Prior to seeing the beautiful photo expose on MessyNezzyChic, I had no idea this place existed in the world (especially surprising, considering the 30+ times I’ve been to France on business). The “Zone Rouge” is “forsaken territory” from the first World War following the old front lines from trench warfare. The zone is filled with unknown amounts of human remains and a near impossible level of un-exploded munitions, both conventional and chemical.

Farmers in less dangerous re-populated “yellow” and “blue zones”, still hit shells every year, exploding their tractors and narrowly escaping death by the remains of a hundred year old war. In Verdun, there are road signs to indicate a dumping grounds for farmers to leave the shells they’ve plowed up on their land to be collected by authorities.

The photography of Oliver Saint Hilaire is a poignant look into the remnants of a catastrophic war. Hit the link (or click any of the photos) to be taken to the original article.