VIMY RIDGE IN VINTAGE OPEN-AIR FRENCH MEHARI WITH CANADIAN GUIDE
Discover the history & landscapes of Vimy Ridge in a unique and memorable way aboard Citronette, a vintage open-air Citroën Méhari.
This scenic experience is designed for those who want to fully experience Vimy Ridge. Combining open-air transport, a carefully-curated route along memorial sites & the French countryside, guided commentary at all stops & a picnic overlooking the ridge, this is a unique & meaningful way to see history first-hand & discover the landscapes of the First World War.
Your journey begins at your Arras or Lens hotel or train station, where you will be transferred to the foot of Vimy Ridge to begin your experience in Citronette at Vimy House. You will then set off to the Canadian National Vimy Memorial for the beginning of your tour.
YOUR ROUTE
The charming French village of Givenchy en Gohelle with its wall murals, poppies, Canadian flags, maple leaf welcome signs & view of Vimy Ridge.
Vimy Memorial for a guided tour of the monument: an incredible work of memorial art, the history of its construction, its architect and signifiance for Canadians.
Guided tour of the Battle of Vimy Ridge: Travel through the wider battlefield landscape in the Vimy park: the preserved terrain of the Vimy Memorial, Moroccan Monument, Canadian Cemetery N. 2, Givenchy Road Cemetery, craters, shell holes & trenches - with stops for photos & experiencing the renewed yet wartorn landscape.
Stop at historic British and French cemeteries
See village monuments & memorials
Stop at the site of the Christmas Truce
Continue towards the heights of Mont-Saint-Éloi
See the Polish Memorial and cemetery of Czech & Slovak soldiers who fought in the French Foreign Legion
Guided tour at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, home to France’s largest military cemetery - over 40 000 soldiers laid to rest & the Ring of Remembrance, a powerful memorial honouring 580 000 soldiers of all nationalities who fell in the region. The basilica and lantern tower honour the memory of the fallen in a powerful, sacred landscape.
This is slow tourism at its best, experiencing the memorial landscape along the ride and fully enjoying the scenery.
WHY CHOOSE THIS EXPERIENCE
Guided tour of Vimy Memorial & Vimy Ridge Battlefield
Travel in an iconic French vintage open-air vehicle with your local Canadian & French experts
See more of the Vimy Ridge battlefield and memorial sites of other combatting nations
Enjoy a scenic route between key sites
Perfect for couples and families looking for a meaningful, enjoyable and unique experience
Good to know
Duration: 4 hours
Group size: 2 participants
Language: English or French
Meeting point: In Arras or Lens at the train station or your hotel
Weather: Open-air vehicle—please dress accordingly
OPTIONAL ADD-ONS
Poppy Picnic (catered gourmet 3-course meal with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients)
Vimy Ridge vineyard tour & tasting - you can enjoy the picnic right in the vineyard!
