WHEN THEIR STORY BECOMES

REMEMBRANCE
TOURISM SITES 14-18
SALES BROCHURE
WHEN THEIR
STORY
BECOMES
our
History
ATOUT FRANCE
1
CHRISTIAN MANTEI
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF ATOUT FRANCE
2014 was punctuated by the Centenary of the First World
sites are chock-full of history, former battlefields that today have
War, a major event for France. New Zealand was amongst the
become places for peace and commemoration. These emotio-
nations involved in this conflict, responding valiantly to the call and
nally charged sites offer captivating insight into the First World
standing out for its soldiers’ heroic behaviour. Today the French
War, through innovative design and scenography, animations,
are paying tribute, celebrating with emotion each of these
workshops, testimonials, discovery tours...
ingenuous combatants of bloody WWI.
With this brochure, Atout France, the France Tourism DevelopFrom the Vosges Front to Nord-Pas de Calais, making way
ment Agency, has regrouped holiday stay ideas proposed by
through Lorraine and Picardy, the Great War and its memory
Great War specialists, professionals who know how to surpass
have forged the territories’ landscape and identity. Memorial
your clients’ expectations.
New Zealander troop @ Historial Museum of the Great War in Péronne (Somme)
A hundred years ago, thousands of young soldiers from New
represents a new opportunity for our two countries to reconnect
Zealand embarked upon a journey to the Western Front. Sadly,
and get to know each other better, as these times allow us to
many of them would never return.
reflect and to ponder over our common past and ever-developing
JOSEPH ZIMET
relationship, and help us realise how the bonds forged between
Indeed, a quarter of all New Zealanders killed during the First
France and New Zealand during the Great War are still strong
World War are still buried in France. Arras, with the Wellington
100 years on.
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR CENTENARY
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
Quarry, Longueval and Le Quesnoy, are names that have long
been familiar to New Zealanders, synonymous with the instru-
I hope that New Zealanders of all ages will be able to come to
Since 2014, France has entered into the cycle commemorating
The French have solemnly preserved the memory of these sol-
mental role played by Kiwi troops in the war effort in France.
France and visit the cities, former battlefields, memorials and mu-
the Centenary of the First World War. This global event has mobi-
diers who fought alongside them on their soil. They remember
seums that show the enduring appreciation that French people
lised the entire French society through a veritable memorial and
their commitment in the September 1916 Battle of the Somme,
Today, these historic places bear testimony to the remembrance
have for the sacrifice of their forebears, and the common legacy
cultural agenda.
those 15,000 New Zealanders, 6,000 of which were injured and
and continuing gratitude that French cities have kept for their
that is shared by France and New Zealand. I also wish that these
allies from the other side of the world.
visits will generate new bonds, friendships and partnerships, and
Throughout
exhibits,
Valley Cemetery near Longueval, in the Somme. The French
plant seeds for the joint future of our two peoples.
conferences, films and other artistic endeavours commemorate
also remember November 4, 1918, and the liberation of the town
Thus, the First World War Centenary commemorations are
this world war, which involved dozens of countries from the five
of Le Quesnoy, in Northern France.
a major aspect of our relations with New Zealand. From 2014
continents.
2,000 killed. Today, their memory is kept alive at the Caterpillar
France,
performances,
concerts,
One hundred years later, France is committed to working
to 2018, whether it is in the political, military, cultural or educational domains, we will remember those threads of our shared
The First World War was a founding event for the New Zealand
closely with the New Zealand authorities, its cultural and pedago-
histories that are still intertwining in the present. Moreover, it also
nation. It touched every family in the country, with 100,000 New
gical players to ensure that the Centenary of the First World War
Zealand soldiers involved, 18,000 killed and 40,000 injured.
commemorations represent New Zealanders everywhere.
FLORENCE JEANBLANC-RISLER
AMBASSADOR OF FRANCE TO NEW ZEALAND
2
ATOUT FRANCE
3
Delville Wood Cemetery in the Somme
CONTENTS
New Zealand on the Western Front during the First World War
5
Map of the Western Front 14-18
6
Key facts of remembrance tourism in France
8
New Zealand remembrance tourism sites
Le Quesnoy New Zealand Memorial
The Wellington Quarry
The Ring of Remembrance
The New Zealand Memorial at Longueval
Caterpillar Valley Cemetery and Memorial at Longueval
10
Other not-to-be-missed remembrance tourism sites
Paris, Gateway into France
Nord-Pas de Calais
Somme
Aisne
Champagne Ardenne
Meuse
The Vosges Front
13
Main remembrance tourism sites in Flanders
16
After the battle of Gallipoli in 1915, a decision was made to
tragic day in the history of the New Zealand army, with a total
Prepare your trip
17
send New Zealand forces to Europe, and so the New Zealand
of 2,700 men dead, wounded or missing during the Battle of
4 ideas of itineraries to discover the Western Front
2-3 days: from Lille to Arras
4-5 days: from Lille to Laon
1 week: from Lille to Verdun
2 weeks: from Lille to Mulhouse
18
Division arrived in France in April 1916, where the front was
Passchendaele.
Live a moving experience on the Western Front
The Wellington Quarry, a memorial to the Battle of Arras
Sylvestre Bresson, battlefield guide for “Terres de Mémoire” remembrance tours
20
Your contacts
Northern France
Somme
Aisne
Champagne Ardenne
Meuse
The Vosges Front
NZ Wholesale and tour companies offering France
NEW ZEALAND
10
10
11
12
12
13
13
14
14
14
15
15
18
18
19
19
ON THE WESTERN FRONT DURING
THE FIRST WORLD WAR
Europe’s Western Front was the theatre of the war’s most
The Division was transferred to Belgian Flanders in March 1917,
important operations for New Zealand’s troops. It was also the
where it participated in the Third Battle of Ypres, notably in the
deadliest, taking the lives of some 12,500 New Zealanders.
battles of Messines in June, and Broodseinde Ridge in October,
which were exceptionally violent. October 12 marks the most
blocked between the Allies and the Germans. By mid-May, the
Division had made its way to the front lines of the Armentières
The New Zealand Division fought on into 1918, participating
sector, in the North near the Franco-Belgian border. The troops
in battles in the Somme, in Aisne and the North. It was there,
joined in the Battle of the Somme near Longueval, between High
despite fierce German resistance, that the Division took the town
Wood and Delville Wood, on September 14. Three brutal weeks
of Le Quesnoy by storm on November 4, thanks to a memorable
later, the Division had already lost 1,500 men and counted nearly
encircling manoeuver. The armistice was signed three days later,
20
20
5,000 wounded.
on November 11.
21
In November, once this battle had calmed, the Division was sent
New Zealanders participated in the war not only through fighting
to the nearby Sailly-sur-la-Lys sector, before eventually going
led by their Division. Their tunnellers also played an essential
back to Armentières, to endure war in the trenches in the depths
role in the spring 1917 Battle of Arras, creating an impressive
of winter.
network of underground barracks under the city of Arras, bap-
21
21
21
22
22
22
22
tized the Wellington Quarry by New Zealand’s combat engineers.
To find out more: www.nzembassy.com/france/
relationship-between-nz-and-france/nz-and-france/
Photo Credits
p5 © Fotolia / p10 © S.Dhote / p11 © J.Pouille / p12 © Somme Tourisme - AL / p13 © H.Giansily - CRT PIdF / p13 © S.Dhote / p13 © AS.Flament / p13 ©
S.Dhote / p14 © Nicolas Bryant / p14 © AS.Flament / p14 © John Foley / p15 © D.Tatin / p15 © Guillaume Ramon / p15 © Guillaume Ramon / p15 ©
ADT68/CG88 - JL.Delpal / p17 © Fotolia / p17 © istock / p18 © Fotolia / p19 © Fotolia / p20 © Benjamin Teissedre
4
war-commemorations
ATOUT FRANCE
5
MAP OF THE
WESTERN FRONT 14-18
6
ATOUT FRANCE
7
KEY FACTS
OF REMEMBRANCE TOURISM IN FRANCE
KEY FACTS
OF REMEMBRANCE TOURISM IN FRANCE
Location of WW1 and WW2
remembrance sites
THE GREAT WAR CENTENARY DESTINATION AGREEMENT
The Great War Centenary Destination Agreement was drawn up
The aim of this agreement is to strengthen cooperative ties
in November 2013, just before the First World War Centennial
amongst the signatory partners, each competent in their own
commemorations were set to begin. This new initiative connects
fields (observation, engineering, promotion), thus increasing
various players of the tourism industry on France’s Western
visibility of the tourist offer on an international level while further
Front, from both the public and private sectors, and unites them
developing efficiency of the local welcome.
into one single destination: The Western Front.
“WESTERN FRONT 14-18:
WHEN THEIR STORY BECOMES
OUR HISTORY”
5 countries represent 70%
of international visitors
This logo identifies all the regions on the Western Front that
were affected by battles during the First World War. It conveys
a message of peace that is focused on the future, inviting
countries around the world to discover and share France’s
shared history.The flowers of remembrance symbolize the hea-
USA
5 sites
Netherlands
10 sites
vy losses suffered by all the nations that took part in the conflict:
the blue cornflower for France, the white forget-me-not for Ger-
8.1%
13.2%
Belgium
20 sites
15.5%
many and the poppy for the Commonwealth. The combination
Germany
of these flowers reinforces the logo’s message of peace.
United Kingdom
6.2 million visits
4 million visits
concentrated
on 17 major sites
260,000 visits
spread over
65 smaller sites
16.5%
Distribution of French
and international visitors
17%
Distribution of individual
and group visitors
turnover
45 million euros
(2010 figures for commercial
sites in mainland France)
45%
International
visitors
[2.7 million
visits]
40%
55%
French
visitors
[3.5 million
visits]
Group
visitors
[2.5 million
visits]
60%
Individual
visitors
[3.7 million
visits]
Source: Atout France publication 2011 “Remembrance tourism in France”
Survey based on the sites linked to the contemporary conflicts of the 1st and
2nd World Wars, Indochina and Algeria, and exclusively on merchant sites
Source: Atout France publication 2011 “Remembrance tourism in France”
8
ATOUT FRANCE
9
NEW ZEALAND
REMEMBRANCE TOURISM SITES
LE QUESNOY
NEW ZEALAND MEMORIAL
WELLINGTON QUARRY
On 4 November, 1918, the town of Le Quesnoy was liberated by
On 9 April, 1917, the British Army launched a huge surprise
New Zealand troops who scaled the Vauban fortifications using a
attack on the German lines before Arras to divert attention away
simple wooden ladder.
from the main French offensive which was to take place on Chemin des Dames Road in Aisne.
Fastened to the rampart wall, the New Zealand Memorial not only
depicts the events of that memorable operation, it also shows
That morning saw 24,000 soldiers flood out from the network of
the Kiwi national emblem: a silver fern. Ninety years on from the
old chalk-quarry tunnels to attack the German defences. Today
Armistice of the First World War, the liberation of Le Quesnoy
the tunnels of the Wellington Quarry, dug by the New Zealander
remains one of the most significant events in the history of the
tunnellers, are open to the public and invite the visitor to discover
New Zealand Army.
the gripping story of the Battle of Arras.
INFORMATION
€
INFORMATION
THE RING OF REMEMBRANCE
On 11 November, 2014, Nord-Pas de Calais Regional Council
its elliptical walls the names of almost 580,000 soldiers of both
inaugurated the Ring of Remembrance, an international
sides, in alphabetical order and without any reference to nationa-
memorial dedicated to the memory of the soldiers who fell in Nor-
lity, rank or religion. Perched on a plateau overlooking the village
thern France between 1914 and 1918.
of Ablain-Saint-Nazaire, the memorial is an appeal to the citizens
of today to remember the ravages of the Great War and to protect
Standing alongside the French National War Cemetery at
Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, this monument bears on the inside of
INFORMATION
Visits for groups, schools, individuals
Visits for groups, schools, individuals
Open all year round
Open all year round (except June 22 and 23,
Visits for groups, schools, individuals
No admission fee
December 22 and from January 1 to 31)
Open all year round
Guided visits
DISCOVER NEAR LE QUESNOY
Wilfred Owen Forester’s house in Ors: 22 km
€
Admission fee
€
No admission fee
English guided visits upon reservation
Guided visits
English documentation
Yes
DISCOVER NEAR THE WELLINGTON QUARRY
the fragile equilibrium of peace.
DISCOVER NEAR THE RING
OF REMEMBRANCE
Leveau Fort in Feignies: 27 km
German War Cemetery at La Route de Solesme and Cambrai
Town Hall, Belfry and Squares of Arras: 1.5 km
East Military Cemetery: 52 km
Monchy Newfoundland Memorial at Monchy-le-Preux: 10 km
Cité Bonjean New Zealand Memorial in Armentières: 85 km
Bullecourt Australian Memorial Park and Jean et Denise
Letaille Museum: 19 km
Louvre-Lens Museum: 20 km
Grévilliers British Cemetery and New Zealand Memorial: 30 km
10
French National War Cemetery at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette:
on the same site
Lens’ 14-18 History Center in Souchez: 1 km
German War Cemetery at La Maison Blanche in NeuvilleSaint-Vaast: 8 km
Vimy Ridge National Historic Site of Canada: 12 km
ATOUT FRANCE
11
THE NEW ZEALAND
MEMORIAL AT LONGUEVAL
CATERPILLAR VALLEY
CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL
AT LONGUEVAL
OTHER NOT-TO-BE-MISSED
REMEMBRANCE TOURISM SITES
PARIS, GATEWAY INTO FRANCE
Museum of the Great War, Pays de Meaux
At the entrance to the Battlefields of the Marne, the Museum of the Great War, Pays de
Meaux houses the rarest collection in Europe, offering new insight into WWI.
Opening times: year round, except on Tuesdays, from 10am to 5:30pm. Annual
Great War Museum
Find out more:
www.museedelagrandeguerre.eu
On September 14, the men took up position to the west of Lon-
5,569 Commonwealth burials can be found in this cemetery, 68%
gueval, ready for the battle that would commence the next day.
of which have not been identified.
Vimy Ridge National Historic Site of Canada
125 graves of New Zealanders, recognizable by their silver fern
The attack began on April 9, 1917. In the north, the Canadians succeeded in taking
insignia, are dotted throughout the cemetery. A memorial wall of
Due to the number of losses incurred here, Longueval became
Portland stone has been inscribed with the names of the 1,205
a special place of remembrance for New Zealanders after the
New Zealand soldiers who were never found or identified after
war. A memorial, inscribed with the words: “In honour of the men
the battles of 1916. The cemetery is surrounded by fields and
of the New Zealand Division - First Battle of the Somme 1916”
located on the Allied positions of 1916. In 2004, the remains of
was unveiled in 1922, by Sir Francis Bell. It is placed on the origi-
an unknown New Zealand soldier were exhumed for reburial at
nal objective gained by the New Zealand Division during the first
the national War Memorial in Wellington. He is New Zealand’s
Battle of the Somme, and from which they launched the success-
Unknown Soldier, representing all those men who came from the
ful attack on Flers.
uttermost ends of the earth to fight in WW1.
INFORMATION
€
Visits for groups, schools, individuals
Open all year round
Open all year round
No admission fee
No admission fee
English guided visits upon reservation
English documentation
DISCOVER NEAR LONGUEVAL
South African Memorial and Museum at Longueval: 2.2 km
Chapel and Cemeteries of Rancourt: 11 km
Historial Museum of the Great War in Péronne: 19 km
Little Train of the Upper Somme in La Neuville-lès-Bray: 19.5 km
12
Vimy Ridge, a major chapter in the history of their nation. One of the most stunning
commemorative memorials of the Great War stands on the top of this ridge: Vimy Ridge
National Historic Site of Canada.
Vimy Ridge National Historic Site of Canada
€
Open all year round
€ No admission fee
Fromelles Australian Memorial Park and Fromelles Museum
The monument is symbolic of the heroism and the sense of camaraderie
shown by the soldiers of the Australian Imperial Force in their baptism of fire on European soil. A replica of this statue by sculptor Peter Corlett, who also designed the Digger
INFORMATION
Visits for groups, schools, individuals
€ Admission fee
NORTHERN FRANCE (NORD-PAS DE CALAIS REGION)
After an artillery barrage, they advanced in the smoke and mist
and by the late afternoon had taken their objectives.
closing from January 4 to 22.
of Bullecourt, can be seen on Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance.
Fromelles Australian Memorial Park
English guided visits upon reservation
Open all year round, except on Tuesdays
€ Admission fee at the museum
French National War Cemetery at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette - Ablain- Saint-Nazaire
English documentation
Between Lens and Arras, the Artois Hills are home to numerous memorial sites created
to pay homage to the men of the French army who fell in the region, particularly in the
DISCOVER NEAR CATERPILLAR VALLEY
CEMETERY
offensives of May and September 1915. Notre-Dame-de-Lorette National Necropolis in
Ablain-Saint-Nazaire, with 20,000 graves, and another 22,000 bodies of other soldiers
in ossuaries, remains the largest military cemetery in France.
Monuments and Cemeteries of Pozières: 6 km
Lochnagar Crater of La Boisselle: 8 km
Somme 1916 Museum of Albert: 11.5 km
Australian National Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux: 32 km
French National War Cemetery
at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette
Find out more:
www.remembrancetrails-northernfrance.com
Open all year round
€ No admission fee
ATOUT FRANCE
13
SOMME
The Memorial of Dormans
The memory of the battles has not been forgotten. In Dormans, the Battles of the Marne
The Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial and Visitor Center
Thanks to its extremely well-preserved battlefield and trench lines, this commemorative
site provides a moving, realistic point of view of the battles in which men from the Newfoundland Regiment were involved.
The Beaumont-Hamel Memorial
Opening times: Monday from 11am to 5pm, and Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm Annual closing around Christmas and New Year.
€ No admission fee. Free guided visits in English.
The Thiepval Franco-British Memorial and Visitor Centre
In 1932, the British government decided to erect the Memorial to the Missing at
Thiepval, an imposing 45-metre tall brick and stone monument, designed by the architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. It is the largest British war memorial in the world. It commemorates the 72,205 men of the British and South African armies who died or were reported
as missing in action between July 1915 and March 1918.
The Thiepval Franco-British Memorial
Find out more:
www.somme-battlefields.com
Memorial is a chapel crypt and ossuary that holds the remains of 1,500 soldiers of
different nationalities.
Opening times: every day from April 1 to November 1. From 2pm to 6pm in April-May
and September-October, and from 10:30am to 6:30pm in June-August. Open all year
round for groups (from 20 pax) on reservation only.
The Memorial of Dormans
MEUSE
The Vauquois Hill
Opening times: every day from 9:30am to 6pm between March 1 and October 31,
and from 9:30am to 5pm the rest of the year. Annual closing around Christmas and
New Year
€ No admission fee
As the world capital of the Great War, Verdun is the symbol of violent battles that raged
in Lorraine throughout the entire conflict. In Argonne, prominent for the use of mines, the
Vauquois Hill is the best example of underground “living” quarters. The well-exhibited
and well-kept site makes it a major site in Lorraine.
Open all year round (booking is required)
Dragon’s Cave, Chemin des Dames Museum
The Caverne du Dragon, Chemin des Dames Museum, is an old limestone quarry lying
14 metres underground, converted into an underground barracks during the conflict.
This site is not to be missed, as it gives a poignant presentation of how soldiers lived.
The Vauquois Hill
Belleau Wood and Cemetery
In June 1918, the wood at Belleau was the scene of terrible fighting. The Marines halted
the German advance and gained mastery of the battlefield of Belleau Wood. Belleau
Wood still has the remains of trenches, shell holes and ruins. A huge chapel with a neoRomanesque bell tower, erected on the site of the trenches, dominates the American
cemetery, where nearly 2,300 soldiers rest in peace. At the centre of Belleau village
stands the Remembrance Museum of Belleau 1914-1918, dedicated to the memory of
the many American soldiers who came to fight on French soil.
Ossuary that preserves their memory. Besides this symbolic place, there are various
sites in Meuse, Lorraine, that give a better comprehension of the conflict: a Memorial
Museum that will open in February 2016, remains of trenches, rear and front camps...
Douaumont Ossuary on the battlefield of Verdun
Open daily from February to December
€ Admission fee. Guided tour in English for groups up to 15 persons: 4€ / person
Find out more:
www.tourisme-lorraine.fr/en
en.verdun-tourisme.com
THE VOSGES FRONT
Hartmannswillerkopf Memorial
The Vosges mountains are overlooked by a mighty rocky spur that overlooks the plain
of Alsace, the Hartmannswillerkopf. The French and Germans fought hard over this
observation post. In 1915 alone, the peak changed hands four times. A memorial crypt
Find out more:
www.aisne14-18.com
holding the remains of 12,000 unknown soldiers now honours them.
CHAMPAGNE ARDENNE
Hartmannswillerkopf Memorial
The Pompelle Fortress
The Fort de la Pompelle was built between 1880 and 1883 as part of Reims’ defences
and was a strategic target during the First Battle of the Marne. The fort was recaptured
by the French and became a bastion of the defence of Reims. Now converted into a
museum evoking the conflict, exhibits include the unique Friese collection of 565 items
of headgear that belonged to the German Imperial Army.
14
fee for the association
The remains of 130,000 unidentified French and German soldiers lie in the Douaumont
Open every day till 5pm
€ No admission fee
The Pompelle Fortress
€ Guided tours of the underground living quarters are possible in exchange for a small
Douaumont Ossuary on the battlefield of Verdun
Opening times: every day except Tuesday mornings up to mid-December
€ Admission fee
@ www.caverne-du-dragon.fr
Belleau Wood
Rates for a French-language guided group visit (from 10 pax): 2 €
Find out more:
www.lamarne14-18.com
www.champagne-ardenne-tourism.co.uk
AISNE
Dragon’s Cave
€ No admission fee for individuals (a free info leaflet in English is available).
Opening times: from 10am to 6pm between April 1 and September 30, and from
10am to 5pm the rest of the year. Closed on Mondays, May 1, July 14, as well as
from mid-December to mid-January
€ Admission fee from 3 to 4€. If a guide is required, please contact the Reims Tourist
Office (page 22).
Opening times: April to October.
€ No admission fee
Fontenelle Cemetery
In the Hure Valley, attrition warfare was used in a fight to gain control of the Fontenelle
hills and quickly transitionned into a war of mines. A monument was inaugurated in 1925
near the cemetery where 2,348 French soldiers have been laid to rest.
Fontenelle Cemetery
Open all year round
€ No admission fee
Find out more:
www.front-vosges-14-18.eu
ATOUT FRANCE
15
MAIN REMEMBRANCE TOURISM SITES
IN FLANDERS
MENIN GATE MEMORIAL
& THE LAST POST - YPRES
STATUE OF A NEW ZEALAND
SOLDIER - MESSINES
Open all year round
Daily year round at 8pm
€ No admission fee
€ No admission fee
Memorial Museum Passchendaele
1917 at 20 km
Flanders Fields Museum
at 200 meters
IN FLANDERS FIELDS MUSEUM
- YPRES
Opening times: daily from 10am to
6pm between April 1 and November
15, and from Tuesday to Sunday from
10am to 5pm the rest of the year.
Closed on December 25, January 1
and from January 5 to 20
€ Admission fee: Adults 9.00 € /
Children 18 & under 4.00€
Statue of a New Zealand Soldier
at 11 km
POLYGON WOOD CEMETERY
MEMORIAL MUSEUM
PASSCHENDAELE 1917
- ZONNEBEKE
Open all year round from 9am to
6pm. Closed from December 16 to
February 1
€ Admission fee: 7.50 €
Polygon Wood Cemetery at 1.6 km
PREPARE
YOUR TRIP
TYNE COT MILITARY CEMETERY
& VISITORS CENTRE
Cemetery opens all year round
Visitors Centre opens from 10am to
6pm between February 1 to November 30
€ No admission fee
Langemark German Military at 8 km
LANGEMARK GERMAN
MILITARY CEMETERY
Open all year round
€ No admission fee
Menin Gate & the Last Post at 13 km
ACCESS BELGIUM FROM NEW ZEALAND
Nearly 460 tourism professionals make up the Somme
providing you with a top-quality welcome year round. They
Battlefields’ Partner, Northern France Battlefields Partner and
are well versed in the major events and sites of the First World
Aisne 14-18 Passing on the Memory networks: accommo-
War, and, to help you make the most of your trip, are happy
dation providers, restaurateurs, tourist offices, visitor sites,
to offer advice, share tips, and provide comprehensive tourist
guides, taxis, merchants... All are enthusiastic and committed to
information.
A NETWORK OF PROFESSIONALS AT YOUR SERVICE
Airlines companies: Emirates, Thai Airways, Etihad from Auckland and
Christchurch international airports
ACCESS BELGIUM (FLANDERS) FROM FRANCE
Transport time
from Paris to Brussels: 1 hour
from Paris to Ypres: 4 hours / from Paris to Brussels: 2 hours
Open all year round
€ No admission fee
Tyne Cot Cemetery and Visitors
Centre at 4 km
from Paris to Brussels: 3h30
from Paris to Ypres: 3 hours / from Lille to Brussels: 1h30 /
from Lille to Ypres: 1 hour
Northern France Battlefields Partners
www.remembrancetrails-northernfrance.com
Somme Battlefields’ Partner
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE SITES
Organisation to contact: Visit Flanders / Address: Level 3, 117 York St, Sydney, Australia / Tel: +61 (0) 418831942 /
Email: [email protected] / Website: www.flandersfields1418.com / Contact name: Sonia Holt
16
www.somme-battlefields.com
Aisne 14-18 Passeurs de Mémoire
www.aisne14-18.com
ATOUT FRANCE
17
4 IDEAS OF ITINERARIES
TO DISCOVER THE WESTERN FRONT
Whether you wish to introduce your clients to the memorial sites
bine memorial site visits with other not-to-be-missed activities.
during a visit to one of the Front regions, or are planning a longer
Ranging from two days to two weeks, these itinerary suggestions
stay on the Western Front, these four itineraries help you com-
are the ideal way to discover the diversity of the destination.
1 WEEK:
FROM LILLE TO VERDUN
2 WEEKS:
FROM LILLE TO MULHOUSE
City of Lille
City of Lille
The Australian Memorial Park in Fromelles
Le Quesnoy New Zealand Memorial
Louvre-Lens Museum
Wellington Quarry and the city of Arras
City of Amiens and its Cathedral
Caterpillar Valley Cemetery and Memorials of Longueval
Bay of the Somme
Medieval city of Laon
Dragon’s Cave, Chemin des Dames Museum
Reims and Epernay
La Pompelle Fortress
City of Troyes
Dormans Memorial
Meuse Argonne American Cemetery
Vauquois Hill
Verdun battlefield
The Pompidou Centre in Metz
Strabsourg the European Capital
Fontenelle Cemetery
The Hartmannswillerkopf
Colmar
Mulhouse
The Australian Memorial Park in Fromelles
2-3 DAYS:
FROM LILLE TO ARRAS
Le Quesnoy New Zealand Memorial
4-5 DAYS:
FROM LILLE TO LAON
Louvre-Lens Museum
Wellington Quarry and the city of Arras
City of Amiens and its Cathedral
Caterpillar Valley Cemetery and Memorials of Longueval
Bay of the Somme
Medieval city of Laon
Dragon’s Cave, Chemin des Dames Museum
Reims and Epernay
City of Lille
City of Lille
Le Quesnoy New Zealand Memorial
Le Quesnoy New Zealand Memorial
Louvre-Lens Museum
Louvre-Lens Museum
Wellington Quarry and the city of Arras
Wellington Quarry and the city of Arras
La Pompelle Fortress
City of Amiens and its Cathedral
Caterpillar Valley Cemetery and Memorials of Longueval
Along the way
Medieval city of Laon
Vimy Ridge Canadian National Memorial
Dragon’s Cave, Chemin des Dames Museum
Along the way
French National War Cemetery at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette
Vimy Ridge Canadian National Memorial
Thiepval Memorial
French National War Cemetery at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette
Longueval South African Memorial and Museum
Longueval South African Memorial and Museum
The Hortillonnages floating gardens in Amiens
Thiepval Memorial…
Beaumont-Hamel Memorial
Along the way
Visit of a Champagne House in Aisne
Vimy Ridge Canadian National Memorial
Lille
and the Champagne Ardenne region
French National War Cemetery at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette
City of Troyes…
Thiepval Memorial
The Australian Memorial Park in Fromelles
Beaumont-Hamel Memorial
The Hortillonnages floating gardens in Amiens
Around 13 airlines flying to Europe daily from New
Zealand: Air New Zealand, Air Tahiti Nui, Aircalin, Cathay
Pacific Airways, China Airlines, China Southern Airlines
Company Limited, Emirates, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines,
Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International, Air France in codeshare
Examples of connecting flights:
Air New Zealand + Air France: 2 x Daily AKL/CDG 26h00 /
27h35 + Codeshare Air New Zealand Singapore airline
/ Air Tahiti Nui: 2 x week AKL/CDG 28h10 / CDG/AKL 38h00 Via Los Angeles / Emirates: Daily AKL/CDG via Dubai (around
36h00) / Etihad: Daily AKL/CDG via Australia (around 32h00)
/ China Southern Airline: Daily AKL/CDG via London (around
30h00) / Cathay Pacific: Daily AKL/CDG (Around 30h00) /
Thai Airways: 2 x week AKL/CDG Via BKK
18
LILLE
PARIS
LENS
40 km
REIMS
50 min
ARRAS
53 km
LILLE
1h
PERONNE
92 km
AMIENS
1h10
AMIENS
145 km
METZ
1h30
LAON
160 km
LAON
1h40
REIMS
209 km
TROYES
330 km
VERDUN
325 km
METZ
396 km
STRASBOURG
553 km
COLMAR
625 km
MULHOUSE
672 km
STRASBOURG
2h20
1h50 (2016)
Champagne tasting in Reims
CONTACTS
ACCESS FRANCE FROM NEW ZEALAND
DISTANCES ON THE WESTERN FRONT
Bay of the Somme…
Along the way
Vimy Ridge Canadian National Memorial
French National War Cemetery at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette
Thiepval Memorial
Longueval South African Memorial and Museum
The Hortillonnages floating gardens in Amiens
Beaumont-Hamel Memorial
Visit of a Champagne House in Aisne
and Champagne-Ardenne regions
City of Troyes
Art Nouveau in Nancy
Dragées Braquier traditional sugar almonds factory in Verdun
Bar-le-Duc Renaissance heritage
The Alsace Wine Route...
Northern France +33(0)3 20 14 57 80 / [email protected] / www.remembrancetrails-northernfrance.com
Somme +33(0)3 22 71 22 73 / [email protected] / www.visit-somme.com and www.somme-battlefields.com
Aisne +33(0)3 23 27 76 76 / [email protected] / www.aisne14-18.com
Champagne Ardenne +33(0)3 26 21 85 80 / [email protected] / www.champagne-ardenne-tourism.co.uk
Meuse +33(0)3 29 45 78 40 / [email protected]
The Vosges Front +33(0)3 89 20 10 68 / [email protected] / +33 (0)3 29 82 83 12 / [email protected] /
www.front-vosges-14-18.eu
ATOUT FRANCE
19
LIVE A MOVING EXPERIENCE
YOUR
ON THE WESTERN FRONT
THE WELLINGTON QUARRY,
A MEMORIAL TO THE BATTLE
OF ARRAS
CONTACTS
SYLVESTRE BRESSON
BATTLEFIELD GUIDE FOR
«TERRES DE MÉMOIRE»
REMEMBRANCE TOURS
New-Zelanders soldiers © gallica.bnf.fr
NORTHERN
FRANCE
The Wellington Quarry team welcomes you to a unique loca-
Many New Zealanders visit the Somme battlefields to walk in the
tion, where New Zealand soldiers once bore testimony to their
footsteps of their ancestors who fought here.
young nation’s expertise. Here, they put down weapons to dig
and develop the Arras underground, working for six months to
One of the region’s emblematic sites is the Caterpillar Valley
create subterranean quarters. You will discover the colossal work
Memorial in Longueval, which commemorates the 1,200 New
that enabled the successful attack of the British forces on April 9,
Zealand soldiers whose graves are not known. In 2004, the body
1917, thus saving thousands of lives.
of an unknown soldier was exhumed from the cemetery adjoining
the Memorial and transferred to Wellington.
The Battle of Arras, the greatest “surprise” attack of the First
World War, was prepared underground.
In the nearby village of Flers stands the New Zealand Division
Memorial, in the exact spot from where the Division launched its
Thanks to guided and audio-guided visits, follow the work of
attack on the Germans on the morning of September 15, 1916.
these 480 New Zealand tunnellers who built an impressive 20-
Tourist Office Agencies / Regional or
Departmental Tourist Boards
Northern France Regional Tourist
Board
Somme Tourism
Aisne Tourism
+33 (0)3 22 71 22 73
[email protected]
www.visit-somme.com
Sales Contact: Richard Gambier
+33 (0)3 23 27 76 76
[email protected]
www.aisne14-18.com
+33 (0)3 20 14 57 57
www.remembrancetrailsnorthernfrance.fr
South of Aisne Tourist Offices
Specialized Guides and DMCs
Arras Tourist Board
Sylvestre Bresson
+33 (0)3 21 51 26 05
[email protected]
www.explorearras.com
+33 (0)3 22 84 23 05
[email protected]
French / English
Specialized Guides and DMCs
Lille Tourist Board
Vic and Diane Piuk
Olivier Dirson
+33 (0)6 71 78 40 74
[email protected]
English
Upper Somme Tourist Office
+33 (0)3 23 67 77 64
+33 (0)6 31 31 85 02
[email protected]
French / English
help of British tanks, which were used for the first time during
electricity to create a veritable city under the streets of Arras.
this operation. Amongst the men was Sergeant Donald Forres-
+33 (0)3 59 57 94 00
[email protected]
en.lilletourism.com
More than 24,000 Allied soldiers organized their lives here before
ter Brown, who was mortally wounded close by two weeks later,
Trott’in Nord
surging out in the early hours of April 9, 1917.
yet rewarded with the Victoria Cross for his bravery and compo-
+33 (0)6 82 87 78 89
[email protected]
www.trottinnord.com
lost their lives in the Somme, including members of the Maori
quarries after New Zealand cities. One of these was called
contingent.
2008. Step into one of the most secret places of his-
Today, these memorial sites exude a very special atmosphere.
tory to discover the determinant role the New Zealand
As many of our visitors observe, the beauty and serenity of these
tunnelling company played during the First World War.
memorials is of great contrast to the horrible battles that took
place here 100 years ago...
www.explorearras.com
www.terresdememoire.com
Find more guides of the Somme Battlefields’
Partner network on www.somme-battlefields.com
+33 (0)3 23 83 14 74
[email protected]
www.chateau-thierry-tourisme.com
Specialized Guides and DMCs
to interconnect the old mining quarries, bringing in water and
Wellington and has been open to the public since March
20
Tourist Office Agencies / Regional or
Departmental Tourist Boards
The “Kiwis” successfully captured the enemy’s front line with the
To help soldiers with orientation, the tunnellers named the
AISNE
Tourist Office Agencies / Regional or
Departmental Tourist Boards
kilometer long underground network. They dug through chalk
sure during the raging battle. More than 2,000 New Zealanders
SOMME
+33 (0)3 22 84 42 38
[email protected]
www.hautesomme-tourisme.com
Poppy Country Tourist Office
+33 (0)3 22 75 16 42
[email protected]
www.somme-poppy-albert.com
Murielle Castier
+33 (0)6 67 75 47 11
[email protected]
French / English
Aisne Tourism
+33 (0)3 23 27 76 80
[email protected]
www.aisne14-18.com
Pays de Laon Tourist Office
Find more guides on
www.sommes-battlefields.com
+33 (0)3 23 20 28 62
[email protected]
www.tourisme-paysdelaon.com
ATOUT FRANCE
21
CHAMPAGNE
ARDENNE
THE VOSGES
FRONT
MEUSE
Tourist Office Agencies / Regional or
Departmental Tourist Boards
Tourist Office Agencies / Regional or
Departmental Tourist Boards
Tourist Office Agencies / Regional or
Departmental Tourist Boards
Reims Agglomeration Tourist Office
Meuse Tourism
Haute-Alsace Tourism
+33 (0)3 26 77 45 23
www.reims-tourisme.com
Sales Contact:
Nathalie Mortier
[email protected]
+33 (0)3 29 45 78 40
[email protected]
www.meusetourism.com
Sales Contact:
[email protected]
+33 (0)3 89 20 10 50
[email protected]
www.haute-alsacetourisme.com
Sales Contact: Cathy Heller
Greater Verdun Tourist Office
Specialized Guides and DMCs
+33 (0)3 29 86 14 18
[email protected]
www.verdun-tourisme.com
Patrick Gielen (CATGAP)
Lorraine Tourist Board
+33 (0)6 89 97 55 93
[email protected]
French/ English / Dutch / German
+33 (0)3 83 80 01 80
Sales Contact:
[email protected]
www.tourisme-lorraine.fr/en/home
Incoming agency for WW1 tours:
Tourist Office of Reims
Sales Contact:
Nathalie Mortier
[email protected]
Vosges Departmental Tourism
Committee
+33 (0)3 29 82 83 12
[email protected]
www.tourisme.vosges.fr
Sales Contact: Maryse Côme
Specialized Guides and DMCs
Professional tour guides
of the Alsace region
www.guides-alsace.fr/en
Specialized Guides and DMCs
Florence Lamousse
+33 (0)3 29 85 21 83
florence.lamousse
@lorrainetouristique.com
French / English / Spanish
Guillaume Moizan
+33 (0)7 70 06 66 61
[email protected]
French / English / Spanish
NZ WHOLESALE AND TOUR COMPANIES
OFFERING FRANCE
Destination Haute-Alsace
+33 (0)3 89 30 35 30
[email protected]
www.destination-haute-alsace.com
Sales Contact: Virginie Meyer
Senones Tourist Office
+33 (0)3 29 57 91 03
[email protected]
www.paysdesabbayes.com
Sales Contact and guides:
Stéphanie Masset
Raon l’Etape Tourist Office
+33 (0)3.29.41.28.65
[email protected] - www.ot-raon.fr
Sales Contact and guides:
Adeline Hairaye
(POSSIBLE WW1 BATTLEFIELD INCLUSIONS TO FRANCE)
22
Global Journeys
www.globaljourneys.co.nz/france
Albatross Tours
www.albatrosstours.co.nz
Euro Villas & Tours
www.eurovillas.co.nz
Petits Tours
www.petitstoursenfrance.co.nz
HCB Travel
www.hcbtravel.co.nz/specialinterest-tours
VIP Tours
www.viptours.co.nz
Allan Orton Int Tours
www.allanorton.co.nz
Calder & Lawson
www.calderandlawsontours.co.nz
EuroVista Tours
www.eurovista.travel/
www.kiwistylebiketours.co.nz
Innovative Travel
Kiwi Style Bike Tours
www.innovativetravel.co.nz
United Travel
www.unitedtravel.co.nz/tourdestination/121/france
House of Travel
www.houseoftravel.co.nz
Battlefield Tours NZ
www.battlefieldtours.co.nz
Explore Worldwide
www.exploreworldwide.co.nz/cyclingtours/europe/france
The Tour Company
www.thetourcompany.co.nz
Rugby World Cup Tours
STA Travel
www.statravel.co.nz/europe-tours
www.rugbyworldcup.com/trophy-tour
www.weloverugby.com/rugby-worldcup-2015/
www.allblackstours.com/rugby-worldcup-2015/
Opera Tours
www.operatours.co.nz
Adventure World
www.adventourworld.co.nz/france
Kiwi Bike Tours
www.kiwibiketourfrance.co.nz
Intrepid Travel
www.intrepidtravel.com/nz/france
Trilogy Travel
www.trilogytravel.co.nz/catholic-tours
Cosmos Tours
www.cosmostours.co.nz/france
NZ France
www.nz-franceff.com
Globus Tours
www.globustours.co.nz/france
Off the Rails
www.offtherails.co.nz
Flight Centre
www.flightcentre.co.nz/holidays/europe
Bespoke France
www.bespokefrance.co.nz
Travel Managers
www.travelmanagers.co.nz
NZ Travel Brokers
www.nztravelbrokers.co.nz
Mondo Travel
www.mondotravel.co.nz
Orbit Travel Groups &
Events
www.orbit.co.nz
ATOUT FRANCE
23
AU.RDVEF.COM/GREATWARCENT
WWW.CENTENAIRE.ORG
24