Centre Travel

This gigantic bunker was built by the Germans in 1943 to launch V2 rockets.  The site is still in ist original state. Recorded commentaries tell you all  need to know about the VI and V2 rockets. The site was awarded the title of Historical monument in 1985 and today carries a message of peace. Blockhaus d'Eperilecques Rue du Sart, Eperiecques T:   00 33 (0)3 21 88 44 22 E:     blockhaus@leblockhaus.com W:    www.leblockhaus.com  

The Coupole, an impressive underground V2 rocket base built in 1943, is oday the home of the History and Remembtance Centre for the Nord-Pas deCalais.  Visitors can discover there some of the lesser-known aspects of the Second World war, the occupation of France 7 between 1940 and 1944 and the conquest of space. Helfaut (near St Omer). La Coupole Rue du Mont-a'-Car T:   00 33 (0)3 21 12 272 E:     lacoupole@lacoupole.com W:   www.lacoupole-france.com

Considered as the largest cemetery of the Commonwealth forces in France, it was designed by Sir Edwyn Lutyens on the asite of a WWI military camp .  about 11,000 soldiers were buried here alongside 655 Germans . King George V and Marshal Douglas Haig laid the cemetery in 1922. Etalpes Military Cemetery RD 940, Etaples Etaples Tourist office T:   00 33 (0)3 21 09 56 94 E:   contact@etaples-tourisme.com W:  www.etaples-tourisme.com

Leveau Fort is one of the elements of the Maubeuge fortification ring which survived to the German Army during the invasion  in 1914. The museum recounts the defense of the fort during the longest siege of WW1 Fort de Leveau Feignies T:   00 33 (0)3 27 62 37 07 E:     fortdeleveau@wanadoo.fr W:    http://fortdeleveau.site.voila.fr/  

These two sights highlight the tribute payed during WW1.  On the morning of July 19th, 1916 in Fromelles, the first major intervention in France of the Australian Forces occured. Tourist Office of Weppes Rue Delval Fromelles T:   00 33 (0)3 20 50 63 85 E:   paysdeweppes@free.fr W:  http://paysdeweppes.free.fr/

A special exhibition of events of May/June 1940 telling the story of the battle of Dunkirk and Operation Dynamo, in which Dunkirk and its harbour were completely destroyed. Exhibits include an extensive collection of weaponry and uniforms and an extensive collection of archive documents. Courtine du Bastion 32 Rue des Chantiers de France Dunkerque T:   00 33(0)3 28 66 79 21 E:   dayanlucien@wanadoo.fr W:  www.ot-dunkerque.fr

The largest necropolis in France More than 20,000 French soldiers are buried in the national Military Cemetery, while eight ossuaries hold the bones of nearly 23,000 unknown soldiers. It is possible to visit the trenches in that area. The Museum situated on the hill has over 2,000 exhibits. Colline Notre-Dame de Lorette Ablain ST-Nazaire T:   00 33 (0)3 21 45 15 80 Tourist Office of Lens-Lievin T:   00 33 (0)3 2167 66 66 E:   info@tourisme-lens-lievin.fr W:  www.torrisme-lenslievin.fr

It commemorates more than 4,500 casualties of the BritishExpeditionary Force who died in the campaign of 1939-40 and who have no known grave. The cemetery contains 450 Commonwealth buriels of the First World war and 800 of the Second World War Dunkerque Tourist Office Route de Furnes-Dunkerque France T:   00 33 (0)3 28 66 79 21 E:   accueil.dunesdeflandre@ot-dunkerwque.fr W:  www.ot-dunkerque.fr

Charles de Gaulle, French Army General, figure of the Resistance and Statesman, was born in Lille on November 22nd, 1890.  In this bourgeois town -house you will discover the childhood and youth of the General. Maison Natale Charles de Gaulle 9, Rue  Princess Lille T:    00 33 (0)3 28 12 07 E:    maison-natale@charles-de-gaulle.org W:   www.maison-charles-de-gaulle.com

On November 4th, 1918, during the offensive which was to bring victory to the Allied Forces, one of the most famous voices of British Poetry died. Wilfred Owen, author of "Anthem for a doomed youth" now rests in Ors. Cambrai Tourist office Cambrai, France T:   00 33(0)3 27 78 36 15 E:   office.tourisme.cambrai@orange.fr W:  www.tourisme-cambresis.fr

It contains 2,845 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also 5 French, 170 German war graves and 14 Second World War burials, six of them being unidentified. Amongst the soldiers buried in Wimereux is Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John Mc Crea the author of" In Flanders Fields" (1915) on whose Memorial Seat you can read an extract from the most famous poem about World War 1. "We are the dead. Short days ago. We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow. loved and were loved and now we lie In Flanders Fields" Wimereux Communal Cemetery RD 242, Wimereux Tourist Office Wimereux T:   00 33 |(0)3 21 83 27 17 E:     tourisme@ville-wimereux.fr W:   www.winereux-tourisme.fr

When Napoleon decided to invade England he chose Boulogne as his strategic starting point. He set up camp with 180,000 soldiers between 1803 and 1805. On 16th August 1804, Napoleon awarded a soldier, the first ever Legion of Honour while at camp at Wimille, between Boulogne and Wiereux. After the ceremony, his soldiers erected a 50m monument to him.  Inside the column, magnificent view of the Boulogne region, including Cap. Blanc, Nez, the Port of Boulogne and Dover Castle.  Faced with defeat, Napoleon left Boulogne for victory at Austerlitz in 1805. Colonne de la Grande Armee' Avenue de la Colonne Wimille T:   00 33(0)3 21 80 43 69 BoulogneTourist Office T:   00 33(0)3 21 19 88 10 E:   info@tourisme-boulognesurmer.com W:  www.tourisme-boulognesurmer.com

The Indian corps of the British Army intervened in Belgian and French Flanders as soon as October 1914. It took part in Neuve-Chapelle battle from 10th to 12th March 1915.  The memorial pays tribute to the 4,700 Indians who died on the Western Front during WW1, regardless of origins, language or beliefs. Neuve-Chapelle Indian Memorial At the crossroads of RD 947 and RD 171 Bethune - Bruay Tourist Office T:   00 33 (0)3 21 57 47 Email:   maisontourisme-bethune@laposte.net Web:   www.tourisme-artoiscomm.fr

Beneath the streets of Arras lie impressive chalk quarries which were dug out starting from the Middle Ages. In 1914, Arras was destroyed and from November 1916, the Allies began preparing for a diversion operation before the Chemin des Dames assault.  The British had the brainwave of linking up these quarries so that on the 9th April 1917, 24,000 allied soldiers could emerge from this underground network and push back the German frontline.  Walk 40 metres down a gentle slope towards a half-buried building, and the "Wellington Quarry" appears.  You will discover the moving evidence of the presence of these men who were about to go into battle. The Wellington Quarry, Memorial of the Battle of Arras Rue Deletoile, Arras Tourist Office of Arras T:   00 33 (0)3 21 51 26 95 E:   arras.tourisme@ot-arras.fr W:  www.ot-arras.fr

The last sea fort between Cherbourg and the Belgian border and built by Vauban in 1690.  Re-armed and restored by Napoleon during the Boulogne emcampment and used by the Germans during WW1. Fort Vauban, Ambleteuse Rue du Fort Boulogne, France Tel:   00 33 (0)3 21 32 60 44 Email:   fortambleteuse@aliceadsl.fr Web:     realfrancerealclose.fr

On November 4th 1918, New Zealand soldiers freed the town of Le Quesnoy. The memorial, located inside the ramparts of Vauban Citadelle, celebrates the strong bonds which unite Le Quesnoy and the Quercitan region to New-Zealand. New Zealand Memorial - Le Qusenoy Quesnoy Tourist Office T:   00 33 (0)3 27 20 54 70 E:   otsi.lequesnoy@wanadoo.fr

Museum covering both World Wars with uniform, posters, canons and memorablia.. Le Musee' de la Targette 48 Route Nationale, Neuville-St- Vaast T:  00 33(0)3 21 59 17 76

This historical centre, a restored 1870's building is the result of over 30 year's research and now houses exhibits from WWI.  As well as the most comprehensive collection of horse-drawn military equipment in France, you'll find technology, uniforms and military artefacts from the early 1900's. Fort de seclin Route de Templemars, seclin T:   00 33 (0)3 20 87 214 18 Web:   www.fortseclin.com

This great monument of white stone, on which are inscribed 11,285 names of "missing" Canadian soliders, marks the site of the battle of Vimy ridge that Canadians were to remember with great pride after WWl. Many regard this as the birth of Canada as an independent Nation. The land for the battlefield park (250 acres) was "the free gift in perpetuity of the French nation to the people of Canada". The Vimy Canadian Memerioal is considered as Canada's most impressive tribute overseas to those Canadians who fought and gave their lives in the First World War. The interpretive Centre has an exhibition about Canada's involvement in WWl. Telephone: 00 33 (0)3 21 50 68 68 Vimy.Memerioal@vac.acc.gc.ca www.memorialvirtuel.gc.ca

This great monument of white stone, on which are inscribed 11,285 names of "missing" Canadian soliders, marks the site of the battle of Vimy ridge that Canadians were to remember with great pride after WWl. Many regard this as the birth of Canada as an independent Nation. The land for the battlefield park (250 acres) was "the free gift in perpetuity of the French nation to the people of Canada". The Vimy Canadian Memerioal is considered as Canada's most impressive tribute overseas to those Canadians who fought and gave their lives in the First World War. The interpretive Centre has an exhibition about Canada's involvement in WWl. Telephone: 00 33 (0)3 21 50 68 68 Vimy.Memerioal@vac.acc.gc.ca www.memorialvirtuel.gc.ca