Armentieres, Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais

You'll set off on this cross-border trail from the Mémorial britannique in Ploegsteert, a place rich with memories of the past. The countryside around you, so peaceful now, was the resting place of thousands of British, Australian and German soldiers, who fell during the First World War. After a few kilometres, you'll cross the language border, entering the town of Messines (Mesen), which also was marked by the Great War of 1914-18. Returning via Warneton, a town that was completely rebuilt after the war, the trail continues along the Lys, following its 'RAVeL' greenway. And finally, you'll skirt the edges of the Ploegsteert Nature Reserve, returning you gently back to the Memorial.Cycle-nodes : START 23 - 2 - 15 - 4 - 27 - 6 - 9 - 7 - 28 - 12 - 16 - 13 - 29 - 24 - 3 - 34 - 23 END

A wonderful place to stay thanks to its numerous facilities. Its rooms are equipped with all mod cons and will delight you with their pleasant and invigorating setting.

Discover Lille's old town on a 2-hour walking tour. Walk along the streets and squares, and marvel at the beauty of its architecture! SEE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF LILLE'S OLD TOWN ON THIS GUIDED TOUR! With your guide, discover the old neighbourhoods of the city and feel the charm of this bustling and welcoming city. Lille still features buildings from different influences: the Palais Rihour, the Vieille Bourse, the Rang du Beauregard and the Cathedral. After this tour revealing the city's different architectural styles, your tour will end with a visit to the Hospice Comtesse, an iconic monument combining many accounts of the city's history such as earthenware, sculptures, paintings and furniture. Choose this guided tour of Lille's old town and discover the city's highlights!

Discover the city of Lille on this bus tour! Relax and explore every single part of the city! EXPLORE THE STREETS OF LILLE BY BUS AND ADMIRE THE CITY'S MONUMENTS! Embark on a 50-minute bus tour of Lille aboard a comfortably open-top bus (in summer)! Audio guides provide informative commentary throughout the tour, in the language of your choice (French, English, German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Russian). As you travel, you can enjoy a scenic view of the city's key monuments, from the ancient to the modern neighbourhoods. The itinerary includes the following sites: * Palais Rihour (tourist information office, first and last stop) * Grand Place * Rue Faidherbe * Quartier des Gares * Euralille * Quartier Royal * Lille Old Town * Îlot Comtesse * Porte de Paris * The City Hall belfry * The Saint-Sauveur neighbourhood * Place de la République and the surrounding district (Palais des Beaux-Arts, Préfecture...) Choose the Lille bus tour to discover the city's major landmarks and points of interest, supplemented with audio-guide commentary!

The best of Lille thanks to the City Pass! Enjoy free access to many museums and attractions as well as unlimited transport! Thanks to the Lille Pass, experience all the ferment of the city in one single offer! Find out about all of Lille's secrets! Enjoy free access to 25 museums, sites, and tourist services in the Lille metropolitan area. With the 72-hour pass, you will also have free access to 14 museums, sites and tourist services in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region and a free access to the TER regional train network (operated by the SNCF) for 24 consecutive hours. You will have unlimited access to metropolitan Transpole public transport (underground, buses, tram) during the selected period. You will also get preferential prices on shopping and dining venues (you will receive the list in the Lille and Roubaix tourist information offices). Choose the Lille pass for the duration of your choice and make the most of your stay in Lille!

Discover Lille on a beer-themed paper chase and walk around its streets looking for clues! FIND OUT ABOUT ALL OF LILLE'S SECRETS ON A FUN BEER TASTING DETECTIVE GAME! The aim of the game is to find the stein of Gambrinus, prince of beer, which was lost somewhere in the city... Start by picking up your road book, then you'll be ready to start searching for the missing chalice! To complete your quest, you will follow a trail around Lille's streets and squares looking for clues to help you solve the enigma. Several key clues can be found in certain of the city's bars. You'll have the pleasure of tasting 4 exceptional beers in 4 of Lille's best bars, chosen specially for the game. Your search will progress thanks to the clues hidden along the way. You'll need to look in all directions, including in natural spots and even in the taste of your beer! Choose this fun, pleasant and delicious tour of Lille! Good luck! Alcohol abuse is bad for your health. Please consume in moderation 

Discover one of Lille's highlights on a walking audioguided tour by the belfry of Lille's City Hall, and climb on top of its 104-metre-high tower to enjoy a breathtaking view of Lille! Visit the belfry of Lille's City Hall on this audioguided tour! This visit will grant you the opportunity to find out about this 104-metre-high UNESCO World Heritage Site towering over Lille, whose construction ended in 1931. You will be equipped with a pair of binoculars and an audioguide, and enjoy an ideal viewpoint to look at the city and its surroundings. Choose this guided tour to discover the belfry of Lille's City Hall and tower over the city to enjoy a breathtaking scenic view!

ArrayYour Experience Explore the architectural manifesto that is the Villa Cavrois, designed by architect and figure of the modernist current, Robert Mallet-Stevens. This emblematic piece of his work was built for a textile manufacturer, Paul Cavrois, and his family in the early 1930s. This villa was dubbed a historic monument in 1990, and the restoration program began well into the early 200s. What makes it so appealing is its imposing proportions, the separation of two symmetrical wings, the lack of ornamental decor in the villa, and the escalation of the rooftop terraces. Not to mention, the modern touch post-renovation that included central heating, elevators, and the use of new industrial materials and techniques. You will explore the vast living area, the intriguing façades, the stunning terrace, and of course, the 72-meter-long water mirror, reflecting the beauty of Villa Cavrois quite nicely!

He served in World War I in the British Army in 1915 in Flanders, where he transported troops in red double-decker London buses. A total of 900 of thede vehicles were used to move troops behind the lines. They were not changed at first amd even kept their red-and-white livery. Soon, however, they were painted khaki, and, the glass windows on the lower deck were prone to breakage, mostly from contact with the men's rifles and packs, they were replaced by planks nailed to the sides of the vehicle. The B-Type could carry 24 fully equipped infantrymen and their kit. Some were converted into mobile pigeon lofts to house the pigeons used for communication along the front. They served until the end of the war when they were used to bring troops home. In 1935, Bestall was selected to take over the Daily Express’s Rupert Bear stories from Mary Tourtel.  Much of the landscape in Rupert is inspired by the Snowdonia landscape of North Wales, notably around Beddgelert.  In 1985, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). Bestall died on 15 January 1986, aged 93, at Wern Manor Nursing Home in Porthmadog, Wales In May 2006, Alfred Bestall was commemorated with an English Heritage Blue plaque at 58 Cranes Park, Surbiton, London, where he lived for 30 years. Wikipedia Long, Long Trail Spartacus

The statue « Mademoiselle from Armentières » has been erected in november 2008 as tribute to the song, written by an english soldier in 1915 (on a french army tune out of the 1820ties) and sung in 1952 by the french actress and singer Line Renaud, who was born closeby in Pont-de-Nieppe. The work shows a 'lady' carried by four soldiers of the first World War : a scotsman, an indian, an australian and an englishman. Revived by Line Renaud, the song based on an anecdote by an English officer who made an inappropriate gesture towards a young lady from Armentières, who replied with a slap to his face. Not far from here, you can find the 'military quarter' in the middle of the civilian cemetery. -------------- Listen to the original song : 'Mademoiselle from Armentières' (1915) - by Jack Charman - 2'54" *Attention : this file is 680Kb heavy - roaming costs may apply* Your browser does not support the video tag

*Memorial to the Missing* This cemetery is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) memorial for the missing soldiers of World War I who fought in the immediate area of the Ypres Salient on the Western Front. The grounds were assigned to the United Kingdom in perpetuity by King Albert I of Belgium in recognition of the sacrifices made by the British Empire in the defence and liberation of Belgium during the war. You see the magnificent circular temple, built by Chalton Bradshaw, guarded by two stone lions. The names of 11,447 unknown British soldiers and officers are engraved here. Since 7 June 1999, the Comité du Memorial de Ploegsteert has arranged for the Last Post to be played at the memorial on the first Friday of each month.

The Battle of Fromelles took place on July 19-20, 1916, and pitted British and Australian divisions against a Bavarian division. The impact was terrible, and in less than 24 hours, almost 8,500 soldiers were killed. Many of the soldiers who died on the battlefield were never found. In 2009, a team of archaeologists unearthed the bodies of 250 British and Australian soldiers who had disappeared at Fromelles. A major identification campaign began, and with each new identity, the story of a soldier was brought to the surface. Follow the battle, the archaeological research and the story of the missing soldiers as you explore the permanent exhibition.

In 1919, The Times referred to the Great War and the rugby players who took part in it as "the game for which they had been preparing for so many years". The enlisting of many players from all over the world during the First World War took a toll on this sport. Find out why rugby players, some of whom fought at Fromelles, were so heavily involved, what impact the First World War had on rugby, and the stories of these sportsmen and women.

Unique German trench site, with 300m of trenches, 4 bunkers and 2 listening posts (trenches) of tremendous strategic value during WWI.

The Citadele of Lille, built on the orders of Louis XIV following his conquest of the city, was the work of Sébastien Leprestre, Marquis de Vauban. Its construction lasted three years, from 1667 to 1670, and it was originally a small town surrounded by five bastions forming a star (a circumvolution 2,200 metres long), for which sixty million bricks had to be baked and three million blocks of stone and seventy thousand feet of sandstone extracted from the quarries. Situated on the border with Flanders, it formed part of a double line of strongholds between Gravelines, Dunkirk and Maubeuge. It was the famous "Pré Carré", designed by Vauban and comprising 28 fortified towns, whose relief plans are on display at the Palais des Beaux-Arts. The royal gate at the entrance bears an inscription in Latin praising the glory of the Sun King. As the site is under army control, visits to the heart of the Citadelle can only be booked through the Lille Tourist Office.

This was the largest British offensive mounted in 1915 on the Western Front.  The British would have preferred to remain on the defensive until the BEF numbered 36 divisions and had built up sufficient stocks of ammunition and heavy artillery. However this meant waiting until Spring 1916 and, with the Russians under severe pressure on the Eastern front and the Gallipoli campaign faltering, this was politically impossible. Sir John French's anxiety over the lack of suitable munitions unwisely led him to involve the military reporter Charles Repington. This action ignited a huge controversy back in Britain. The British Army was committed to a battle not of its choosing, in an area unsuited to an attack, without clear objectives and with its major commanders (French and Haig) at loggerheads. The opening saw the first use of poison gas by the British Army, following its introduction by the Germans, and was the first mass engagement of New Army units. Despite heavy casualties, there was considerable success on the first day but the reserve divisions were held too far from the battle front and the whole attack became bogged down. Sir John French had already been much criticised before the battle and his perceived poor handling of his reserve divisions in the battle led to his remaining support in both the Government and Army being severely eroded.He was replaced by Douglas Haig as Commander of the British Expeditionary Force in December 1915. Wikipedia Long, Long Trail

1915 began in a more sombre mood. The initial enthusiasm of the French had been tempered by massive losses. The Germans, although they had thoroughly beaten the Russians on the Eastern front, had been flung back at the battle of the Marne. The British Army was facing up up to modern warfare on a scale it had not prepared for. The War spread to Africa, the Middle East, and brought in Italy and Bulgaria on opposite sides. The Germans began two new campaigns - with Zeppelin attacks from the air and unrestricted U-Boats attacks against merchant and passenger ships around the British Isles. including the sinking of the Lusitania. The French Army launched another disastrous attack in the Champagne region. The second battle of Ypres saw the first use of poison gas against the British. Faced with the appalling conditions and casualties on the Western Front some British politicians (including Winston Churchill) and their military advisors began to look for other fronts where Britain’s naval forces could be involved.  In the Middle East the British began a long campaign against the Turkish armies in Mesopotamia with an initial success at the battle of Kut-al-Amara. Meanwhile in the West the British Army used a combination of poison gas and increased artillery support to punch a hole in the German lines at the battle of Loos which was not properly exploited. From this failure much was learned by the British High Command.

Restaurant offering a small, simple and homemade menu, as well as a wine bar and planks. For more information, visit Website: https://le-fil-rouge-darmentieres.eatbu.com/?lang=fr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lefilrougearmentieres/?locale=fr_FR Contact: 03 20 57 60 87

Neighbourhood-free function room 10 minutes from Lille, with car park. Capacity for 80 people. For more information, visit Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/le521boisgrenier/?locale=fr_FR Contact: 06 10 33 14 70

Bowling, virtual reality and catering. For more information, visit Website: https://www.planetbowling.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/planetbowlinglomme/?locale=fr_FR Contact: 03 20 08 10 56

Restaurant and estaminet. Here, you can enjoy the weather, savour the food, laugh and chat with your neighbours or the waiters and bosses. For more information, visit Website: https://restaurant-lemaisnilmontemps.fr/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lemaisnilmontemps.fr/?locale=fr_FR Contact: 03 20 30 85 17

Bar, restaurant. For more information, visit Contact : 03 20 78 85 47

Les P'tits Chefs is a realm for young and old, creating moments of conviviality and fun. A responsible place to live, it offers a symbiosis of multiple services and activities adapted to the needs of everyone in the family. The Les P'tits Chefs family restaurant promotes local, responsible gastronomy by offering healthy, seasonal, home-cooked food. For more information, visit Website: https://ptits-chefs.fr/ Contact: 06 52 42 84 54

Restaurant on a barge - traditional cuisine based on fresh produce awarded the title of Maîtres Restaurateurs since 2023

This restaurant-péniche welcomes you aboard for a culinary voyage, with its speciality: roast suckling pig and home fries! For more information, visit Website: https://www.kokpiraat.fr/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kokpiraat/?ref=page_internal Contact: 07 61 76 67 29

La Ferme de Gabrielle is a century-old farmhouse that has been transformed into a comfortable holiday home with a rich history. It is situated in the centre of the village of Bizet, in the Armentières-Lille-Ypres triangle, where the guests can enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside. At the same time, the farm is the ideal starting point for a visit to the major nearby tourist sites. This holiday home accommodates up to 6/7 people. Bicycles are available to discover the region and the local products! Vegetable garden and orchard. Covered terrace. The wood-burning stove creates a rustic atmosphere during the winter months.

Lodging in the interior yard of a square farm. Its activities are centered on cattle and agriculture. Located outside the village, in a quiet setting. On your walks you can discover the charms of the Lys. Nearby: Ice Mountain (indoor skiing), Ieper (10 km), Lille (20 km), Bruges (60 km). Ground fl.: lounge (TV, sofa-bed 1x2 p.)/dining r., kitch. (electr. cooker, oven, dishwasher). Washing machine and dryer. Internet. 1 bedr. (1x2 p.), shower r. (shower, WC, washbasin), air conditioning. 2 bedr. (1x2 p.), bathr. (batht., washbasin).

A wonderful place to stay thanks to its numerous facilities. Its rooms are equipped with all mod cons and will delight you with their pleasant and invigorating setting.