In Vaux-devant-Damloup, several historical layers intersect with specific landscape features. The village was completely destroyed in 1916 during the Battle of Verdun. Fort de Vaux, a memorial chapel designated as a point of interest, the digital representation of the former village with VIAVO, and the Étang de Vaux offer different ways to explore the area. You can shape your stay around your interests: architecture and local history, the events of 1916, or landscape and biodiversity. The options range from historical context and architecture to a 3D representation and a small pond at the confluence of three ravines.
Village History and Historical Dates
Vaux-devant-Damloup was completely destroyed in 1916 during the Battle of Verdun. The Étang de Vaux is also associated with that year: in March and April 1916, the pond was at the center of the fighting. Fort de Vaux takes you back to an earlier point in time; it was built between 1881 and 1884. This gives you three distinct historical reference points: the fort’s construction, the destruction of the village, and the fighting at the Étang. This timeline helps you put local historical topics into context without conflating the different events.
Chapel and Heritage History
The Chapelle Saint Philippe et Saint Jacques memorial chapel at the destroyed village of Vaux is designated as a point of interest and was built in 1933 by the architect Delangle. The Chapelle Saint-Jacques-et-Saint-Philippe and the clock tower were listed as historic monuments on 15 December 2021. The chapel therefore has both a construction year and a later date when it was listed as a monument; these are distinct historical reference points for understanding the cultural heritage. These architectural milestones add developments after the events of 1916 to the history of the area.
Fort de Vaux: Interior and Views
In addition to its construction history, Fort de Vaux offers practical details about its interior and exterior. The interior remains at 12 °C year-round. This temperature is a useful point of reference if you plan to visit the fort during your stay: it applies regardless of the season. From the viewpoint at the fort, the view to the south takes in stands of spruce, shrubbery and deciduous vegetation; to the north, it takes in stands of Austrian pine. The two views offer a specific comparison of the vegetation, differing both in direction and in the types of growth mentioned.
VIAVO and the Étang de Vaux
The VIAVO augmented-reality application depicts the former village of Vaux-devant-Damloup in 3D and lets you explore its grounds on a walking loop established in collaboration with the ONF. The application has separate routes focused on history and biodiversity; each topic is offered in a version for adults and one for children. When choosing a route, you can select either of the two topics, each of which is available in both age versions. The application thus combines a digital representation of the former village with a walk around its grounds.
The Étang de Vaux is a small pond at the confluence of the Fausse-Côte, Bazil and Fontaines ravines. This specific landscape feature complements the views of vegetation from the viewpoint: the Étang focuses on the pond and the three named ravines, while the fort offers views of different stands of vegetation depending on the direction. You can explore two distinct natural features: the small pond at the confluence and the views of vegetation from the viewpoint. The VIAVO biodiversity route offers a dedicated way to explore this theme.
Discover more destinations: Vigneulles-Lès-Hattonchâtel, Fresnes-Au-Mont, Les Trois-Domaines, Écouviez, Naix-aux-Forges, Amel-Sur-L'etang, Mécrin, Mogeville.
For the broader travel overview: Meuse.
