I've been to Verdun twice and its a rough town, like it never really could blossom after the war. The walls of the fort are up and there is a new museum dedicated to the Battle.

Outside of town you can tour Fort Douaumont ("Fort Dua-mo") and there's an incredible memorial nearby. From the outside of the memorial, you can peer into the windows and see the foundation of the memorial. It is stacked of skulls and bones of the dead. Chilling.

I doubt you could drive 25 miles in Northeast France without coming across a WWI battlefield, cemetary, or shrine.

This is how my wife will eventually get me to agree to a trip to France. I've seen photos of that giant ossuary and yeah - I can't even imagine how unnerving that would be in person.

But I want to do a WWI tour of France and just see all these historic battlefields and museums/monuments.

The depravity of mankind never ceases to amaze me.

The things we have done to other living souls is deplorable.

The Rape of Nanjing is another horror show.

If you're ever in London, I recommend a visit to the Imperial War Museum. It's close to Waterloo station and easy to get to. It's well worth the time if you're interested in this kind of stuff.