Peace, war and vacation on the Somme battlefields
April 21, 2010 // 0 CommentsThe Somme battlefields, once a dangerous war front, now a top destination for World War One tours.
The Somme is a historic department located in the north of France in the region of Picardie and is well known for its World War One battlefields. The Battle of Somme in 1916 rendered enormous losses to both sides of the conflict. Today the Somme has many touristic activities focused on the history of the Great War. For those who are passionate about history, the WWI battlefields, military cemeteries, museums, and even traveling along the 4O mile itinerary from Albert to Péronne, along what is called The Circuit of Remembrance, can be the substance of a stimulating holiday. Bed and breakfasts known as Gites, as well as holiday rentals, hotels, and camp sites are available to cater to everyone’s style and budget. Group packages with custom itineraries can be purchased. A personalized vacation is simple to plan thanks to the abundance of information on the web site www.somme-battlefields.com.
The Battle of Somme, a turning point in history.
Prepare yourself with a quick refresher on the events between 1914 and 1918 that made the Somme an important WWI battlefield. Download an mp3 file about the Circuit of Remembrance. Zoom in and out on the historic villages of the Somme while planning a World War One tour using Google maps. Find an English speaking guide that is dedicated to making your trip memorable. All of this is possible on the web site www.somme-battlefields.com. You can even get a local weather forecast to help you determine the best days for museums and open air activities.
The Museum of the Great War in the Château de Péronne is a must. Incorporated in the war-scarred fortifications, the museum offers a wide variety of objects associated with the war and civilian life of the soldiers from the main combat nations. The Somme 1916 Museum in Albert is located in what was the crypt beneath the basilica. Scenes portraying trench warfare as well as weaponry are presented.
There are 410 military cemeteries in the Somme with graves of commonwealth soldiers. They are all accessible and indicated from the nearest road by a dark green sign. The sober atmosphere of the war graves contrasts the fierce combat that reigned on the Somme battlefields during WWI.
Visit the Somme battlefields at your own leisure.
The battlefields and memorials can be visited by cart, bicycle, taxi, foot, rail, and plane. For €40 and hour a group of 5 can get off the beaten path with Bernard Defrain and his draught horse Pensée and visit the Australian Battlefields in Le Hamel. Taxi service is widely available along The Circuit of Remembrance with several companies offering itineraries at fixed prices between €62 and €219 for up to seven people. Bicycles are available for hire in certain hotels and tourist offices. In Kortrijk, guided bicycle tours are proposed in English, French, and Dutch. By foot, with a guide or a guide book, meandering through the Somme battlefields and visiting the war memorials of the western front, an appreciation for the beautiful landscapes accompanies that of the violent Battle of Somme. In Froissy the P’tit Train rides along the line that would bring supplies to this WWI front – perfect for sitting back and relaxing during your World War One tour. Taking off from the Aerodrome in Albert, the choice of three different itineraries is presented to the tourist who is looking to admire the WWI battlefields, military cemeteries, and war memorials from a different perspective.
Remembering the 25 nations that fought on the Somme battlefields during WWI.
World War One tours in the Somme or elsewhere in France are a reminder of the Great Alliance and the nations that is was composed of. British sites in the Somme such as the Lochnagar Crater , the Franco-British Memorial, the Welsh Division Memorial in Mametz, and the Ulster Tower are a testament to this neighbouring country’s bravery during WWI. The monuments in Cantigny are reminders of the first major battle for the Americans on the Somme battlefields and WWI. Of course, not all of the combatants were part of the Great Alliance. The German cemetery of Fricourts houses the fallen from the German Imperial 2nd Army.
The Somme battlefields today are a combination of peace and war. Their contrasts are reminders of a past that comes to life during World War One tours of this region.
Services
Somme BattlefieldsTel : +33 (0)3 22 71 22 71
Email : contact form
Web : http://www.somme-battlefields.com
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