The Saint-Symphorien military cemetery was added to UNESCO’s prestigious World Heritage List in 2023, as part of the collective bid by the First World War memorial sites and cemeteries of Belgium and France. The global dimension of this nomination, and its universal message of peace, underlines the quality of our region’s heritage.

But it is more than a cemetery; it is a garden of peace, where combatants of all nationalities lie together, united in death. The charming
site consists of small islands of greenery, with conifers of all kinds interspersed with rarer species such as Japanese cherry trees. But
behind these tall trees lies a story.

The story of George Lawrence Price, a 25-year-old Canadian killed at Ville-sur-Haine on 11 November 1918, at 10.58am, just two minutes before the ceasefire was due to take effect at the front. This is where the first and last British soldiers to die in the First World War are buried.

The cemetery is a haven of peace, with as many German graves as British.

Practical information

  • Avenue de la Shangri - 7030 Saint-Symphorien
  • Information : +32(0)65/33.55.80 ou info.tourisme@ville.mons.be
  • Guided tours: groupes@ville.mons.be