Vimy vs. Ypres for short visit to WW I site

If you're looking more for battlefield remains, rather than the history of the battles themselves, or the memorials and cemeteries,, then you have a lot more sites within a small area around Ypres.
The Vimy Memorial grounds do include an area of the original trenches and tunnels. We only needed a couple of hours there. (Including making a rubbing of my great uncle's name on the Memorial). On the same day, we visited the Beaumont Hamel site (about a 45 min drive away) to explore the trenches and battlefield there. We spent about 2 hrs there as well. So, depending on your degree of interest, these areas would require less time than all of the Ypres sites.

My suggestion would be the Ypres area as there are a lot of sights in the vicinity so it would provide more "bang for the buck". With that in mind, at least two nights and one full day would be advisable.

A few sights you could consider....

• Hill 62 / Sanctuary Woods. There's an interesting museum as well as actual trenches -http://www.greatwar.co.uk/ypres-salient/museum-sanctuary-wood.htm
  
• Tynecot Cemetery - this is the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the world, and the size of it is very moving - https://www.cwgc.org/find/find-cemeteries-and-memorials/53300/tyne-cot-cemetery
• St. Julien Memorial - http://www.greatwar.co.uk/ypres-salient/memorial-vancouver-corner.htm
• Langemark Cemetery - it's also provides some perspective to have a look at a German cemetery - http://www.greatwar.co.uk/ypres-salient/cemetery-langemark.htm
• Menin Gate - if you can be there at 20:00 (as I recall) for the evening ceremony, it will be very moving!

That's all I can think of at the moment.

Agree with both above.

It sounds like both of the boys are more interested than you are. As you are going to Bayeux can we presume that is for World War Two history on the Normandy Beaches, or are you going for the "tapestry" just before it goes on its voyage to the UK?

If you are going for the D-Day area, a little study of World War One in the Ypres and Vimy Ridge area, combined with some more as you pass through the Somme and Seine on your way, would help prepare you for the Second War study.

After all, the Second World War was in many ways simply the resolution and conclusion of the Great War.

Ken is correct about the Menin Gate Last Post at 20:00.

It is recited by members the Ypres Volunteer Fire Brigade.

Very moving indeed.

This is the type of ceremony you may see at the Menin Gate - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDIaeqsQPZs .

As Nigel mentioned, it would help to have some idea on what your plans are during your visit to Bayeux. Which Normandy sites are you most interested in (Canadian, British, American?). I would highly recommend using one of the excellent local guides for touring the D-Day sights, as that will provide a much more interesting and rewarding experience, and you'll learn far more. Overlord Tour has a wide range of both half-day and full-day tours. Pre-booking is a really good idea. Especially as you'll have a car, if you'd like more of a custom tour post another note and I can provide more information.

As you'll be driving in France, one other point comes to mind. It's highly advisable for each driver listed on the rental form to have an International Driver's Permit, which is used in conjunction with your home D.L. These are valid for one year and easily obtained at any CAA / AAA office for a small fee.

Hi,

Keep in mind that at the Vimy Memorial area, there are areas where it is off limits, signs indicate that in English and French, because the land was left as it was. Why off limits? WW1 ordinance (shells, ) might be still there. The land is still cratered but grass has covered it. I've been to Vimy a few times, the last was in 2009. You follow the signs showing which areas you are allowed to step on or enter.

Now, if you want to see a comparison, ie in terms of compare and contrast, between German and French trenches, I heartily suggest the WW1 museum in Meaux, which can be reached by the regional train departing from Gare de l'Est. Paris Est to Meaux...ca one hour, then the bus in front of the station or taxi to the museum.

In 1914 Meaux was in the combat area. The museum has a pretty realistic replica of the trenches which you can clearly see which one is better as to providing the troops protection needed to survive.

Thank you for the information and suggestions so far. In terms of our time in Normandy, we will probably focus on the American areas -- Omaha Beach and Utah Beach. (We are American. My Dad was Canadian but had immigrated to U.S. before WW II and served in the U.S. army, though not in Europe. So, for that and other reasons I have a strong affection for Canada and would be interested in the Canadian WW I sites. That said, I chose Ypres and Vimy as possibilites largely due to their location.) In Bayeaux we do also plan to see the tapestry. We will just give one full day to the beach historic sites, then the next we will see the tapestry and maybe another site or two before driving on just as far as Mont St. Michel for one night. I may be able to add a third night to Bayeux, but would have to decide where to take it from. (This is in the early part of a four-week trip that will take us to Paris, Lauterbrunnen and a couple of spots in Germany, too.)

If you have time, there's also an excellent WW-II museum in Bayeux. Have a look at this website - http://www.bayeuxmuseum.com/en/accueil_en.html .

Please be prepared: The trenches today do not look like they did during the slaughter. Natural erosion has rounded out the slashes so what's left now resembles grassy ditches, almost soft. But absolutely go see them.
The amount of tunnelling under Vimy Ridge astonished me. Coal miners from several Allied countries dug a web of tunnels to launch explosions under enemy lines and to provide access to the battles. It certainly was not all a matter of over-the-top charges. The Vimy centre run by the Canadian government operates underground tours but it would be wise to check ahead for the operating hours, which are not as long as the centre itself is open. Arras is the nearest city and it has lots of history itself in both world wars.
As to Normandy, Caen is nearly as convenient and offers a wider range of accommodations. Please give consideration to a guided tour; the information and context provided by the guide will be worth the considerable expense.
The Meaux museum is valuable because it pays attention to how the ordinary soldiers, and civilians behind the lines, experienced the ordeal. It's a quick regional train ride from Paris.

Verdun is a great place to visit.

At Bayeux, don't forget to see the Bayeux Tapestry which is 900 years old and tells the story of the Norman Invasion of England.

This may be useful - A Pilgrimage to Ypres.

If you do decide to go Arras, the tourist office is on the ground floor in the city hall located in the centre ville. Numerous brochures there are available (maybe also tour arrangements...I never did that...are also possible) pertaining to the WW1 sites close by, aside from Vimy. The Tourist Office itself has an underground museum since that underground site was used as living quarters for British troops.

Arras was the General HQ in WW1 for the British Army in France. At the edge of town is located the big British military WW1 cemetery; from the train station it takes less than one hour walking. Keep in mind that between Arras and Ypres the poignant British war cemeteries are ever more concentrated the closer you get to Ypres.