The main, older, part of Arras is centred on two large, linked, cobbled squares – Grand Place and Place des Héros. They are surrounded by tall narrow houses above colonnaded arcades at street level which house lively shops, bars and restaurants.

At the head of the Grand Place stands the dramatic gothic Hotel de Ville (town hall) with its bell tower. The tower is open to the public, at least for those with a head for heights, and provides a panoramic view of the town and surrounding countryside, there are diagrams explaining what can be seen.

Underneath the centre of Arras there are many miles of tunnels, known as “les Boves” cut into the chalk bedrock on which Arras stands. These have long been used for storage of food and wine and other products. In times of conflict the tunnels have provided defence and shelter, including during World War 1.

For those who like to shop there are large, twice weekly, markets that take place in the squares on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. The squares are frequently used for other events such as fairs and concerts.

The impressive Hotel de Ville is a statement of the long prosperity of Arras. Inside here is a “Diaporama”; a slide show describing the history of Arras which provides a good introduction to the town. As well as in French there are frequent times when the commentary is in English or German.

Robespierre, the leader of the French Revolution and the “Terror”, lived in Arras. His house is open to the public and houses a display of Arras crafts.

For military historians, and others interested in the battles of the Great War, Arras is well placed for visiting the battlefields and cemeteries of northern France. Some of the best preserved trenches in France are at nearby Vimy Ridge.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge, or the Second Battle of Arras, was a turning point in the First World War as new tactics were adopted that delegated more decision making to junior and non-commissioned officers and even to individual soldiers.

Canadian forces played a major part in the battle and took major losses. The Canadian War Memorial at Vimy Ridge is one of only two Canadian National Historic Sites outside Canada. It sits dramatically on the ridge of what was Hill 145.

Arras, Information, Travel and Accomodation

Arras is not only pretty but also a lively modern town. It is well served with cafes, hotels and restaurants for most budgets. It is well worth a visit as it is so convenient for the Channel ferries and Eurotunnel for UK visitors and has access to a good road and rail network across France to Germany. The Belgian border is nearby with good links on to The Netherlands.

There is an airport at Lille where there are also fast trains (TGV) linking Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris and London.

The starting point on arrival in any French town is the Tourist Information Office (Office du Tourisme) which in Arras is in Place des Héros.