I need some help in planning a 1 week tour of some of the Canadian WWI memorials between Ypres, Vimy, Somme.
We will be taking the Channel coming from London to Calais and want to see some of those areas, then 2 days in Paris and possibly 1 night in Versailles as well before heading to the Loire Valley for a week's stay at friend's place. Suggestions of where to stay once we get to Calais and that area up there.
Posted by
Green Bay
21160 posts
Can you elaborate on your arrival. Train, ferry with car, ferry and rent car on arrival?
Posted by
Vancouver, BC
135 posts
We are planning on touring the WW I several of the sites you mention in September. We are staying in Lille and then heading out on day trips. We are arriving in Lille via train and hope to use local transit. I am not very far in my planning but do know that we can take a train from Lille to Arras and then a taxi to Vimy. If need be we will rent a car but I'm assuming you will arrive via car. We chose Lille because of the arts and cultural attractions in the city and we are more drawn to urban locations.
Posted by
San Francisco
14980 posts
If you plan to get to Vimy from Arras, the rental car company is to the left of the Arras train station as you exit the station. From Arras to Vimy you go through Neuville St Vaast first.
Posted by
white plains, ny, usa
4162 posts
I spent ten days in this area in Autumn 2015 , and for me a car was invaluable . Around places like Ypres and Amiens , there are multiple sites , and a car made short work of going between them . Two of the many places stand out - The Thiepval Memorial and Tyne Cot Cemetery were particularly memorable . As we drove back to Paris , a visit to Compiegne was also worthwhile . While exploring Flanders we stayed in a Mercure Hotel , to the north of Lille https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hotel+Mercure+Lille+Metropole/@50.6790166,3.1083712,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m7!3m6!1s0x47c329822dbec5ef:0xee15d195dd149eb3!5m1!1s2018-05-27!8m2!3d50.6790166!4d3.1099188 and one right next to Amiens Cathedral ,while in The Somme
Posted by
Atlanta
80 posts
Are you looking for recommendations on what to see or where to stay?
Posted by
San Francisco
14980 posts
"...the car was invaluable." How very true here in tracking down the sites and saving time, most of which I've seen which Steven lists. The town of Neuville St Vaast between Arras and Vimy is particularily poignant and grim.