The Canadian National Vimy Memorial crowns Hill 145, the highest point of Vimy Ridge near the town of Vimy in Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France. It marks the Battle of Vimy Ridge, fought from 9 to 12 April 1917 as the opening phase of the Battle of Arras, when the four divisions of the Canadian Corps attacked together for the first time and captured the ridge that the Germans had held since 1914. The memorial was designed by the Canadian sculptor and architect Walter Allward, built from white limestone brought from a quarry on the Adriatic coast of present-day Croatia, and unveiled by King Edward VIII on 26 July 1936. Its two tall pylons, representing Canada and France, rise from a raised platform, and a group of figures, among them a veiled female Canada Bereft, looks out over the Douai plain. The names of 11,285 Canadian soldiers who died in France and have no known grave are inscribed on the base walls. France granted Canada perpetual use of about 100 hectares of the battlefield in 1922, and the surrounding Vimy Memorial Park preserves the landscape in much of its wartime form. Visitors can walk restored trenches, view cratered ground left by mine explosions, and, with guides from Parks Canada, enter the Grange Subway, a surviving section of the tunnel system used to bring troops to the front line unseen. Because of unexploded ordnance, areas of grassland are fenced and grazed by sheep to avoid disturbing the soil. The curatorial approach is interpretive and immersive: a visitor centre, rebuilt and reopened for the centenary in 2017, uses artefacts, maps and personal accounts, while student guides tell the story at the trenches and tunnels. The memorial required extensive restoration, completed and rededicated in 2007, which replaced deteriorating stone and repaired its foundations. The park remains maintained by Veterans Affairs Canada and Parks Canada, who present it as a place of remembrance rather than a museum. Visitors should allow two to three hours for the memorial, trenches, tunnel tour and visitor centre.
| Admission | Free |
|---|---|
| Hours | Daily 10:00–18:00 |
| Address | Avenue du Mémorial Canadien, 62580 Vimy |
Why it matters
Vimy Ridge was the site of the April 1917 victory in which all four divisions of the Canadian Corps fought together for the first time, an event widely regarded as a defining moment in Canadian national identity. The memorial commemorates 11,285 Canadians lost in France with no known grave.
Location
Avenue du Mémorial Canadien, 62580 Vimy
50.3794, 2.7742 View on map
Highlights
- See Walter Allward's twin white pylons and the veiled figure of Canada Bereft above the Douai plain
- Walk the preserved trenches and mine craters in Vimy Memorial Park
- Join a guided tour of the Grange Subway tunnel with Canadian student guides
- Read the names of 11,285 Canadians with no known grave on the memorial walls
Tips for visiting
- Allow two to three hours to see the memorial, trenches, visitor centre and tunnel tour.
- Stay on marked paths: unexploded ordnance is still present in fenced areas.
- Check the visitor centre on arrival for tunnel tour times, as places are limited.
- Bring a windproof layer; the ridge is open and exposed even in summer.
- Pair with nearby Notre-Dame-de-Lorette French national cemetery for a broader view of the 1914-1918 fighting.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vimy Ridge English-language friendly?
Yes. Guided tours are offered in English and French by Canadian student guides, and interpretation at the visitor centre is bilingual.
How long does a full visit take?
Most visitors need two to three hours. This includes the memorial, a walk through the trenches and the guided tunnel tour.
Can you visit with kids?
Yes, children are welcome and the open grounds suit families. Parents should keep children on the paths because of the fenced, unexploded-ordnance areas.
Is there an entry fee?
No. The memorial, park and visitor centre are free to enter.