WW1 Battle fields

buraburas
buraburas Forum Participant Posts: 77
edited December 2017 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

Hi we are looking to go to France next year June/July and would like to visit some ww1 battle fields and memorials can anyone recommend a couple of sites that would be good for a base to see the area thanks

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  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2017 #2

    Campsites at Ypres, Albert, Arras and Cambrai will cover the sector where British troops were involved, and if you go further south to Verdun you can see the horrific ossuary where skeletons of French and German soldiers lie, and the impressive American cemetery nearby. Britain was not alone in that war. 

  • buraburas
    buraburas Forum Participant Posts: 77
    edited December 2017 #3

    Thanks Eurotraveller will look at them we have three weeks so will hope to go down as far as Verdun and pay our respects to the fallen 

  • Longtimecaravanner
    Longtimecaravanner Forum Participant Posts: 642
    edited December 2017 #4

    We went in 2016 and loved it. There is lots of information about what we saw in my blog and I thoroughly recommend where we stayed.

    https://jennyandjohngocaravanning.wordpress.com/2016/10/07/somme/

  • Pliers
    Pliers Forum Participant Posts: 1,864
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2017 #5

    We stayed at the municipal at Albert when we visited the Somme sites.

    It's a good campsite, with plenty of spacious hard standing pitches, and is good value. The memorial to the missing, at Thiepval is a good place to start for the Somme, very poignant.

    Take a good supply of tissues.

  • buraburas
    buraburas Forum Participant Posts: 77
    edited December 2017 #6

    thank you all for the help will keep you updated on sites that we visit smile

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,389 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2017 #7

    Start your tour at Peronne to visit the fascinating WW1 museum which has been set up there. We were lucky and managed to park the motorhome right outside the museum where we spent the morning getting a feel of not only the background to the war but also those involved and its great battles. The museum is excellently laid out.

    peedee

     

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2017 #8

    One of the places we stayed was also the municipal at Albert, it is a well kept site. Be sure to include in your visit the nearby Lochnager crater, the largest man made crater blown on the Somme.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2017 #9

    Just as an aside we parked our car and caravan in the car park at Thiepval during our 4 hour visit.  We stopped on the way to the ferry port

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2017 #10

    I would second the recommendation for the Historial at Peronne.

  • Grant705
    Grant705 Forum Participant Posts: 164
    edited December 2017 #11

     This is an example of what makes CT so good. I had never heard of the Lochnager crater but googled it and what an amazing story, It is now on my list as a must see. 

  • DougS
    DougS Forum Participant Posts: 327
    edited December 2017 #12

    The site at Ypres is 10 min walk from the Menin Gate (Last Post every night very moving)

    We had 1/2 day minibus  tour with http://www.salienttours.be/ with an excellent guide which was also worthwhile (there are other companies) Tyne Cot cemetery was memorable.

  • buraburas
    buraburas Forum Participant Posts: 77
    edited December 2017 #13

    thanks peedee just got confermation for 5 nights at the site in Ypres camping Jeugdstsdion it looks nice and not to far to walk to town and looking at Au Bord de l' Aisne its a bit further down near Reims looking forward to the trip next year its good that you and many others are her to help with your experince smile

  • buraburas
    buraburas Forum Participant Posts: 77
    edited December 2017 #14

    thanks Dougs got that site booked how did you like the site from the reviews it is a good choice smile

  • buraburas
    buraburas Forum Participant Posts: 77
    edited December 2017 #15

    i looked at the photos it looks huge it must have been hell when that went off

  • DougS
    DougS Forum Participant Posts: 327
    edited December 2017 #16

    For us, it was the only choice as it is within walking distance of Ypres. It is a well organised clean site with all access roads block paved and pitches level with grids. Automatic sign in with your booking reference although reception available at times.

    We are sure you will enjoy your stay although the word *harrowing* comes to mind regarding the battlefields, necessary....Lest we forget.

  • buraburas
    buraburas Forum Participant Posts: 77
    edited December 2017 #17

    thank you dougs been meaning to do this for a long time my grandad fought through the war coming from india in 1914 kited out in tropical uniforms with the argylls i still remember the storys he would tell us about the war the one that sticks in my mind was his kilt in the winter would freeze and cut the back of his legs and in 1917 was sent to russia to fight after the revolution just happy he survived and lived till well into his 90's there were a different breed 

  • DougS
    DougS Forum Participant Posts: 327
    edited December 2017 #18

    With your family connections I think you will find the visit very poignant whilst, with the rebuilding and current conditions enjoyable.

    Those involved in all conflicts, even if they survived, gave up part of their lives which has benefited us.

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