Battlefields in France

From pitched medieval encounters to the twentieth century’s two World Wars, for over 600 years the countryside in France has borne witness to great battles that have claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of men. Many of these fields of battle have remained undisturbed and have become open-air museums with hundreds of memorials, war grave cemeteries, museums and trenches.

Many of France’s battlefields are found in the north of country, and along its border with Belgium, so the best way to reach them is on one of our car ferries to Dunkirk, Calais or Dieppe, or by sailing from Newcastle to IJmuiden and driving from there. Taking your car will also make travelling around a lot easier, as getting to some of the more rural spots can be tricky if you plan on using public transport.

The Battle of the Somme, one of the largest battles of WW1 on the Western Front, occurred between 1 July and 18 November 1916 on both sides of the River Somme. This battle, involving the armies of the British and French empires against the German empire, resulted in more than one million men wounded or killed, making it one of the bloodiest battles in human history.

Visiting WW1 battlefields in France, particularly the Somme, requires time due to its vastness and the numerous cemeteries, museums, and memorials in the area. Key sites include the battlefield at Gommecourt, Sheffield Memorial Park, and the Sunken Lane at Beaumont Hamel, where the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers advanced. Other highlights include Hawthorn Ridge Cemetery and the battlefield at Thiepval.

Dunkirk, located on the coast of northern France and just six miles from the Belgian border, was a critical location during WW2. Here, the German Army trapped British and French soldiers on the beaches. In response, the British Army launched Operation Dynamo, successfully evacuating 330,000 allied troops from May 26, 1940.

Your trip to the Dunkirk battlefield should start at Bray Dunes, where you can still see the shipwrecks from Operation Dynamo. Visit the Dunkirk Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, resting place for many who fell in the battle, and explore the Dunkirk museum, home to fascinating artifacts, photos, and maps. Finally, don't miss Cassel, a small hilltop town offering panoramic views of the Dunkirk beaches.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge and the Battle of Arras are two significant WW1 battles that took place in France. The Battle of Vimy Ridge, fought in April 1917, is often cited as a defining moment for Canada, as all four divisions of the Canadian Corps fought together for the first time and successfully captured the ridge from the German army.

The Battle of Arras, fought in April and May of the same year, was a British offensive that resulted in some of the highest casualties of the war. Today, the Vimy Ridge National Historic Site of Canada and the Arras Memorial serve as lasting reminders of these battles, honouring the memory of the soldiers who fought and died there.

The Dieppe War Memorial and Canadian War Cemetery honour and mark the sacrifices made during the tragic Dieppe Raid of World War II. This disastrous Allied offensive on the German-occupied port of Dieppe, located in Normandy, resulted in significant losses, marking a sombre chapter in Canadian military history.

The memorial at Square du Canada and the nearby cemetery bear testament to the bravery of those involved, holding plaques and graves of the fallen. These sites, easily reached via our Newhaven-Dieppe ferry route, offer visitors a chance to reflect on history while enjoying the peaceful landscapes that have since arisen from the wartime turmoil.