Interpretive Centre at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial

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On November 9, 1997 representatives of the Government of Canada officially opened the Interpretive Centre at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France. The event was the culmination of almost two years' work. In April of 1997, the Memorial was designated one of only two Canadian national historic sites to be located outside of Canada. (The other is the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial that commemorates the Newfoundlanders lost in France during the First World War. The greatest loss was suffered at the Battle of the Somme on July 1, 1916, when the Newfoundland Regiment was virtually annihilated.)

The Centre is intended to complement currently available guided tours of the tunnels and trenches on site. It helps visitors to more fully interpret the Memorial and the history of the Battle of Vimy against a backdrop of Canada's participation in the First World War.

In addition to an information kiosk and an office for the France-based Friends of Vimy volunteer group, the Centre houses a five-part display. The five sections deal with specific themes: Canada at War; Unrelenting War; Vimy, a well-planned offensive; Vimy, the taking of the Ridge; and Canada remembers the War. With the use of banner-sized reproductions of pictures and posters in tones of sepia and ochre, artifacts, maps, graphic representations, a multi-media audio-visual presentation, and explanatory text, the display will help visitors to truly experience Vimy at the time of the Great War. The display seeks to wrap the visitor in the atmosphere of Vimy in 1917, drawing on one's emotions and senses to enhance one's understanding of the facts.

The Vimy Interpretive Centre is situated about 200 metres from the Vimy Monument near the main parking lot. The Vimy Memorial is located about 10 kilometres north of Arras, France.

It is recommended by the Visitors Centre at Vimy that visitors wishing to view the tunnels should pre-book tours. To make a booking, please contact the Interpretation Centre at Vimy: Tel: 011-333-21-50-68-68. If it is very busy, the Centre may not be able to accommodate visitors who turn up without pre-booking.