|
 The
city of Verdun dates back to the third century B.C., and it was an
important Gallic stronghold -- it's name means "powerful fortress".
The Romans enlarged the town, situated along the River Meuse, and it
prospered. Verdun changed hands many times over the centuries until
it became a part of the Basse Lorraine duchy in the 10th century and
an important cultural center from the year 1000. The city was part
of the Germanic Empire until 1552.
Architecture buffs will appreciate Verdun for its remnants from medieval
times: the Porte Châtel (12th century), its oldest gate and all that
is remaining from the medieval ring of fortifications, and the Porte
Chausée (1380), the key element of the rampart, considered a
remarkable specimen of medieval military architecture and today a
classified historical monument.
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 (2 miles) east of the town. |
