The Great War: The Battle of the Somme

Your hotel is located in the city center, near the cathedral. Notre-Dame d’Amiens is the largest cathedral in France, with an interior volume of nearly 200,000 m3, twice that of Notre-Dame de Paris!
It remained unscathed after World War I, and plaques have been affixed to it in memory of the Allied soldiers who fought on the front lines.
The city also welcomed Jules Verne, who wrote most of his novels here.
Amiens is a pleasant city where you can enjoy strolling through the hortillonnages (floating gardens) and along the canal before beginning your journey.

Distance to cover: 51 km (31.7 mi)

After picking up your bike, head east along the Somme, avoiding traffic. After about 20 kilometers, you will reach the Villers Bretonneux area where, from April 24 to 26, 1918, the Australian Expeditionary Force stopped the German advance, thus preventing the capture of Amiens. Immerse yourself in history at the Australian National Memorial, and don’t miss the fascinating Franco-Australian museum located within the Victoria School.

Continue east, crossing the Hamel battlefield to reach the other side of the Somme at Cerisy. Enjoy magnificent views of the river along the road to Albert.

Albert was the epicenter of the great Battle of the Somme and is the main industrial town in the Ancre Valley. The Somme 1916 Museum in Albert, housed in an underground shelter that was used as an air-raid shelter, traces military life during the First World War.

Distance to cover: 45 or 67 km (28 or 41,6 miles)

After passing the national necropolis, leave the town and follow the Ancre valley northwards before climbing the hill at Thiepval. The offensive launched on July 1, 1916, resulted in 20,000 British army casualties, making it the “bloodiest day in its military history.” Thiepval was liberated three months later on September 27, 1916.

You will pass the Belfast Tower, erected in 1921 in memory of the Ulster Battalion that fought on July 1, 1916, at Thiepval. Cross the Ancre River and enter Beaumont-Hamel Park. Here you will find the memorial to the men of the Newfoundland Regiment, who, barely out of their trenches, were “swept away” by German machine gun fire.
A few more kilometers will take you to the German cemetery in Fricourt and the South African and New Zealand Memorials in Longueval. Your route then passes through the village of Pozières, where the Australians, exhausted by incessant artillery counterattacks, were relieved by the Canadians. 14,000 soldiers’ names are engraved on the walls of this cemetery.
You then leave the Somme department and travel the 20 km of countryside that separates you from Arras, the “capital” of Artois.
Built in the Flemish Baroque style, Arras was long renowned for the quality of its linen and has since retained its wealth and influence! Your hotel is ideally located in the heart of the city. You will be charmed by the city’s architecture, from Flemish Baroque to Art Deco. Don’t miss the Belfry and the Vauban Citadel, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

At the end of the day, relax on the terrace of one of the cafés on the magnificent Place des Héros.

Distance to cover: 52km (32,3 miles)

Follow the Scarpe River, then turn north for about 20 kilometers to arrive at the large Vimy Park, which was the scene of a fierce battle between the German army and Canadian troops on April 17, 1917, resulting in the loss of more than 11,000 soldiers. Some say that “modern Canada was born in the trenches of Vimy.” The impressive monument built on the heights bears witness to this event.

After a break in the village of Souchez, you climb the hill of Lorette where, in May 1915, French and German troops fought fiercely for control of the Artois region. The Notre-Dame de Lorette cemetery, which is home to more than 40,000 soldiers, is still the largest French military cemetery today.

You then return to Arras via small roads through the countryside, following the Scarpe River.

End of stay in Arras after breakfast