Arras is not only an interesting town to visit in its own right - it's a great centre for touring the battlefields of Loos, Notre Dame de Lorette, Vimy Ridge and of the battlefields of the Somme, Arras and Cambrai.

The white pylons of the magnificent Canadian memorial on Vimy Ridge, with undulating ground before it.
These fields north of Arras are deceptively peaceful, for they have been left uncleared of unexploded WW1 ammunition and are dangerous to enter.

Basics

Arras is a sizeable town, just off the Calais-Paris motorway and with excellent rail links. Most people in the tourist spots in the area speak English well, many fluently. The majority of local people do not. The currency in use is the Euro. Credit cards are widely accepted but beware: not all petrol filling stations in France accept British or American cards.

Getting to the Somme

By car from UK: Arras is a 112 km (just over 1 hour) drive from Calais. This is by autoroute, which is a toll road for which you will need some cash. Route with map.
By car from airport: Arras is a 158 km (around 1 hour 30 mins) drive from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.
This is direct by autoroute A1/E15.
By rail: Arras has a main railway station, is a main exchange on the French railway system and well served from all directions. Timetables

What is there to see? The Arras area is so full of places to go and things to see it is hard to know where to begin. "Must not be missed" sites include:

• The Canadian memorial and preserved battlefield of Vimy Ridge
• The British Memorial to the Missing and military cemetery on the Faubourg d'Amiens (town centre)
• The beautiful reconstructed town centre and the caves ("soutterains") running out to the front line
• The memorials in Bullecourt
• The Fampoux/Roeux area for cemeteries and memorials

Downloadable tour itineraries

1 and 3 day tour itineraries to the Arras battlefields are in preparation and should be on the Long, Long Trail soon.

Tourist essentials

1. The main tourist office in in Arras is situated at the Hôtel de Ville, Place des Héros.
2. Monday is closing day: most shops and facilities are closed, at least for the morning.
3. Eating and drinking: there are a plenty of restaurants, bars and cafes in Arras, most grouped around the central squares and the railway station. The larger villages around have some too. You will probably need a packed lunch or picnic when you are out on the battlefields.
4. Banks and ATMs (cash machines) : lots in Arras.
5. Parking: there are several ground-level and underground car parks in the town centre (well signposted), but little on-street parking. No problems parking at sites on the battlefields.
6. Supermarkets: there are all kinds supermarkets in Arras.

Accommodation

When booking any accommodation, buyer beware. The Long, Long Trail can not be held responsible for the availability, price or performance of any of the accommodation listed here. Obviously.

There is a wide selection of accommodation in the town and surrounding villages

Would I stay there? I often choose to stay in Arras, even if I am visiting the Somme. It is easy to get to, easy to park, there are some great hotels and there is a wide choice of restaurants and bars. I find it an atmospheric and welcoming town. Don't be put off by the tower blocks and concrete of some of the suburbs, the old (reconstructed) town centre is a delight. I often eat in "Les Grandes Arcades" on Grande Place.