Vimy Ridge Canadian National Memorial Park – A Battlefield preserved in its war state
The Vimy Ridge Canadian National Memorial Park covers 107 hectares and preserves part of the battlefield in its wartime state.
Hundreds of trenches and shell craters are still visible. Although the surface debris has been cleared, munitions are still buried in the ground.
Trees have been planted to limit natural erosion, and sheep grazing helps to control vegetation, with public access restricted for safety reasons. So do not be surprised or upset if you see sheep: their presence is justified.
Over time, vegetation has softened the contours of the craters and trenches, but the devastation remains perceptible.
One can easily imagine the lunar landscape that the battlefield was a century ago and remember all the men who fought and died there. Many of them still lie buried in the memorial park.
Vimy Ridge Canadian National Memorial Park Interpretive Centre
The tour of Vimy Ridge begins at the Canadian National Memorial Monument.
Following the road through the site, you will reach the Vimy Ridge Canadian Memorial Interpretive Centre, which opened on November 9, 1997.
Operated by Veterans Affairs Canada, the centre features a variety of documents, photographs, and multimedia displays related to the Battle of Vimy Ridge, offering a vivid glimpse into the living conditions, or rather, the struggle for survival, in the trenches.
The Interpretation Centre is located near the Allied and German trenches. The Allies dug kilometres of tunnels to approach the German lines more safely.
Although several of these tunnels were destroyed for safety reasons, the Grange Tunnel was preserved. This tunnel has been restored, consolidated and equipped with concrete sandbags; it is open to the public.
You can let your imagination run wild to picture the difficult, muddy conditions of a World War I trench, while appreciating the depth and protective role of these fortifications.
The original sniper positions have been preserved, and it is quite surprising how close the Germans were positioned to the Allied lines, just a few metres away, along the edge of the forest.
Canadian students offer guided tours of the tunnel, enriching the visit with a detailed historical context. A large car park is available, and entry is free.
Givenchy Road Canadian Cemetery – Vimy Ridge Canadian National Memorial Park
On your way to the Vimy Ridge Interpretive Centre, you will pass the Givenchy Road Canadian Cemetery.
This small military cemetery, initially registered under the code CD1, is remarkable for its location: it was laid out in a vast crater, and then surrounded by a circular wall.
Most of the soldiers buried there are Canadians, killed during the offensive of April 9, 1917 or who died from their wounds in the following days.
This cemetery bears witness to the heavy price paid during the battle and the sacrifices made by these brave men.
CWGC Canadian Cemetery No.2 – Vimy Ridge Canadian National Memorial Park
The CWGC Canadian Cemetery No. 2 is next to the Givenchy Road Canadian Cemetery.
Originally known as CD5, this cemetery was initially a battlefield burial site for soldiers who fell during the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Over the years, it has been enlarged to regroup the many scattered graves in the surrounding area.
Covering an area of 10,869 square metres, it now houses the graves of 2,965 Commonwealth soldiers.
Despite its name, it actually contains more graves of British soldiers than Canadian soldiers, many of whom tragically remain unidentified.
Among the gravestones, twenty-nine commemorate Canadian soldiers originally buried in the 11th Infantry Brigade Cemetery and near Gunner Crater.
Vimy Ridge Canadian National Memorial Park – A site of Remembrance
The roads and paths that crisscross the Vimy Ridge Canadian National Memorial Park are open to the public.
You will therefore encounter joggers and walkers there.
To fully grasp the site’s importance, it is strongly advised to learn about the Battle of Vimy Ridge beforehand.
This historical knowledge will allow you to understand the events that took place there and enrich your visit to the park.
Department of Pas-de-Calais – Hauts de France region
Vimy Ridge Canadian National Memorial Park Interpretive Center: Lat 50.372039 – Long 2.769917
CWGC Canadian Cemetery No2: Lat 50.377619 – Long 2.763271
CWGC Givenchy Road Canadian Cemetery: Lat 50.375929 – Long 2.764644
