In addition to its breathtaking panorama, a historical monument of the First World War can be found on the butte or hill of Montsec. It was built in 1932 by the United States using Euville stone. A bronze orientation table lists the exact locations of the villages and battles of the Saint-Mihiel Salient. Thus, it allows us to understand better the battles that took place there. On the memorial, the inscriptions of the names of the American units that fought in 1918 preserve the memory of those who helped France in its battles.
During the Second World War, the Germans occupied this strategic site and set up a reinforced surveillance point. During the Allies’ recapture of the Montsec Butte, some damage was caused to the site. For this reason, it was rebuilt afterward.
This historical treasure is accessible by a very wide staircase leading to the isolated hill at an altitude of 375 meters.
Located about twenty minutes away from the Memorial is the Saint-Mihiel American cemetery (in Thiaucourt), which is also maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission. 4 153 people rest in this cemetery which honors them just like the memorial. The memorial is opened all day, all year long. The cemetery is opened from 9am until 5pm every day, except on December the 25th and January the 1st. Free guided tours are available upon request for both sites: +33.(0).3.83.80.01.01 saint-mihiel@abmc.gov
