Excursion to WWI Battle of Arras and Vimy Ridge sites from Paris
To all Canadians, the battle for Vimy Ridge in 1917 was the one that forged the identity of their young nation, and for the British it was their first major success of the First World War.
During this tour you will follow in the footsteps of the brave soldiers who fought and died on the Artois battlefields. You will visit the Cabaret Rouge Cemetery, the largest in the area and see the tombs of Commonwealth units from all over the world. In May 2000 the remains of an unknown Canadian soldier was taken from cemetery to be laid in the National War Memorial in Ottawa.
You will then explore the Canadian Commemorative Park, a parcel of land granted by France to Canada in recognition of the country’s contribution and sacrifice during the war. See for yourself the trenches, tunnels and craters that still scar the landscape a century later. The Memorial is a majestic and inspiring monument which overlooks the Douai Plain and stands as a tribute to all who served their country in battle, particularly the 60,000 Canadian soldiers who were killed in France.
Finish the day in the beautiful town of Arras. Restored following the war in its original style, the town has two historic cobbled squares which boast unique examples of Flemish baroque architecture.
