Just north of Arras near the small town of Lens are two famous First World War sites and memorials:
The Vimy Memorial
Site of the memorial and the preserved trenches and the nearby Canadian Cemetery. Located about 10km north of Arras, 15km south of Lens, 135km southeast of Calais and 175km north of Paris.
The Vimy Memorial website.
Map of the site location.
Wikipedia page.
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Vimy Memorial and Preserved Trenches map
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The Canadian Cemetery No.2 is located in Neuville-St.Vaast, about 1.5km west of the Vimy Memorial.
Map
Map of the Vimy and Hill 70 Memorials around Lens, France.
Map of the Vimy Memorial and Canadian Cemetery No.2.
Getting there:
From Paris: Take train (
SNCF) from Gare du Nord, Paris to Lens (approx. 1hr, 15min.).
From Arras (approx 15min.): N17 towards Lens/Thélus/Vimy/Liéven and drive for approximately 10 km.
From Calais (approx. 1.5hrs): A26 motorway for approx. 130km, take exit 7 for Arras Center/Vimy and follow signs to join the N17 towards Lens/Thélus/Vimy/Liéven.
Full contact information:
Canadian National Vimy Memorial
Route D55
Chemin des Canadiens
62580 Givenchy-en-Gohelle
France
Tel (from Canada): 011 33 3 21 50 68 68
Tel (from Europe): +33 (0) 3 21 50 68 68
Email vac.vimy.acc@canada.ca
GPS Coordinates:
N50.379444, E2.773611
Hill 70 Memorial
Site of the Hill 70 memorial and the Loos Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery. Located about 5km north-west of Lens, France near the village of Loos-en-Gohelle.
Hill 70 Memorial website.
Map of the site location.
Wikipedia page.
