NANCY

From 1914, Nancy lay perilously close to the front line and endured sporadic artillery and aerial bombardment. The conflict that raged around the city was pivotal, not least during the so-called 'Battle of the Frontiers' in 1914. Key defensive positions can be noted along the route of the Grande Couronne, a ridge running east of Nancy where the small rural villages such as Remerville, Lagarde and Reillon saw heavy fighting.

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At Champenoux lies a monument 'Aux Heroes du Grand Couronne' surrounded by almost 3,000 French graves while the National Necropolis at Vitrimont gathers together the remains of almost 4,000 more. Nancy is also the gateway to the Vosges and the monument at St Die en Vosges is surrounded by a further 2,608 French graves. Most of the men buried in the cemeteries along this section of 'Forgotten Front' were killed before the concept of trench warfare on the Western Front had even begun.