The Somme -

Historial de la Grande Guerre: IN 1916, ONE OF THE MOST TERRIBLE BATTLES OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR TOOK PLACE IN THE SOMME. IT WAS UNDOUBTEDLY THE CONFLICT IN WHICH THE LARGEST NUMBER OF ARMIES OF DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES PARTICIPATED. THE HISTORIAL GIVES AN INSIGHT INTO THE VASTNESS OF THIS WAR, ITS EFFECT ON THE WORLD AND ITS POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DIMENSIONS. THIS TRILINGUAL MUSEUM COMPARES THE EXPERIENCES OF THE MAJOR PARTICIPANTS IN THE WAR. IT ALSO PORTRAYS LIFE AT THE FRONT, BEHIND THE LINES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CIVILIAN POPULATION DURING THE WAR.

Delville Wood and the South African Memorial and Museum at Longueval: THE CAPTURE OF DELVILLE WOOD, ESSENTIAL TO ANY FURTHER ADVANCE EASTWARDS, WAS ASSIGNED TO THE SOUTH AFRICANS. THEIR EXPERIENCE WAS AN UNIMAGINABLE NIGHTMARE; ONLY 143 MEN FROM THE 3,200 WHO LAUNCHED THE ATTACK CAME OUT OF THE WOOD UNSCATHED. THE MEMORIAL IS SET IN A PARK OF OAK TREES GROWN FROM ACORNS FROM SOUTH AFRICA. LONGUEVAL IS ALSO A PLACE OF REMEMBRANCE FOR NEW ZEALANDERS.

Thiepval, the British Memorial to the Missing: IN 1932 THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO BUILD THE GREAT SOMME MEMORIAL. THIS IMPOSING MONUMENT, 45 METRES HIGH AND VISIBLE FOR MANY MILES AROUND, COMMEMORATES MORE THAN 73,367 BRITISH AND SOUTH AFRICAN MEN WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE. A VISITORS CENTRE, OPENED IN SEPTEMBER 2004, OFFERS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SERVICES AND INCLUDES A LARGE EXHIBITION AREA PROVIDING VISITORS WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE HISTORY OF THIEPVAL DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR.

Ulster Tower:THE ULSTER TOWER IS A MEMORIAL TO THE MEN OF THE 36TH ULSTER DIVISION. IT MARKS THE SITE AGAINST WHICH
THE MEN OF ULSTER ADVANCED ON 1ST JULY 1916

Newfoundland Park: THE NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL OF NEWFOUNDLAND WAS BUILT HERE IN MEMORY OF THEIR VOLUNTEER ARMY. FROM A VANTAGE POINT ON TOP OF THE CARIBOU MOUND, THE ENTIRE BATTLEFIELD IS VISIBLE AND THE TRENCH SYSTEM CAN BE UNDERSTOOD. THERE IS AN EXCELLENT INFORMATION CENTRE IN THE PARK WHICH EXPLAINS THE BATTLE OF BEAUMONT-HAMEL.

Lochnagar Crater at La Boisselle: THIS IMMENSE CRATER, MEASURING 100 METRES ACROSS AND 30 METRES DEEP, IS THE REMAINS OF A SERIES OF EXPLOSIONS THAT OCCURRED ON 1 JULY 1916.

Accrington Pals Memorial, Serre: THIS MEMORIAL WAS ERECTED IN 1980 IN THE SHEFFIELD MEMORIAL PARK, JUST BEHIND ONE OF THE TRENCHES FROM WHERE THE ACCRINGTON PALS ADVANCED ON 1ST JULY 1916. IT IS MADE FROM ACCRINGTON BRICK AND THE RUINED WALL SYMBOLISES THE RUINED
VILLAGE OF SERRE.

Albert: WELL-KNOWN IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY AS AN INDUSTRIAL CENTRE WITH A RICH HISTORIAL PAST. ALBERT HAD 7,343 INHABITANTS IN 1914. THE TOWN WAS SUBJECTED TO CEASELESS BOMBARDMENT AND BY JANUARY 1919, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF INHABITANTS WAS 120. IN THE FORMER SHELTERS BENEATH THE CENTRE OF ALBERT THE “SOMME 1916” MUSEUM PRESENTS REALISTIC SCENES FROM THE TRENCH WARFARE OF 1916. THE DAMAGED TOWER OF ALBERT’S ROMANESQUE BASILICA,
“THE LEANING VIRGIN”, WAS A FAMOUS SITE ON THIS PART OF THE FRONT AND THE SUBJECT OF MANY LEGENDS.

Vimy Ridge: ALTHOUGH NOT PART OF THE SOMME PROPER, THE VICTORY AT VIMY RIDGE WAS A TURNING POINT FOR THE ALLIED FORCES. THE VIMY MEMORIAL IS A MONUMENT TO ALL CANADIANS WHO DIED OR RISKED THEIR LIVES FOR FREEDOM AND PEACE IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR. IN THE PARK ITSELF, TRENCHES AND SUBWAYS HAVE BEEN RESTORED AND PRESERVED AND THE VISITOR CAN PICTURE THE MAGNITUDE OF THE TASK THAT FACED THE CANADIAN CORPS.

NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR TOUR PRICE: ADMISSION CHARGES WHERE APPLICABLE. THE SERVICES OF A BATTLEFIELDS TOUR GUIDE IF REQUIRED.