From the trenches of the First World War to the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944, and the Dieppe Raid, the Canadian Remembrance Route honours the 500,000 Canadian soldiers who fought for the freedom of the French people on two occasions in the 20th century. Normandy and the Hauts-de-France region bear the lasting scars of fierce battles. By visiting these emotionally charged sites, we remember the Canadians, our cousins across the Atlantic, who made a vital contribution to the Allied forces in both world wars.
Main Sites and Museums of the Canadian Remembrance Route
Whether you’re looking to explore the Canadian Remembrance Route independently, with family, or friends over four or five days, this article is for you!
If you’re interested in taking the route as part of a group or organised tour, please reach out to the Tourist Office of Dieppe, the Tourist office of Caen la Mer or Lens Tourisme.
Day 1 and 2
World War I Sites in Hauts-de-France
The European tensions that would lead to the outbreak of World War I in 1914 seemed distant to the Canadians of the time. However, when the British Empire declared war on the Austro-Hungarian Empire in August of that year, its overseas dominions, including Canada, were automatically drawn into the conflict as well.
The country was still young and sparsely populated, with a militia comprising only a few thousand reservists. By the end of the conflict, Canada would have made significant contributions to the major victories of 1917, including Vimy, and 1918, showcasing its leadership and agility in finding effective strategies to emerge victorious from battles. Some of these Canadian victories were decisive, and the Canadian troops, who had initially been inexperienced and disorganised at the start of the war, transformed into a cohesive, sharp, and formidable force, capturing the attention of the international press for the first time.
World War I is the deadliest conflict in Canadian history, claiming the lives of no fewer than 66,000 Canadians. This profound national mourning, coupled with notable successes and victories, fostered a strong sense of patriotic pride in this generation of Canadians.
Canadian National Memorial in Vimy
Perched atop Vimy Ridge, the Canadian National Memorial in Vimy overlooks the Lens plain, approximately 10 kilometers north of Arras. It stands on the very site of the 1917 battles.
Inaugurated on July 26, 1936, in the presence of King Edward VIII and Albert Lebrun (the President of the French Republic), this remarkable work by Canadian architect and sculptor Walter S. Allward pays tribute to the 66,000 Canadians who lost their lives during the Great War, representing about 1% of the population at that time.
Opened in 2017, the visitor and education center offers insights into Canada’s history before, during, and after the First World War. Its modern architecture harmonizes with the surrounding landscape, creating an atmosphere conducive to reflection and remembrance.
The permanent exhibition titled “We Will Remember” showcases the contributions of Canada and Newfoundland during the First World War, while a temporary exhibition space regularly hosts new displays as part of the center’s programming. During free guided tours led by Canadian students, visitors can explore the tunnels used during the capture of Vimy Ridge. Preserved trenches and two military cemeteries on-site complete a comprehensive visit, providing a deeper understanding of Canada’s involvement in the conflict.
Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial
The Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial is located in the Somme department, near the village of Beaumont-Hamel. At the heart of the memorial, perched atop a hill, stands a bronze caribou, the emblem of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. From this vantage point, the view is breathtaking. Visitors can take in the maze of trenches, the crater-pocked terrain, and the haunting expanse of No Man’s Land.
It was the widows of Newfoundland soldiers who, as early as the 1920s, rallied together to raise the necessary funds to preserve the trenches. This site is one of the few that provides a complete overview of a complex trench system, stretching from the rear lines to the front. It offers visitors a unique opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the soldiers of 1916.
More information on the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial
Other Must-See Sites Nearby in Hauts-de-France
- Wellington Quarry, Arras: Step into one of the most secret locations in military history—a fascinating underground city where over 20,000 Commonwealth soldiers prepared for the largest surprise attack of the First World War: the Battle of Arras.
Find out more - Les chemins de la mémoire – Rememberance Trail: Follow twenty key landmarks commemorating the fallen, including the 37th British Division Monument, the French National Necropolis at La Targette, the Highlanders’ Scottish Cross, the New Zealand Memorial, and the Canadian Memorial Park. Each pays an enduring tribute to the soldiers who fought on the front lines.
Find out more - L’anneau de la mémoire, Notre-Dame-de-Lorette: The Ring of Rememberance, is a striking contemporary memorial, located at the Notre-Dame-de-Lorette Necropolis, forms an immense elliptical structure engraved with the names of 580,000 soldiers from both sides of the Great War. Listed without rank or nationality, it is a powerful symbol of international peace and unity.
Find out more - The Belfry of Arras: Standing 75 metres tall, this UNESCO-listed belfry offers breathtaking views over Arras and its picturesque surrounding countryside.
Find out more - The Louvre-Lens Museum: This architectural gem hosts collections from the Louvre in Paris, displayed in the unique “Gallery of Time.” Here, 5,000 years of art and history are presented in a seamless, non-chronological, and visually stunning layout.
Find out more - The Nord-Pas-de-Calais Mining Basin: For nearly three centuries, this vast 120 km-long and 12 km-wide area was the beating heart of France’s coal industry. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012, it remains a living cultural landscape, with its distinctive slag heaps rising dramatically to 180 metres.
Find out more
Plan your trip to Northern France (Hauts-de-France)
The Arras Tourist Office and Lens Tourism are here to assist you in planning your stay. Whether you need help with accommodation, restaurants, guided tours, or discovering local heritage, their expertise will ensure a seamless and memorable experience.
- Lens Tourisme: tourisme-lens.fr + 33 (0)3 21 67 66 66
- Arras Pays d’Artois Tourist Office: www.arraspaysdartois.com +33 (0)3 21 51 26 95
Days 3, 4 and 5
World War II Sites and Museums in Normandy
In the 1930s, amid political instability and social precariousness, Nazi Germany sought to impose its dominance over Europe. In September 1939, Canada declared a state of war and joined the ranks of the Allies. The nation committed its human, industrial, and financial resources to a continuous war effort, mobilising the most powerful military force in its history. At that time, with a population of 11 million, 1 million men and women from Canada served in the armed forces. On land, at sea, and in the air, Canada participated in the major campaigns that would lead to Germany’s capitulation and the restoration of peace. A total of 45,000 Canadians lost their lives during the Second World War, including 5,500 during the Battle of Normandy and 381 on D-Day.
Memorial of August 19, 1942 in Dieppe
During the Anglo-Canadian raid on Dieppe, carried out on August 19, 1942, soldiers landed on the beaches of Puys, Pourville, Varengeville, Berneval, and Dieppe but ultimately failed and had to retreat urgently to England. The losses were considerable. However, this raid allowed the Allies to better understand the conditions necessary for the success of future amphibious operations, including the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944.
The memorial is dedicated to the memory of the soldiers who were killed during Operation Jubilee. It is temporarily housed at the Petit Théâtre de Dieppe, an Italian-style theatre built in 1826, while awaiting restoration. The memorial displays numerous documents, objects, and models in tribute to the Allied soldiers, sailors, and airmen who participated in the raid, along with a film projection on Operation Jubilee.
The Canadian House in Bernières-sur-Mer
The first house to be liberated during the maritime landings on June 6, 1944, the Canadian House in Bernières-sur-Mer was occupied early that morning by the Queen’s Own Rifle of Canada infantry regiment. The Canadians were instructed not to destroy it, as this early 20th-century Anglo-Norman-style residence served as a vital landmark on Juno Beach. It appears in numerous official photographs from the landings and in films commemorating D-Day.
Until September 1944, the house was used as headquarters by Admiral Cooper, who coordinated supply operations for Allied troops advancing inland from there. Guided tours are available by reservation only: [email protected]
The Juno Beach Centre in Courseulles-sur-Mer
As the only museum dedicated to Canada on the D-Day Landing Beaches of Normandy, this interpretation centre showcases the civil and military war effort of the entire Canadian population across various fronts during the Second World War. Through films, interactive displays, audio archives, and artifacts, it pays tribute to the 45,000 Canadians who lost their lives during the conflict, including 5,500 during the Battle of Normandy and 381 on D-Day.
Caen Memorial
The Caen Memorial was built on an underground bunker that served as the former command post of German General Wilhelm Richter. Featuring period costumes and artifacts, military equipment, temporary exhibitions, and an immersive film titled “Europe, Our History,” the museum’s exhibits narrate the harrowing story of the 20th century, from the origins of the Second World War to the end of the Cold War.
Other Sites to explore in Normandy
- The Canadian Military Cemetery of Vertus in Hautot-sur-Mer: This cemetery is the final resting place for over 950 military graves, including 707 Canadians.
- The beaches of the Alabaster Coast, such as Puys, Pourville, and Varengeville-sur-Mer, were the sites of Operation Jubilee on August 19, 1942, and can be visited on a boat tour.
- The Canadian Military Cemetery in Reviers/Bény-sur-Mer: Located a few kilometers from Juno Beach, the Reviers-Bény-sur-Mer Canadian cemetery, along with the one in Bretteville-sur-Laize, is the second Canadian military cemetery in Normandy. It houses the remains of more than 2,000 Canadian soldiers who fell on June 6, 1944, and during the early weeks of the Battle of Normandy.
- Juno Park, Courseulles-sur-Mere: this coastal area was the scene of fierce fighting on June 6, 1944, the day of the landings, and still contains many remnants of the defense system that made up the Atlantic Wall, including tetrahedrons, tobrouks, bunkers (which are open for visits in season), and cannons from the Royal Canadian Artillery.
- Abbey of Ardenne in Saint-Germain-la-Blanche-Herbe: On June 6, 1944, as the Allies landed on the Normandy beaches, the abbey was a strategic point that fell into the hands of the 12th SS-Panzer Hitlerjugend Division on June 7. On that day, during the early stages of the battle, the Germans captured Canadian soldiers and took them to the abbey. Eighteen of these young men were executed, in violation of the Geneva Convention and the rights of prisoners. Other summary executions occurred during this month of battle. Today, a memorial commemorates this tragic event at the site. The abbey was retaken from the Germans on July 8, 1944, by soldiers of the Regina Rifle Regiment, allowing for the liberation of the left bank of Caen the following day.
- The Canadian Memorial Garden at the Caen Memorial: In 1995, the Canadian support committee created its memorial garden at the Caen Memorial. Designed by twelve architecture students from the universities of Montreal and Ottawa, the Canadian garden is a place of reflection. The names of the 122 Norman communities liberated by Canadian soldiers are inscribed on the wall. The words of Virgil are etched into the black granite plaque at the center of the monument: “Nulla dies umquam memori vos eximet aevo” (Never shall time erase you from the memory of ages).
- The fine sandy beaches of the Côte de Nacre, such as Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, lined with 19th-century villas and white beach cabins.
- The Château de Fontaine-Henry: Classified as a historical monument, the castle was built in the early 13th century and has been continuously enhanced since. Never sold, it has been passed down from generation to generation since its founding by the de Tilly family to its current owner, the Marquis d’Oilliamson. With a 16-meter high roof structure, it is reputed to have the tallest roofs in France and is also known for its sculpted façades, earning it the title of “a Loire castle lost in Normandy.”
Plan your trip to Normandy
The tourist offices in Dieppe, Courseulles-sur-Mer, and Caen la Mer are here to help you plan an unforgettable stay! Whether you’re looking for cozy accommodation, delightful restaurants, guided tours, or heritage visits, we’ve got you covered. Let us make your trip truly memorable!
The Tourist Offices along the Canadian Remembrance Route
Dieppe-Normandie Tourisme
Pont Jehan Ango
76200 Dieppe
+33(0)2 32 14 40 60
Groups and Organized Tours: Rachel Martel, Communication Officer : +33 (0)7 62 22 46 29 – [email protected]
Caen la Mer Tourist Office
12 Place Saint-Pierre
14000 Caen
+33 (0)2 31 27 14 14
www.caenlamer-tourisme.fr
Coeur de Nacre Tourisme – Courseulles-sur-Mer Tourist Office
Lens Tourisme
16 place Jean Jaurès
62300 Lens
+33 (0)3 21 67 66 66
tourisme-lens.fr
Groups: Éléonore Francotte: [email protected]
Arras Pays d’Artois Tourism Office for Leisure and Conferences
Hôtel de Ville / Town Hall
Place des Héros BP 40049
62001 Arras Cedex
+33 (0)3 21 51 26 95