Battlefields and Driving Holiday - Northern France
Discussion
All a little last minute, but I'm planning with the other half to head over to France in the Elise in July. The only thing I know I'd like to do is see a bit of WW1 history, Somme, Mons, Messiness Ridge, Ypres etc. take in a bit of culture (art, museums, that sort of thing) perhaps in Lille, as well as drive down to Reims to look round the city and see the old race circuit.
We need to do this on a pretty tight budget, and although we love camping, luggage space is at a premium, so budget hotels is what we've been looking at but we're yet to find anything we like the look of. I've thought about basing ourselves either in Lille or ideally out a bit into the countryside. We're looking at 1-2 weeks.
Anyone got anything they'd recommend regarding where to stay, what to do, where to drive? Cheers.
We need to do this on a pretty tight budget, and although we love camping, luggage space is at a premium, so budget hotels is what we've been looking at but we're yet to find anything we like the look of. I've thought about basing ourselves either in Lille or ideally out a bit into the countryside. We're looking at 1-2 weeks.
Anyone got anything they'd recommend regarding where to stay, what to do, where to drive? Cheers.
We used the Holiday Inn Express in Amiens as our base for visiting the WW1 sites. Nothing special but (continental) breakfast included and free Wifi iirc. Reasonably priced (at the time).
Regarding the sites/what to visit, here's an overview of what we did from this thread
Regarding the sites/what to visit, here's an overview of what we did from this thread
g3org3y said:
We arrived in the town of Amiens late afternoon. Badly scarred during both World Wars but restored sensitively afterwards, its main draw is the huge gothic cathedral. In addition, its location makes it a perfect base for exploring the surrounding Somme.
Amiens’ Cathedral Notre-Dame is the biggest gothic building in France and it dominates the city by its sheer size. Suffice to say, it’s rather large!
Every evening the cathedral is subject to a light show which gives a vivid idea of how the west front would have looked when originally coloured. The show is put to music and I must admit was one of the highlights of the entire trip. Wonderfully atmospheric, there must have been over a hundred people in the square as it took place. If you get the opportunity to nip over to France I highly recommend this.
(Apologies for the poor quality photos – long exposure plus one too many beers over dinner do not good photos make!)
Otherwise Amiens itself is a very nice city. St-Leu, the renovated medieval artisans’ quarter with its network of cathedrals has considerable charm and is delight to walk through. Some lovely riverside views make a perfect backdrop for some great photos and a very nice dinner (steak plus jacket potato works!)
Day 2
Miles on the clock: 162286
Locations: Vimy Ridge, Circuit de Souvenir (Peronne, Albert), Arras.
Miles Covered: 132
Day 2 started early, there was much to see and do. Unfortunately, as the day before the sky remained overcast and grey, the threat of rain ever present. Our plan was to visit as much of the WW1 related sites as possible.
First stop – Vimy Ridge. The scene for some of the worst trench warfare of World War I. The site, given in perpetuity to the Canadian people out of respect for their sacrifices during the conflict is maintained with an interesting and informative visitor centre (run by Canadian students) which backs onto churned land, preserved in part as it was during the battle.
The major ‘draw’ (for want of a better word) is the Canadian memorial monument. Huge, dramatically stretching to the heavens and inscribed with the names of the 11,285 Canadians whose bodies were never found it is a fitting tribute to such an epic sacrifice.
Scattered around the area are cemeteries of various sizes. All exquisitely maintained, grass cut to perfection, fresh flowers at the foot of gravestones and spotlessly clean. Sometimes the significance of numbers can fade over time, however standing in one of the cemeteries with gravestones stretching as far as the eye can see is a poignant reminded of the scale of the conflict and the number of souls who lost their lives.
In the locality, runs the ‘Circuit de Souvenir’, a route marked out between the towns of Albert and Peronne. Each stop-off guides you to a site of interest whether it be a mine crater, trench, memorial, graveyard or museum (Peronne’s being particularly good). A really worthwhile way to spend half the day. Unfortunately for us, the rain had other plans and falling heavily we made the most of our time in the museums rather than outside (though I did spot a field of sheep!).
It should be noted that the opening times stated on the guide are somewhat optimistic. At least 30% of the sites we visited were closed!
Here are a couple of random snaps from the Circuit.
The E30 outside one of the large cemeteries
Despite the rain doing its best to spoil things, a very interesting and worthwhile day. I absolutely recommend to anyone who has even a passing interest in war history to visit the sites. An important and emotive reminder of the past. Given the proximity to Calais and Dunkerque, it’s quite possible to get a morning ferry across, see everything and get a late ferry back. There were quite a lot of UK reg cars in this area, typically families with their children.
HTH Amiens’ Cathedral Notre-Dame is the biggest gothic building in France and it dominates the city by its sheer size. Suffice to say, it’s rather large!
Every evening the cathedral is subject to a light show which gives a vivid idea of how the west front would have looked when originally coloured. The show is put to music and I must admit was one of the highlights of the entire trip. Wonderfully atmospheric, there must have been over a hundred people in the square as it took place. If you get the opportunity to nip over to France I highly recommend this.
(Apologies for the poor quality photos – long exposure plus one too many beers over dinner do not good photos make!)
Otherwise Amiens itself is a very nice city. St-Leu, the renovated medieval artisans’ quarter with its network of cathedrals has considerable charm and is delight to walk through. Some lovely riverside views make a perfect backdrop for some great photos and a very nice dinner (steak plus jacket potato works!)
Day 2
Miles on the clock: 162286
Locations: Vimy Ridge, Circuit de Souvenir (Peronne, Albert), Arras.
Miles Covered: 132
Day 2 started early, there was much to see and do. Unfortunately, as the day before the sky remained overcast and grey, the threat of rain ever present. Our plan was to visit as much of the WW1 related sites as possible.
First stop – Vimy Ridge. The scene for some of the worst trench warfare of World War I. The site, given in perpetuity to the Canadian people out of respect for their sacrifices during the conflict is maintained with an interesting and informative visitor centre (run by Canadian students) which backs onto churned land, preserved in part as it was during the battle.
The major ‘draw’ (for want of a better word) is the Canadian memorial monument. Huge, dramatically stretching to the heavens and inscribed with the names of the 11,285 Canadians whose bodies were never found it is a fitting tribute to such an epic sacrifice.
Scattered around the area are cemeteries of various sizes. All exquisitely maintained, grass cut to perfection, fresh flowers at the foot of gravestones and spotlessly clean. Sometimes the significance of numbers can fade over time, however standing in one of the cemeteries with gravestones stretching as far as the eye can see is a poignant reminded of the scale of the conflict and the number of souls who lost their lives.
In the locality, runs the ‘Circuit de Souvenir’, a route marked out between the towns of Albert and Peronne. Each stop-off guides you to a site of interest whether it be a mine crater, trench, memorial, graveyard or museum (Peronne’s being particularly good). A really worthwhile way to spend half the day. Unfortunately for us, the rain had other plans and falling heavily we made the most of our time in the museums rather than outside (though I did spot a field of sheep!).
It should be noted that the opening times stated on the guide are somewhat optimistic. At least 30% of the sites we visited were closed!
Here are a couple of random snaps from the Circuit.
The E30 outside one of the large cemeteries
Despite the rain doing its best to spoil things, a very interesting and worthwhile day. I absolutely recommend to anyone who has even a passing interest in war history to visit the sites. An important and emotive reminder of the past. Given the proximity to Calais and Dunkerque, it’s quite possible to get a morning ferry across, see everything and get a late ferry back. There were quite a lot of UK reg cars in this area, typically families with their children.
I go to Amiens a lot (I used to liv e there). Hotels - best budget in city centre is the Ibis, it's got a garage where your Lotus will be safe. In the centre decent places with secure parking are scarce.I've been doing this several times a year for the last 25 years and this is the best all round option I've found so far.
I can also recommend the Ibis in Lille (I forget which now) - very central. It has off street parking a couple of hundred metres away. It's near the cloth hall and in a great location.
A lot of these battlefield locations are getting very popular - if you're planning on going to Ypres then I'd get booking right now as I've found it a nightmare to get a room in the centre. Incidentally there's a very nice boutique B&B called the Sabbajon in the centre that I highly recommend. No off road parking but you won't have a problem in Ypres.
I can also recommend the Ibis in Lille (I forget which now) - very central. It has off street parking a couple of hundred metres away. It's near the cloth hall and in a great location.
A lot of these battlefield locations are getting very popular - if you're planning on going to Ypres then I'd get booking right now as I've found it a nightmare to get a room in the centre. Incidentally there's a very nice boutique B&B called the Sabbajon in the centre that I highly recommend. No off road parking but you won't have a problem in Ypres.
I've been to Reims during the festival of light and they lit the church up like the one shown above - very impressive.
I visited Verdun which was a mostly French battle rather than English but still very interesting. Good driving roads around there.
The numbers are incredible -
11,000 never found on the post above!
Re hotels I never book novotels and ibis hotels - characterless. Just get there and find a nice b&b -
Generally cheaper, always more interesting
I visited Verdun which was a mostly French battle rather than English but still very interesting. Good driving roads around there.
The numbers are incredible -
11,000 never found on the post above!
Re hotels I never book novotels and ibis hotels - characterless. Just get there and find a nice b&b -
Generally cheaper, always more interesting
Sammy - there are more battlefield related things to do on the Somme than you can shake a stick at. It's only a couple of hours from Ypres too.
Top of my head
- cathedral
- hortilonages
- museum at Albert (v good) (under the basilica)
- Lochnager crater
- Thiepval monument
- Delville wood South African memorial - beautiful
Arras isn't far either.
Top of my head
- cathedral
- hortilonages
- museum at Albert (v good) (under the basilica)
- Lochnager crater
- Thiepval monument
- Delville wood South African memorial - beautiful
Arras isn't far either.
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