Douaumont Ossuary

©CT

Built on the initiative of the Bishop Ginisty of Verdun, the Ossuary of Douaumont was inaugurated on August 7th, 1932 by the President of the Republic Albert Lebrun.
On the long façade of 137 m. the shields of the cities which have helped to build this work are affixed. Its tower of 46 m. high dominates the entire battlefield.
The cloister consists of 22 cells containing 46 granite tombs. Each tomb represents a sector of the battlefield and contains the bones found in this area.
At each end of the cloister is a vault of 350 m to contain the surplus of the bones of the too charged sectors.
In front of the Ossuaire, the Douaumont military cemetery contains the graves of 15,000 identified French soldiers.

Periods and Opening Hours

January: Annual closure - closed until 1 February inclusive - Reopening on 2 February 2026
February: Weekdays from 9am to 12pm and from 2pm to 5pm - Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 2pm to 5pm
March: weekdays from 9am to 12pm and from 2pm to 5.30pm - Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 12pm and from 2pm to 5.30pm
April: weekdays from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm - Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm
May and June: weekdays from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm - Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm
July and August: weekdays from 9.00 am to 6.30 pm - Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 10.00 am to 6.30 pm
September: weekdays from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm - Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm
October: weekdays from 9.00 am to 5.30 pm - Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 10.00 am to 5.30 pm
November: from 1 November to 11 November 2026: open from 9.00 am to 5.30 pm on weekdays and from 10.00 am to 5.30 pm, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays / from 12 to 30 November 2026: weekdays from 9 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 5 pm - Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 10 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 5 pm
December: weekdays from 9am to 12pm and from 2pm to 5pm - Saturdays and Sundays from 2pm to 5pm only, and from 21 December open only from 2pm to 5pm until early January. Closed only on 24 and 25 December 2026.

School group rates
Access to the cemetery, cloister and chapel is free.
An entrance fee is charged to access the tower and / or the projection of the film in the basement.

2.00 € per pupil
1 free guide for 10 paying pupils
4.50 € per additional accompanying person

An entrance fee is charged for access to the cloister and chapel

1.00 per pupil
1 accompanying adult free for every 10 paying pupils
4.50 per additional accompanying adult

Adult group rates
Access to the cemetery, cloister and chapel is free.
An entrance fee is charged to access the tower and / or the projection of the film in the basement.

4.50 € per adult
A free for 20 paying people

A minimum of 20 paying guests is required to benefit from this rate.

Schedules and prices