The First World War is undoubtedly one of the most significant events in human history, and its impact is still felt in Europe to this day. Although the First World War was fought across Europe, and as far-flung as Turkey, the Western Front in France saw most of the action, including such famous battles as The Somme and more.
Even now, more than 100 years later, you can still visit the sites of these earth-shattering battles and conflicts, as well as the cemeteries and memorials which have since been built to commemorate the casualties of war.
Just a short drive from Dieppe lies the city of Amiens, capital of the Picardy region. From here you can find easy access to major sites from the First World War, including the Somme battlefield, the Lochnagar Crater and more. Amiens was also the site of the famous Battle of Amiens (also known as the 3rd battle of Picardy), which was the beginning of the allied fightback which ultimately lead to the end of the war.
Arras is another area on the Western Front that bore witness to the horrors of the First World War, and is now a popular area with history fans and tourists who are interested in the conflict. Located just an hour away from Calais, Arras is easily accessible from the UK by car. The city is home to a number of cemeteries, including a British, Canadian, German and French memorial cemetery, as well as the military museums at La Targette and Bullecourt and the Wellington Quarry, which was used as a strategic point in both World Wars.
The Western Front also extends into French Flanders and Belgium, with famous cemeteries such as Tyne Cot, near the city of Ypres, where lots of fighting took place, and also museums such as the Museum of Passchendaele which provides a comprehensive account of the 1917 Battle of Passchendaele.
History buffs will love the possibilities for trips around the cities of the Western Front, and visiting the battlefields, cemeteries and museums is a fantastic way for children and adults to learn the stories behind the war, in an interactive and interesting way.
Comments are closed
