Why did France create the Zone Rouge around the Verdun battlefield?

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French soldiers in uniform rest and eat on a grassy field behind the front lines during the Battle of Verdun in World War I, with gear and rifles stacked nearby. — Battle of Verdun French soldiers resting away from the front line at the Battle of Verdun, 1916.

Following the Battle of Verdun, the French government established the Zone Rouge (Red Zone) primarily due to the extreme density of unexploded ordnance left behind by the conflict.1

This area, covering approximately 65 square miles, was deemed too dangerous for human habitation or development because of the millions of shells buried in the soil. Among these, chemical weapons posed a particularly severe threat, as they remained toxic and were prone to leaking when disturbed. To ensure public safety, the government prohibited development within the zone, and specialized units continue to clear tons of munitions from the site annually to this day.1