Whether you’re a history lover, a school or group, or someone trying to find out about a relative who died in World War One, the Somme has sites, events and accommodation suited to your needs.
Thiepval Memorial inscribed with the name of 72 195 soldats whose bodies have never been found.
With an extension to the visitor centre at the Thiepval Memorial in 2016 and several commemorative events in 2017 / 2018, there’s never been a better time to visit the Somme – to pay homage, to teach young people about the war and its legacy, or to deepen your understanding of your family’s history.
Thiepval Visitor Centre has a database to try to track down ancestors.
Meanwhile, from April to November, the Historial de la Grande Guerre in Péronne is hosting ‘Alexandre Zinoview (–1977): le Théâtre de la Guerre’, showcasing the Russian painter who joined the French Foreign Legion and painted his experiences as a a serving soldier, machine-gunner and stretcher-bearer.
Commemorative Events in 2017 / 2018
• 26 June to 3 July 2017: open-air concerts by Vierge Penchée pipers in Place d’Armes, Albert.
• 25 April 2018: New Zealand ANZAC Day service at Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval.
• 24 & 25 April 2018: Australia and New Zealand ANZAC Day commemorating the 103rd anniversary of the Gallipoli Landings. Includes the Australian ANZAC Day Dawn Service at the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux.
