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Visit of the Mont-Valérien: Place of memory and walk

The walk follows the pedestrian path that winds around Mont-Valérien (Promenade Jacques Baumel). It allows you to discover the history of this place.

A very easy walk around the Mont-Valérien, it is very pleasant because it allows to have a nice circular view on all the west of the Paris region. The Mont-Valérien is one of the highest points of the Ile-de-France. There is a large parking lot next to the memorial. It is more difficult to get there by public transport (bus).'' It should be noted that the crypt, the clearing of the shootings and the chapel are not freely accessible because they are located on a military domain. It is compulsory to follow a guided tour. To do so, you must go to the information centre which is located on the left on the main square of the memorial. The guided tour is free, generally there are two visits scheduled on Sunday afternoon. Do not hesitate to ask for information on the spot as many people miss the most interesting tour. Once the historical visit is over, you can walk around the Mont-Valérien in the small park.

Interest: very good (2 users)
Difficulty:
Duration: 2 h.
Practical information

The Memorial of Fighting France

Behind the bronze doors is a crypt containing 17 remains of servicemen from the 39-45 war. A vault was reserved for the last Companion of the Liberation. In 2021, Hubert Germain, the last Companion of the Order of the Liberation, joined the other veterans and members of the Resistance.
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The Cross of Lorraine

The monument to the dead of the Second World War. During the Second World War, Mont Valérien became infamous as a place where resistance fighters, political prisoners and members of the French Resistance were executed. It is now a place of remembrance.
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The Clairiére des fusillés

It is here, inside the fort held by the Germans, that more than 1000 resistance fighters were shot. A plaque commemorates the memory. Next to it is a disused chapel where the men sometimes spent their last moments. This place is only accessible with guides. You can get information at the Mont-Valérien reception centre located on the esplanade. The schedule of the visits is not very clear for individual visitors, you may have to wait a little on the spot. In any case, the guided tour is free.
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Equestrian Centre

After the visit of the esplanade you can walk around the mount, there is a small park, it borders an equestrian centre.
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An orientation table

An orientation table allows you to find your way around. You can see La Défense and Nanterre.
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The American Cemetery

Continuing the tour of Mont-Valérien you can visit an American cemetery, it contains the graves of American soldiers who fell during the two world wars. The cemetery was given by France to the United States, it is a quiet place and very well maintained. To see.
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The graves of American soldiers

The cemetery contains many more soldiers from the first war than from the second war. Donald Trump came to pay tribute to American soldiers on the centennial of the end of World War I.
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View on Paris

If you leave the promenade and walk along the road you can reach an esplanade overlooking Paris and the Bois de Boulogne.
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View on Rueil-Malmaison

The park offers a view of the entire Ile-de-France region.
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The park

The park runs along the fort's enclosure, which is a military site. Sometimes the space is narrow, here we have more space.
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The entrance to the fort

Originally a wooded hill, Mont Valérien became a strategic site in the 19th century, when fortifications were built to protect Paris. Today the fort is home to the army's 8th Transmission Regiment. It still has a pigeon racing unit. The fort is a military site and can only be visited on Heritage Days in September.
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Parking

Starting point. Parking

Information centre

Starting point for free guided tours.

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