Thiaucourt-Regniéville: Memorial Sites and History

Thiaucourt-Regniéville can be explored through various reminders of the history of the Saint-Mihiel Salient: military cemeteries, a museum, the remains of a destroyed village and historic routes. If you are planning a stay, you can decide what to focus on in the area based on whether you are interested in memorial sites, collections, a walk through the town or the historic landscape.

Memorial sites in the Saint-Mihiel Salient

The American cemetery at Thiaucourt lies almost at the centre of the Saint-Mihiel Salient. Most of those buried there died during the offensive to reduce the salient in September 1918. Since 28 December 2017, the cemetery as a whole has been listed as a historic monument. Saint-Mihiel American Cemetery contains 4,153 graves; it is considered the third-largest American necropolis of the First World War. Both its location within the salient and the scale of the memorial site are therefore central to a visit.

The cemetery can be visited independently, on guided tours, on tours arranged on request, and as part of educational visits. Available visit formats are subject to local confirmation. Therefore, check which option is available for your visit date before you go.

The German cemetery at Thiaucourt also commemorates several periods of war. It is the resting place of 11,685 German war dead from the First World War, as well as German dead from the 1870–1871 war. The troops themselves established the cemetery in September 1914. In contrast with the American cemetery, it commemorates not only the First World War but also the 1870–1871 war.

Museum and remains of Regniéville

The Musée La Baïonnette is located on the historic site of Regniéville, a village destroyed in the First World War, in the heart of the Saint-Mihiel Salient. The museum’s collection ranges from edged weapons and bayonets to military objects from the two world wars, trench art and the local history of the salient. Objects, art from trench life and local history thus offer different ways to explore this historical subject.

The museum offers guided tours by advance reservation and welcomes groups and school classes. If you are planning a guided tour, confirm your reservation before your visit. The remains of the destroyed village of Regniéville can be freely visited outdoors; information panels explain the site. This makes it possible to explore the village’s history through both the remains and the on-site information.

The Monument aux Morts can be visited free of charge, outdoors only. This restriction is relevant when planning your visit: access is limited to the exterior of the monument.

Historic routes and landscape

The Tour de Ville is a 6 km tourist walk in Thiaucourt. It includes the medieval rampart walk and other historic sites in the town. The route therefore focuses on the town and connects its historic sites along a clearly defined distance. The Route du Saillant de Saint-Mihiel offers a different historical perspective: it is a tourist road that passes through Thiaucourt and follows the former First World War front line. The Tour de Ville thus highlights a walk through the town and its historic sites, while the Route du Saillant takes the former front line as its theme.

The landscape also provides a distinct setting for the area. Thiaucourt-Regniéville is counted among the villages on the slopes of the Rupt-de-Mad and Esch valleys. The rural landscapes there are considered relatively protected from development pressure and have recognised landscape heritage value. The area therefore combines historic memorial sites and routes with a landscape that is also recognised for its heritage value.

Discover more destinations: Saxon-Sion, Pierre-Percée, Lucey, Laxou, Ludres, Essey-Lès-Nancy, Crévéchamps, Cerville.

For the broader travel overview: Meurthe-Et-Moselle.