Around 45 minutes' drive north of Verdun is the Musée de la Bière, which is surprisingly large. It contains 53,000 objects relating to the history of making beer, including explorations of the science behind it, and the evolution of its marketing and publicity. The accent is, naturally, on beers produced in the east of France, Belgium and Germany, but nonetheless it is fascinating. It takes a couple of hours to see everything thoroughly. On your way out, visit the tavern which sells around 100 different beers at very reasonable prices. You can also have lunch in the tavern, either before or after you visit the museum.
The temporary exhibition 'Nuit Blanche' (Sleepless Night) shows the work of Eléonore Giraud who is a tattoo artist as well as a painter. It runs until December 1, and includes several workshops. On 18 October, she will be there in person with her catalogue of tattoo designs. You can even get a tattoo done. On October 28, she will be running a workshop for children, explaining what tattoos are, how they are done, and giving them the chance to design their own tattoos and even have a go at tattooing synthetic skin with real machines (fitted with fake needles). For more information see the museum's website.
L'Abri des Pelerins in Verdun is staffed by people with mental heath conditions and psychological disabilitiesL'Abri des Pelerins/Facebook
Dining in Verdun: a restaurant with a difference
L'Abri des Pèlerins is the only restaurant near the Ossuaire de Douaumont (see opposite). It was constructed in the late 1920s, very close to the site of the Thiaumont farm which was obliterated in 1916. It served as a hostel for the workers who built the ossuary, which was inaugurated in 1932. Afterwards, it gradually became a bar where people went to get warm after searching for traces of missing loved ones. It is now a café/restaurant open 10:00 to 18:00 every day except Wednesdays, and is staffed by people with mental/psychological disabilities.
The idea is to give people the experience of working in contact with the general public, in order to develop their professional skills, become more independent, and have more self-confidence in order to participate as fully as possible in everyday life.
The restaurant reserves a heated room for parties of schoolchildren who need somewhere to eat their packed lunches. The food is delicious, and the service is very friendly. The menu changes regularly. Reserve ahead.
