Berry-Au-Bac brings together several clearly distinct First World War memorial sites. The Monument national des chars d'assaut commemorates the use of French tanks and their fallen crews; the Nécropole nationale de BERRY-AU-BAC commemorates those killed in the fighting in May 1918. Côte 108, in turn, is shaped by its location at the confluence of the Marne and Aisne rivers and by its own history. When planning your trip, it is worth keeping these different themes separate rather than treating them as a single place to visit. That way, you can decide which historical context you would like to focus on during your stay.
Tank monument: remembrance and the first large-scale deployment
The Monument national des chars d'assaut honours all tank crews who fell in the First World War. It is located at the starting point from which French tanks were first deployed in large numbers towards Juvincourt on 16 April 1917. A full-scale replica of the Schneider CA1, used in the first deployment of French tanks, has been permanently displayed in the immediate vicinity of the monument since the 2017 commemorative year. The monument and replica thus represent two related aspects: remembrance of the crews and the commemoration of a specific tank model.
A commemorative ceremony has been held annually at the monument since 1922. If you would like to plan your stay around it, check the date for the year in question.
A military cemetery with a different historical context
The Nécropole nationale de BERRY-AU-BAC is a French First World War military cemetery. It contains the graves of combatants who fell between 27 and 29 May 1918 during the German offensive on the Chemin des Dames. Its historical context is distinct from that of the tank monument: there, the focus is on the deployment of French tanks on 16 April 1917; here, it is on those killed in the fighting in May 1918. Including both themes in your plans helps you place the events in chronological context, rather than treating the different memorial sites as interchangeable stops.
Côte 108: location, heritage status and guided tours
Côte 108 lies at the confluence of the Marne and Aisne rivers, at the eastern end of the Chemin des Dames. It was designated a historic monument in 1937. The former battlefield, now in private ownership, remains closed to the public. Guided tours of Côte 108 are occasionally organised in collaboration with the Caverne du Dragon-Musée du Chemin des Dames. As these tours are not held on a regular basis, check before your trip whether one is available during your planned dates.
Travel dates and practical information
Confirm the specific date before finalising your travel dates and booking a holiday rental in Berry-Au-Bac. For motorhome travellers, the Les terres de la planchette parking and service area is located on Rue de la côte 108. Check current availability before including it in your plans.
Discover more destinations: Liesse-Notre-Dame, Chauny, Saint-Michel, Rozoy-Sur-Serre, Maissemy, Bouconville-Vauclair, Tartiers, Bouffignereux
For the broader travel guide: Aisne.
