Just changed the agenda for this following weekend so we are gonna be around Verdun for the 11th after all but....the sis in law from Watronville has said that a lot of roads are going to be shut & policed because the Prez is apparently visiting...this ,I understood, meant the fort & the routes to it from Verdun.
She's not one to over exaggerate,she's married to the original hippy but,anyone know if I'll have freedom of movement there next week?Anyone else heard of any restrictions?
Dave.

You might as well stay away from the battlefield on 11th until Sarkhozy has gone. Only people with invitations will be allowed up there. I don't know if he's visiting Fort Douaumont but he will certainly be at the Ossuary. No one will be able to get within miles of the battlefield and visitors will be bussed up. Chose another day for a battlefield visit.

Christina

Thanks,Christina.Its what I feared.We'll be there from friday night so I'll have plenty of time to look around again.
Dave.

Mind you Dave; it's understandabnle really. Armistice, Verdun, President - they don't want to rub shoulders with the hoy poloy like us!

Anyone allowed to watch or take part in the ceremony is being bussed up from Verdun early in the morning. The ceremony starts at 11, so you've got lots of time to get cold. After the bigwigs have gone it should be easier to get to the battlefield. The main sites are all open and visits will be possible during the afternoon but I don't know from when.

Christina

Chistine.

It was exactly the same on the Somme in July 2006. Many people who cme from the UK without being aware that in some cases the nearest point you could drive to was Albert.

John

There were hundreds and hundreds of people on the battlefield yesterday. In 15 years I've never seen a fraction of that number before at any time. There is a nice exhibition of photos in the Ossuary - each alcove has a huge picture of a veteran over it. It's good and moving and it puts faces to the thousands of names carved on the wall. I was there to record a radio feature for the Radion 4 Today programme and will be back tomorrow afternoon with BBC TV.

If anyone is thinking of visiting Verdun tomorrow, all roads onto the battlefield will be closed in the morning. The Ossuary and other sites will be open to the public from 2 pm. The bigwigs will be arriving at the military airfield near Etain, which will be on alert all day. I should think that means that the Route Nationale to Verdun risks being closed for quite a part of the day.

One feature of remembrance at Verdun that is quite unknown and deserves far more recognition is the arrival of the Eternal Flame from Paris. It was lit at the Ossuary this morning, 10th November. Normally it arrives at 5pm. We were there last year on 10th Nov and there was almost nobody about - that's how it normally is. However, what is remarkable about it is that the Flame is brought ON FOOT by a relay or runners from Paris to Verdun each year over a period of about 10 days. Now if we did that between Westminster Abbey and Ypres each year, it would be headline news. But who out there knows about it?

Christsina

This afternoon,there was a foot/walk race on & I wondered if it was residue/'cos of the flame.Voie sacrée & they werent spring chickens but,dedicated.
I've never seen so many coppers here,got stopped at every junction,every road.
Saw the Sarko & Chas & his bird.
Spent 11a.m.in the region of Moulainville fort & later, newly found* trench at Watronville heights.
Well chuffed
*well,1st time I've seen it.