Somme battlefields and Vimy Ridge
From Amiens cathedral through the First World War memorials of the Somme to the old town of Arras and the Canadian memorial at Vimy.
- Distance
- 141 km (88 mi)
- Driving
- 1 h 57 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 9
- Countries
- France
- Updated
- June 30, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 141 km (88 mi) with 9 stops, from Amiens to Lille. About 1 h 57 min of driving in total.
More road trips in France
Route description
Start in Amiens, where the Gothic cathedral is the largest in France by volume; on summer evenings its carved front is lit in colour. Take a boat through the Hortillonnages, market gardens on small islands in the Somme, reached from a landing stage in the Saint-Leu quarter, where there is also a riverside walk with cafés. From Amiens drive east on the D1029 to Villers-Bretonneux, about 20 km.
The Australian National Memorial stands on a hill north of Villers-Bretonneux, with a cemetery and the Sir John Monash Centre. Continue towards Albert and follow the D929, the old Roman road to Bapaume, which ran through the middle of the battlefield of 1916. At La Boisselle a lane leads to the Lochnagar Crater, blown on the first morning of the battle.
Thiepval Memorial, designed by Lutyens, carries the names of more than 72,000 missing soldiers; the visitor centre gives a clear account of the battle. A few kilometres north, the Newfoundland Memorial at Beaumont-Hamel keeps its trenches and shell holes under grass, with free guided walks. Hundreds of small war cemeteries line the lanes; all are open and signposted.
Drive north to Arras, whose two arcaded squares were rebuilt after the war; the Wellington Quarry museum shows the tunnels used before the 1917 offensive. The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is 12 km north, with preserved trenches and tunnel tours. End in Lille, 40 km further. All roads are flat and easy, and most sites have free parking suitable for motorhomes.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Amiens
France - 21 km
Amiens Cathedral
HistoryAmiens, FranceThe largest Gothic cathedral in France by volume, with a carved west front lit in colour on summer evenings. The floating gardens of the Hortillonnages are a short walk away and are visited by boat.
- 319 km
Australian National Memorial
HistoryVillers-Bretonneux, FranceA memorial tower and cemetery on a hill north of Villers-Bretonneux, with the Sir John Monash Centre explaining Australia’s part in the Western Front. Climb the tower for a view over the Somme.
- 425 km
Lochnagar Crater
HistoryLa Boisselle, FranceThe crater of a British mine blown on the first morning of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, now about 100 m across. Privately kept as a memorial with free access; a wooden walkway circles the rim.
- 55 km
Thiepval Memorial
HistoryThiepval, FranceLutyens’ brick arch bearing the names of more than 72,000 British and South African soldiers missing on the Somme. The visitor centre explains the battle; parking is free.
- 65 km
Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial
HistoryBeaumont-Hamel, FrancePreserved trenches and shell holes under grass, overlooked by a bronze caribou, where the Newfoundland Regiment was nearly destroyed on 1 July 1916. Canadian guides lead free walks.
- 732 km
Arras
France - 812 km
Canadian National Vimy Memorial
HistoryGivenchy-en-Gohelle, FranceTwin white pylons on Hill 145, taken by Canadian troops in April 1917. Nearby restored trenches and tunnels can be visited on free guided tours; stay on paths, unexploded shells remain in the woods.
- 943 km
Lille
France
FAQs
How long is Somme battlefields and Vimy Ridge?
3-day road trip of about 141 km (88 mi) with 9 stops, from Amiens to Lille. About 1 h 57 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Somme battlefields and Vimy Ridge?
We suggest 3 days: about 1 h 57 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Somme battlefields and Vimy Ridge start and end?
It starts in Amiens and ends in Lille.
Which countries does Somme battlefields and Vimy Ridge pass through?
France.
