Canadian National Vimy Memorial
Givenchy-en-Gohelle, France
Twin 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.
The Canadian National Vimy Memorial stands on Hill 145 in the Artois, where Canadian troops launched the Battle of Vimy Ridge on 9 April 1917; it was the first time all four Canadian divisions fought together. The architect Walter Seymour Allward built the memorial from Croatian limestone between 1925 and 1936. The two pylons stand for Canada and France. The memorial park preserves trenches, craters and tunnels, and free guided tours of about 30 minutes run through the Grange Tunnel.
Admission to the Canadian memorial sites is free. Tunnel tours cannot be booked in advance and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early. Allow around two to three hours for the memorial, visitor centre, tour and trenches. Stay on the marked paths: the site is a battlefield and unexploded shells still lie in the ground.
- Nearest town
- Givenchy-en-Gohelle, France
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 50.3794, 2.7736
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and October. Cold, short days in January–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- France: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autoroutes; the limit drops to 110 km/h in rain. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
.JPG){kind=link}
Campsites nearby
- Aire de camping-car des Glissoires Ch' ti ParcMotorhome stopover6 km from Canadian National Vimy Memorial · 10 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalFree
- Aire Louis Aragon - GrenayMotorhome stopover8 km from Canadian National Vimy Memorial · 3 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalWi-FiFree
- Aire de camping-Cars Arras Vallée de la ScarpeMotorhome stopover9 km from Canadian National Vimy Memorial · 38 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Camping MamarrasCampsite10 km from Canadian National Vimy MemorialTentsElectricityDrinking waterShowersToilets
- Aire de Camping-car Place du Barlet - DouaiMotorhome stopover22 km from Canadian National Vimy Memorial · 4 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalFree
- Aire de Camping-Car de RichebourgMotorhome stopover22 km from Canadian National Vimy Memorial · 14 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalFree
All campsites in France · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Canadian National Vimy Memorial?
Canadian National Vimy Memorial is in Givenchy-en-Gohelle, France, at GPS 50.3794, 2.7736. It is about 10 km from Arras.
Can you camp near Canadian National Vimy Memorial?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Aire de camping-car des Glissoires Ch' ti Parc, about 6 km away; within 25 km there are 16 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Canadian National Vimy Memorial?
Canadian National Vimy Memorial is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Somme battlefields and Vimy Ridge.
What is there to see near Canadian National Vimy Memorial?
Places worth a stop nearby: Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial (35 km), Thiepval Memorial (37 km), Lochnagar Crater (41 km) and Tournai Cathedral (50 km).
When is the best time to visit Canadian National Vimy Memorial?
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)