Arras Tunnels

[burlington]

The Tourist office in Arras promised to send me some info about the tunnels, but so far nothing has arrived.

Does anyone know of an alternative source of info eg location, opening times etc?

Regards

[Andrew Hesketh]

The location is straightforward. Head to a huge great Church-like building near the certain of town, off a square. Opening times? No idea I'm afraid.

[Chris_Baker]

Tourist info page: here. Not sure how up to date this is, as entry price is still given in Francs.

[MartinWills]

I have a feeling that the last tour starts well in advance of the closing time (perhaps an hour?).

Martin

[Nicolas G.]

Hello,

Never went there but I find in my stuff that recent map but nothing else. The other paper is the story of the place in French + say visits start from the hotel de ville and last 30 or 35 mn, phone 0321512695 and fax 0321710734.

"Tunnel" = galeries souterraines / hotel de ville.

It's 250 kb pdf to download as the quick photo I shoted was too big to be put on that msg.

Hope it will help.

Nicolas

arras.pdf

[burlington]

Thanks everyone.

Very helpful

[ianw]

I recall the fairly recent discovery of large quantities of kit being discoveredin Arras and a dressing station ? Has anything been done to display this material or the locations they were found in ?

[salientpoints]

When I visited in last they told us in 2003 more tunnels etc would be opened up.

Not sure if this happened or not as I haven't been back yet.

Arras Tourist board site is here

http://www.ot-arras.fr/ang/une.htm

I am not 100% but think the last tour was indeed early - started about 3pm? and as long as you fing the tourist office you will find the caves etc.

Useful map and contact info on there also. They did kindly send me all the bumpf when I emailed them.

[Paul Reed]

The latest I hear is that the Wellington Tunnel system, which is the one referred to above, will be open 2005/2006.

[Guest Florian]

Here are some information on the undergrounds of Arras

You can consult this page on Arras:nordmag.com arras

Les souterrains d'Arras auraient pour origine les carrières de pierre nécessaire à la construction de la ville.

Entre 1916 et 1918, l'armée Britannique les investit complètement, les unités spécialisées du génie telle la New Zealand Tunneling Company y aménageant à la barbe du front allemand une véritable ville troglodyte comportant des zones de rpos et de cantonnement , un lieu de culte, une centrale électrique... Les salles baptisées par les Tommies de noms d'animaux (Russell, Nelson...), de généraux (Wellington, le vainqueur de Waterloo) ou de bases militaires (New PLymouth) étaient reliées entre elles par des artères principales permettant la montée des troupes vers le front et même à l'arrière des lignes allemandes. En 1917, 11000 combattans britanniques auraient été postés dans ces souterrains.

The undergrounds of Arras would originate in the stone quarries necessary to the construction of the city. Between 1916 and 1918, the Britannique army invests them completely, the specialized units of the genius such New Zealand Tunneling Company arranging there with the beard of the German face a true troglodyte city comprising of the zones of rpos and quartering, a place of worship, a power station... The rooms baptized by Tommies of names of animals (Russell, Nelson...), of Generals (Wellington, the winner of Waterloo) or of military bases (New PLymouth) were connected between them by principal arteries allowing the rise of the troops towards the face and even to the back of the German lines. In 1917, 11000 British combattans would have been posted in these undergrounds.

source : casterman guide "Première guerre mondiale des Flandres à l'Alsace"