Spend a contemplative afternoon in this peaceful field, honouring the lives of the dead soldiers from World War I.
The Arras War Cemetery is a poignant tribute to soldiers who lost their lives in World War I. It consists of several sections, including the Arras Memorial, which has almost 35,000 stones of those with no known grave who died fighting in the Arras region between 1916 and 1918. Walk along this poignant memorial and think about the brutal war while paying your respects to the dead.
Learn about the tragic loss of thousands of servicemen in the war after this part of France was handed over to the British Commonwealth. The main part of the cemetery has 2,650 burials, including 10 tombstones for unidentified individuals. Make your way to the Arras Memorial to remember those who have no grave.
See the cemetery registry to search through the names of the deceased soldiers. The memorial is dedicated to the fatalities from the armies of the United Kingdom, New Zealand and South Africa. Separate locations for Australian and Canadian casualties are outside Arras.
Explore the adjacent Arras Flying Services Memorial, which commemorates about 1,000 lost lives from the Royal Naval Air Service, the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force.
Admire the majestic colonnade with a variety of arches and pillars, standing tall over the gravestones. Appreciate the simplistic design of the white structure, which helps to create a serene atmosphere as a stark contrast to the horrors of war. The memorial is in the middle of a silent field surrounded by trees.
The war cemetery is on the site of the Faubourg-d’Amiens British Cemetery. Lord Trenchard of the Royal Air Force founded the memorial in 1932 and architect Sir Edwin Lutyens designed it.
The Arras War Cemetery is in the western part of the city, about 1.2 miles (2 kilometres) from its centre. Take a bus from the town centre to the memorial, which should take only a few minutes. Nearby attractions include the Maison Diocésaine d’Arras and the Citadelle d'Arras. Enjoy some of the many parks and streams in the picturesque region.
