Top Things to do in Fromelles
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The 7 Best Things to do in Fromelles, Hauts-de-France
Discover the best top things to do in Fromelles, France including VC Corner Australian Cemetery, Musee de la Bataille de Fromelles, Pheasant Wood Military Cemetery, Australian Memorial Park, Museum of the Battle of Fromelles, Abbiette Bunker, Eglise Saint-jean-baptiste.
1. VC Corner Australian Cemetery
2. Musee de la Bataille de Fromelles
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 47 reviews
Reviewed By heppy43 - Kingston-upon-Hull, United Kingdom
If you’re in the area, this is a must visit. We caught the underground and the bus out to Fromelles from Lille, takes about an hour in total and cost us€3.70 each. The museum is just down past the church and is part of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and is very well kept. There is a lot of information in leaflets and from the very knowledgable staff. The museum itself is excellent, with all information in English, French and a couple of other languages. You also get a voice guide to listen to at the various numbered stations. Take the time and walk the route around the sites, it’s 8.5km or if driving you can safely stop at the sites. It says the walk takes approx 2.5hrs, we took 4hrs as we spent time at the sites. Take food and drinks with you as there are no shops enroute. Bus 235 leaves Lille CHR Oscar Lambret metro station at 11.35 heading to Estaires and get off at Fromelles, walk down past the church and the museum is on your left. The bus back departs at 17.44 and is number 235. It takes around 40mins.
3. Pheasant Wood Military Cemetery
4. Australian Memorial Park
5. Museum of the Battle of Fromelles
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By craigm235 - Sydney, Australia
I went to Fromelles because my Great Uncle remains, who was killed in the Battle of Fromelles on July 19th 1916, were located in a mass grave and were re-interred in a single grave. The new Commonwealth War Grave site truly honours the soldiers who were killed there. Many of whom were not found or identified. The Museum attached to the grave and Memorial is brilliant. Besides having great information on the battle, it has an immersive experience. We sat in a large round space where life size photos of the trenches were displayed. Accompanying this were the sounds of the battle with strobe lights and smoke. It produced just a taste of what it was like for the men who fought there. We were shown on a map of the site how the battle was conducted. It made me very proud of the Australians who fought there. They achieved their objective of breaking through the German lines. Unfortunately the British did not and retreated and this allowed for the Germans fighting them to reinforce those fighting the Australians who were then also forced to retreat. My Great Uncle was part of a Machine Gun Squad who was tasked to cover the retreat. What brave men they were. It was poignant to see this site and the way those who fell are honoured. It is sad that so many were killed. To date, in a battle, it is the largest loss of life for Australians in a single day. Out of a battalion of 10,000 men, 5,533 were casualties. It made me angry because it was a pointless battle. It was ill conceived and executed by the generals. They used the Australians as "cannon fodder". Yet, the Australians achieved their objective and this made me very proud. My Great uncle fought in two battles. Gallipoli and Fromelles. Both failures and both pointless. He was a brave man and I am glad that I was able to honour him 103 years to the day he died.
