Visitor Education Centre, Vimy Memorial Park, France

A new Visitor Education Centre at Vimy Memorial Park was officially opened on 10 April 2017. The centre is administered by Veterans Affairs Canada/Anciens Combattants Canada.

The centre provides information about the Vimy Ridge in the First World War and the part played by the Canadian Corps to recapture this important high ground in the Battle of Vimy Ridge from 9 to 12 April 1917.

Guided Tours

Preserved trenches at the Vimy Memorial Park.
Preserved trenches at the Vimy Memorial Park.

Guided tours of the tunnels and trenches are available free of charge, subject to availability. Tours last for about 50 minutes.

For a group of less than 10 people tours are available on a first come, first served basis. Go to the Visitor Education Centre to arrange your tour.

For a group of 10 or more people a reservation is recommended. Up to 25 people can be accommodated in a tour group of the tunnels and trenches.

Each child under 12 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Suitable footwear is recommended. Tours are not recommended for persons with reduced mobility or claustrophobia.

Note that reservations for guided tours cannot be made for Mondays and the following public holidays: 9 April, 1 July, 5 November, 6 November, 11 November.

Enquiries regarding reservations and visitor information can be made to Veterans Affairs Canada/Anciens Combattants Canada:

Email: vac.vimy.acc@canada.ca

Telephone: (from Canada) 011 33 3 21 50 68 68; (from Europe) +33 (0) 3 21 50 68 68

Website: www.veterans.gc.ca Vimy Memorial

Address: Canadian National Vimy Memorial, Route D55, 62580 Givenchy-en-Gohelle, France

Visitor Information

Opening Hours

The Memorial Park site is free of charge and the Vimy Memorial and the two British military cemeteries on the site are accessible all year round.

In the case of poor weather parts of the site may be closed for access by the public.

Visit the website for up to date details of the Visitor Education Centre opening hours:

Website: www.veterans.gc.ca Visitor Education Centre

Wheelchair Access

The Visitor Education Centre and paths through the centre of the site of the preserved trenches are accessible for wheelchair users.

The trench system and the Grange Tunnel system are not wheelchair accessible.

Parking

There is free parking at the site.

Toilets

There are toilets available for visitors during the Visitor Centre opening hours.

Visitor Education Centre Location

Latitude N 50° 22' 20" ; Longitude E 2° 46' 12"

The Visitor Education Centre is situated in the Canadian National Vimy Memorial Park. This is located near the village of Vimy about 5 miles (8 kilometres) north-east of Arras on the N17 to Lens. The memorial park is signposted just south of the village of Vimy. The Visitor Education Centre and the location of the Vimy Memorial, the preserved trenches and tunnels are well signposted in the park.

Related Topic

Vimy Memorial looking north-east. The ground dramatically drops away from the ridge on the far side of the memorial.
Vimy Memorial looking to the north-east. The ground dramatically drops away from the ridge on the far side of the memorial.

Find out about the Memorial to the Canadians who fought in the First World War, the names of more than 11,000 Canadians missing in action, how the memorial came about, its design and how it was constructed.

Canadian National Vimy Memorial and Memorial Park

Acknowledgements

Veterans Affairs Canada/Anciens Combattants Canada.

Website: www.veterans.gc.ca