WWI & WWII Sights in Northern France and Belgium

We visited the Normandy beaches in 2011 and Great War sites in Flanders and The Somme in 2015 . We did this with a car in both cases . Driving is easy in both these areas , and the flexibility and time savings by not having to rely on public transportation is immeasurable . The places to see in Flanders and The Somme are numerous , by car , you can stop at the drop of a hat , as one comes upon you unexpectedly . I know you are planning on public transportation , but consider - leave Paris by train to Caen and pick up the car there , The drive to Bayeux is easy , and it's only about five miles from Bayeux to the D514 coast road , with the American Cemetery , Pointe du Hoc , the German gun emplacements at Longues sur Mer , and many others neatly lined up , The museum at Arromanches ( development of Port Winston ) is very worthwhile . Driving from there across Northern France , a stop at Compiegne ( signing of the Armistice 1918 ) and drive to Amiens . Base there for a few days , and the car will easily get you to numerous sites in the area including the massive Thiepval memorial . from there , crossing into Flanders , the area around Ypres is easily accessible . When done in Flanders , drop the car in Lille ( Gare de Lille - Europe ) and take the train to Brussels . If you go to Reims by train ( day trip , we did this , as well ) there is an exit at the rear of the station that will leave you on the street only a block or so from La Musee de la Reddition . small museum with the room left as it was on May 7 1945 . Don't miss the cathedral while there , it's breathtaking

Thank you Steven. We have already been to Bayeux and the Normandy invasion sights. We will consider your suggestions.

Hi,

I've been doing such a trip here and there tracking down war sites in northern France since 1995. Tracking down sites pertaining to both wars, you'll see there are tons of places, ie military cemeteries, monuments, museums, etc. On WW1: Between Arras in Nord Pas-de-Calais and Ypres called Wipers by the British and Ypern by the Germans, the landscape id dotted with cemeteries and grave sites, the closer to get to Ypres, the more concentrated the sites are.

Arras was fought over in both wars, in the centre ville are at least three plaques on WW2, one on its liberation by the Welsh Guards, one on the British armoured flank in 1940 on Rommel which unnerved Hitler but not Rommel. Even though the plaque omits mentioning Rommel and the 7th Panzer, you know that event is being referred to by the dates indicated.

The places connected with this war history are Arras (esp that city), Chateau-Thierry, Vimy, Neuville St Vasst, Reims, Albert (the British HQ Museum), Peronne, Amiens, Compiegne, Cambrai, La Roche Guyon (Rommel and HQ of Army Group B), Mieux (WW1 Museum)

I (husband) can only comment on Ypres, Flanders Field. I went on a small van Flanders Field tour. We were staying in Brugges, in a B & B, and the owner called and set up the tour with the company; I had a short walk from the B & B to a nearby hotel where I was picked up. The tour lasted all day and didn't return until past 6:00 p.m. The tour was one of the highlights of my trip. Visiting the various cemeteries, battle sites, monuments, farms where WWI munitions are still found, and a tavern/museum whose owner is trying to raise funds for a memorial to "Brothers In Arms" (and where we had lunch) are some of the many stops that touched my soul and spirit. I learned some things about the Great War to end all wars that I hadn't known or realized, e.g. how many Australians, Scots, Irish, British and Canadians died even before the Americans finally became involved. Definitely go.