CWGC War Memorial: VIMY MEMORIAL

Visiting Information

The monument at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France is almost 70 years old. The passage of time, wear and tear and harsh weather conditions have led to the monument's deterioration, despite regular upkeep over the years. Its restoration requires more than routine maintenance. The rehabilitation plan for Vimy Memorial is part of the Canadian Battlefield Memorials Restoration Project, directed by Canada's Department of Veterans Affairs in cooperation with other Canadian departments, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, consultants and specialists in military history. The rehabilitation and restoration of the Vimy Memorial started in December 2004 and will continue throughout 2006, the monument itself will therefore become inaccessible for security reasons. However, the rest of the Memorial site will continue to operate normally, including the guided tours, and visitors are therefore invited to focus on the subways or tunnels and restored trenches. While the monument is inaccessible, there will be guided tours of the two Canadian cemeteries on the site. Alternative experiences may also be offered to visitors. Further information is available from the Veterans' Affairs Canada In the park around the memorial are restored and preserved trenches and tunnels. It is recommended by the Visitors Centre at Vimy that visitors wishing to view the tunnels should pre-book tours. To make a booking, please contact The Interpretation Centre at Vimy: Tel: 03 21 50 68 68. Visitors who turn up without pre-booking will still be able to vie

Local Information

The Vimy Memorial overlooks the Douai Plain from the highest point of Vimy Ridge, about eight kilometres northeast of Arras on the N17 towards Lens. The memorial is signposted from this road to the left, just before you enter the village of Vimy from the south. The memorial itself is someway inside the memorial park, but again it is well signposted.

Historical Information

On the opening day of the Battle of Arras, 9 April 1917, the four divisions of the Canadian Corps, fighting side by side for the first time, scored a huge tactical victory in the capture of the 60 metre high Vimy Ridge. After the war, the highest point of the ridge was chosen as the site of the great memorial to all Canadians who served their country in battle during the First World War, and particularly to the 60,000 who gave their lives in France. It also bears the names of 11,000 Canadian servicemen who died in France - many of them in the fight for Vimy Ridge - who have no known grave. The memorial was designed by W S Allward.