme in 1922. In memory of the village, the Saint-Rémi chapel was built from the stones of the former church, in the middle of an enclosure preceded by a monument to remind us that this was once a peaceful village.