Givenchy-en-Gohelle between Vimy Remembrance and Nature

Givenchy-en-Gohelle is home to the Canadian National Vimy Memorial on Route D55, Chemin des Canadiens. It honors all Canadians who served in the First World War, particularly those with no known grave. In 1997, it was designated a national historic site. The Forêt domaniale de Vimy is both a place of remembrance and a space for nature and recreation.

Culture

The historic sites include Canadian Cemetery No. 2, which was established in 1917 and contains 2,965 graves. The Cimetière canadien de Givenchy-en-Gohelle was established by the Canadian Corps under the designation CD 20 in March 1917 and used until May of the same year. It commemorates more than 150 victims of the 1914–1918 war and contains special memorial stones for 15 Canadian soldiers believed to be buried there. The graves of 109 Canadians who fell in the Battle of Vimy Ridge are also located here.

Along the Chemin des Canadiens, 17 panels provide information about the capture of Vimy Ridge and the special relationship between Givenchy-en-Gohelle and the 85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders). The Musée de la vie en plein air du Chemin des Canadiens is also available virtually via a GIS geocache.

Geographical Setting

The Lieu historique national de la Crête-de-Vimy includes the memorial, two Commonwealth military cemeteries, reconstructed trenches, the Grange Tunnel and a house. Paths and roads connect these components of the historic site. The visitor centre at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial can provide information about Canada's and Newfoundland's role in the First World War, as well as the historic site's main points of interest. Canadian Cemetery No. 2 is located in the heart of the Vimy memorial site, just a few metres from the memorial.

Nature

The Forêt domaniale de Vimy preserves trenches, bunkers, shell craters, saps and the ruins of destroyed farms that commemorate the battles of the First World War. The La Vignette route leads through this forest; along the way, visitors can see remains of trenches and uneven terrain shaped by shelling. From the route, the Canadian National Vimy Memorial offers extensive views over the landscapes of the mining basin and the hills of Artois.

Trails

The “Grands sites de la mémoire” cycling route is available in a 10- or 15-kilometre version with considerable elevation gain. It leads to the Monument à la division marocaine in Vimy or Givenchy-en-Gohelle, respectively. The different route lengths allow you to compare two route options.

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Givenchy-en-Gohelle, the listing pages allow you to compare travel dates, category and cancellation conditions. You can review the information side by side and at your leisure, depending on your preferred period, selected category and personal booking conditions.

More local pages include Souastre, Wimille, Licques, Écurie, Fresnicourt-Le-Dolmen, Beussent, Beauvoir-Wavans and Anzin-Saint-Aubin.

For the higher-level travel overview: Pas-De-Calais.