_If the tourist has time, he may go from here to the_ =St. Victor Gate=, _situated at the exit of Verdun, in the direction of Metz, Nancy, Toul, and Commercy (see p. 56, and plan between pp. 30 and 31)_.
From the Place Mazel to St. Victor’s Gate
_Cross the St. Croix bridge, take the Rue de l’Hôtel-de-Ville, then the Rue St. Sauveur, in which is the_ =Hospice St. Catherine=.
The =Hospice St. Catherine= was the birthplace of Bishop St. Airy. According to tradition the Bishop, on receiving a visit from Childebert II., caused his last barrel of wine to be brought in. Giving thanks, he was miraculously able to satisfy the deep-drinking Franks for several days. (_This legend is probably connected with the planting of the vineyards in the region of Verdun._)
_Opposite the Church of St. Catherine is the_ colonaded front of the former =Congrégation Notre-Dame Monastery=, now a school.
_Further on are the_ =Church of St. Victor=, Rustic-Gothic in style, _and the_ =Gate= of the same name (_photo above_).
_Stairs on the right of St. Victor’s Gate lead to the_ Citadelle Curtain 16, whence there is a fine view of the city.
[Illustration: THE DOORWAY OF THE CONGRÉGATION NOTRE-DAME (63 RUE DE L’HÔTEL-DE-VILLE)]
The following Itinerary is divided into two parts:
1. The right bank of the Meuse, including the forts (Tavannes, Souville, Vaux and Douaumont). _See pp. 57–87._
2. The left bank of the Meuse, including Cumières, Mort-Homme, Hill 304 and Avocourt. _See pp. 88–111._
1st ITINERARY: THE RIGHT BANK OF THE MEUSE AND THE FORTS
[Illustration: LEAVING VERDUN BY THE CHAUSSÉE GATE (_see p. 34_).]
_Leave Verdun by the Chaussée Gate, cross the Meuse and the fortified enclosure, and take the Rue d’Etain_ (R. N. 18) _on the left. Go up the Faubourg Pavé._ This road, used by the relief troops in the Vaux-Douaumont sector, was heavily and continually shelled until Verdun was finally cleared in December, 1916.
[Illustration: MILITARY CEMETERY AT THE EXIT OF THE FAUBOURG PAVÉ.]
[Illustration: Two-page map of the battlefield.]
[Illustration: THE INTERIOR OF TAVANNES FORT]
_At the side of the Municipal Cemetery_ (_on the left_) is a Military Cemetery containing more than 5,000 graves (_photo, p. 58_).
_Follow_ N. 18 _for about six kilometers, then turn to the left into the road leading to_ =Tavannes Fort=, _situated about a kilometer from the main road_.