The French army on the Somme front
- 22French war cemeteries
- 8,566graves in Rancourt
- 200thousand French losses in 1916
The Frise belvedere
War memoirs
Cast a fresh look at the landscape and another at history at the Frise belvedere!
A unique, authentic site preserved by the Picardy conservatory for natural sites.
Overlooking the Somme Valley, it tells you plenty about the history of the Great War.
The trenches were amply described by Robert Graves in Good-bye to All That, and French author Blaise Cendrars, who was stationed here until February 1915. Quotes from his works have been added to the circuit. You can still see the trenches, now with sheep grazing on them. A stupendous panorama of the French front and more!
©Somme Tourisme - Laurent Desbois/Lwood
©Somme Tourisme - Laurent Desbois/Lwood
©Somme Tourisme - Laurent Desbois/Lwood
© Conseil départemental de la Somme
©Somme Tourisme - Laurent Desbois/LwoodFrench remembrance
in RANCOURT
Rancourt has the sad privilege of housing three war cemeteries: one each for the British and Germans, and the largest French war cemetery in the Somme.
It is the sober neighbour to the Chapel of Remembrance, a must for those who wish to get a complete overview of the Somme front.
It is a private initiative: the Bos family, originally hailing from this region, wanted to erect a monument to their son and his comrades-in-arms who fell in 1916.
The association Souvenir Français took over the running of the edifice in 1937.
Tel.: +33 (0)3 22 85 04 47
The largest and most moving of the 14 German cemeteries is to be found along the French section of the Front, in Vermandovillers.
©SommeTourisme
©SommeTourisme
©Nicolas Bryant
©SommeTourismeScarred villages
SOUTH OF THE SOMME RIVER
September 1915: the immediate environs of the village of Fay bear traces of mine warfare. The village nestled in a dry valley before the war, then was rebuilt on the plateau. You can visit the vestiges, admission is free!
September 1916: after intense artillery preparation, Soyecourt was liberated. Visit Wallieux Wood, where Somme Council facilities shed light on the fighting which took place there!
September 1924: the Proyart War Memorial was inaugurated. You can but admire the amazing proportions and the bas-reliefs on this arc de triomphe beneath which stands the statue of a French private, holding a rifle to symbolise the bravery and determination of French soldiers.
Let's talk ToSylvestre BRESSON
Battlefields Guide, member of the Somme Battlefields’ Partner network
En Direct des blogs Tortuga Videos
Mathis BEHAEGEL - LA TORTUGAA velo sur les traces de la bataille de la Somme !
C’est accompagné de son vélo Franklin, que Mathis Behaegel, alias "La Tortuga", a emprunté la véloroute Vallée de Somme pour partir la découverte de l'est du territoire et l'histoire de la Bataille de la Somme. Au programme : Des paysages marqués par le conflit mondial, des rencontres avec des passionnés, des mémoriaux emblématiques de la destination et de la nature.
A découvrir en vidéo ET en podcast !
Pour visionner la vidéo, cliquez ici !
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Museums and places of interest
Historial de la Grande Guerre - Péronne
Exploring natural places