WW1 Museums on the French Flanders and Artois Battlefields, France
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Jean & Denise Letaille Museum — Bullecourt 1917
Bullecourt
50.19299188227931
2.9294738173484802
This is a museum in the village of Bullecourt. The collection of fascinating displays of equipment, memorabilia, photographs and document was built up as a private collection by the late Monsieur Jean Letaille and his wife Denise. Jean had been a former mayor of the village.
Jean donated his magnificent collection to the community and his small private museum was redeveloped during 2011-12. The redevelopment was funded by the French authorities, the Conseil Régional Nord-Pas de Calais and the Australian government. In June 2012 the museum opened as The Jean and Denise Letaille Museum - Bullecourt 1917. Very sadly neither Jean nor his wife lived to see the opening of this new Australian museum housing their wonderful collection.
The museum features stories and memories of the men who fought in the Battle of Bullecourt during April 1917, when the Australian and British troops attacked the German defenders in the newly constructed Hindenburg Line (known as the Siegfriedstellung to the German Army). Tanks went into the attack and the museum collection includes many parts of these tanks salvaged from the battlefield.
The village of Bullecourt, and most especially M. Lataille, forged a special bond with Australia due to the tremendous sacrifice of several thousand casualties killed, wounded and missing here in the spring battles of 1917.
Open:
- April - October: 14.00-18.00 hours
- November - March: 14.00-17.00 hours
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Musée de la Guerre
Fromelles
50.605980491871215
2.854088991880417
The museum was created in 1990. It is located on the second floor of the Town Hall (Mairie) at Fromelles. The collections in the museum include dioramas, equipment, photographs, documents and items found on the battlefields near to the village.
All the items on show in the museum are tagged with a description in English, French and German.
The northern sector of the village was occupied by the Imperial German Army from early October 1914. The Front Lines remained in the same location for over three years.
Open: Every second Sunday in the month from April - December: 09.00 - 12.00; 14.00 - 19.00 (visitors are strongly advised to check the hours of opening before making a special visit - see contact details below)
Guided tours for groups by prior reservation only. Allow at least 3 weeks to make arrangements.
Closed: June, July and August.
Admission: Adult: Euros 3,50; Adult Group (from 10 persons, per person): Euros 2,50
Contact for visits: Mairie de Fromelles (French speaking only): +33 (0)3 20 50 20 43
For more information, museum bookings, research and donations to the museum see the museum website.
Address: Association pour le Souvenir de la Bataille de Fromelles in 1916, Mairie, Rue de Verdun, 59249 FROMELLES
Telephone: Henri Delpierre: +33 - (0)3 20 50 60 72
Email: Martial Delbarre (French and English speaking) martial.delebarre@wanadoo.fr
Email: Joseph Lagae (French, English and German speaking) jos.lagae@belgacom.net
Website: www.asbf14-18.org
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Musée Militaire de la Targette
Neuville-Saint-Vaast
50.3544004226854
2.748027741909027
The museum is located on the D937 road which runs between Bethune and Arras, close to the large French and British military cemeteries at La Targette village. It contains many items on display including uniforms, helmets, documents and gasmasks. The visit will take approximately 30 minutes to see the displays.
The museum owner, David Bardiaux, also owns the Musée Vivant 1914-1918 located at the Notre Dame de Lorette French military cemetery.
A small shop sells souvenirs, books and postcards.
Open: Daily 09.00 to 20.00 hours
Admission fee.
Group Visits
- Group rates available.
- Free entry for the coach driver and two couriers per bus.
- Reception area for groups.
- Reception area for groups.
- Food and drink distributors.
- Picnics possible (reserve by arrangement with the museum)
Address: Musée Militaire de la Targette, 48 Route National, 62580 NEUVILLE-SAINT-VAAST, France
Telephone: +33 (0)3 21 59 17 76
Fax: +33 (0)3 21 59 17 76
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Musée Vivant 1914-1918: Notre Dame de Lorette
Souchez
50.40184140885615
2.715735286474228
The museum is located on the summit of the ridge at Notre Dame de Lorette, next to the French national military cemetery. There are over 2,000 items on display in the museum, showing life in the French Army and its costly battles in Artois. An area of original battlefield trenches is situated immediately behind the museum.
The exhibition of items includes equipment, uniforms, documents, photographs and a walk-through reconstructed trench and bunker system animated with lasers. A commentary to accompany your visit can be selected in French or English. A diaporama (photographic slide show) presents 400 rare stereoscopic (3-D) images created in the 1914-1918 period.
Outside the museum a battlefield area is dedicated to trenches, which have been redug in their original locations, and a selection of artillery pieces, machine guns, shells and barbed wire. Panels describing the items on view are in French, English and German.
A small shop sells souvenirs, books and postcards.
Open: Daily 09.00 to 20.00 hours
Admission fee. The museum is owned by David Bardiaux, who also owns the Musée Militaire de la Targette 1914-1918 (see below). Discounted rates for visits to both museums are available.
Group Visits
- Group rates available.
- Free entry for the coach driver and two couriers per bus.
- Reception area for groups.
- Reception area for groups.
- Food and drink distributors.
- Picnics possible (reserve by arrangement with the museum)
L'Estaminet de Lorette
L'Estaminet de Lorette — bar, restaurant, Salon de Thé — is located next to the museum and the cemetery. The restaurant is open from 1 March to 30 November. Toilets are available here but only for use by patrons of the restaurant.
Telephone and fax for L'Estaminet de Lorette: +33 (0)3 21 45 29 07
Website for L'Estaminet de Lorette: www.estaminet-de-lorette.com
Address: Musée Vivant 1914-1918, Notre Dame de Lorette, 62153 Souchez, France
Telephone: +33 (0)3 21 45 15 80
Fax: +33 (0)3 21 59 17 76
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Wellington Quarry - la Carrière Wellington
Arras
50.28040961939256
2.783045321702957
Wellington Quarry - la Carrière Wellington, Arras
Opened in 2008 this underground museum has been created in a section of the many kilometres of tunnels dug in the 1914-1918 war underneath the city of Arras. It pays hommage to the memory of the thousands of men of the British Army who lived under the city during the war, and most particularly the work of the tunnelers of the New Zealand Division who were based in this place during the build-up to the Battle of Arras on 9th April 1917.
Address: Rue Arthur Delétoille, 62000 ARRAS, France
Telephone: Telephone : +33 (0)3 21 51 26 95
Fax: +33 (0)3 21 71 07 34
Email: Contact form at www.carriere-wellington.com
Website: www.carriere-wellington.com
Related Topics
Visiting the Western Front Battlefields
The French Flanders and Artois Battlefields
Cemeteries on the French Flanders and Artois Battlefields
Monuments on the French Flanders and Artois Battlefields