Australian National Memorial
Australian National Memorial
5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The Australian National Memorial was inaugurated in 1938 to commemorate all Australian soldiers who fought in France and Belgium during the First World War. The names of over 10,000 Australian soldiers with no known grave are listed on its walls. The memorial is adjacent the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery and the Sir John Monash Centre.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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5.0
327 reviews
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Demonakis
London, UK279 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
I visited here with my wife, adult children and their partners. Being an Australian living in the UK, I was travelling through here on holiday and thought I would stop and pay my respects. The site exceeded my expectations not only in terms of the planning, building and maintenance of the site, but the wonderful country views surrounding. As a side-note, we used the facilities before leaving and they were the poshest public toilets I have ever found anywhere.
Written October 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
H.F. Callaghan
Cabramurra, Australia318 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
Very impressed. Well done Aussie’s and thank you to the French for hosting and supporting. It was a very emotional ceremony. Well run and organised. Although raining v we were given capes. The shuttle busses were great and on time plenty of car parking and even a hot tea at the conclusion. You’ve done us proud and our servicemen and women who still lie there.
Written May 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dimitris L
Sydney, Australia51,639 contributions
Oct 2019
The Australian National Memorial is one of several sights of great significance to Australians. It was built in the 1930s and a service is held there every year on ANZAC Day, Australian National Day, to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives in the Great War. The Memorial lists almost 11 000 names of soldiers with no known grave. It is a must visit sight, particularly for Australians.
Written August 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bob B
Brisbane, Australia254 contributions
May 2011 • Couples
Booked online with Terresdememoire for a 2 day tour of Australian WW1 battlefields in Flanders and the Somme. We were picked up from Amiens railway station (max 8 people) and with a qualified guide covered Villers Bretonneux, Victoria school, Poziers, Bullecourt, Frommelles, Hill 60, Menin Gate, Passchendale, plus others. Finished off the tour with the Last Post service at Menin Gate and then taken to the Lillie train station for the quick trip back to Paris. Day 2 we had Sylvestre as our tour guide, a very proffesional and passionate guide. Nothing was too much trouble and was a highlight of our trip to France. Would recomend this tour to every one with an interest in visiting this part of the world.
Written October 14, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patrick R
Sydney, Australia824 contributions
Dec 2013 • Family
The people of Villers-Bretonneux will never forget Australia.
Located near Amiens and just south of the River Somme, about 135km from Paris by car, or a 45 minute car ride from the Train station of St Quentin (which is about a 1.5 hour train ride from Gare du Nord station in Paris) you will find a small village trapped in time.
Just outside this village is the Australian war memorial.
This beautiful little village has not changed much at all from the horrifying images I have seen of the village being destroyed during WWI in 1918.
The images you see of never ending mud from WWI news reels & The Somme, completely surround this village & memorial on the drive out, this is all you can see. The same mud our Australian forefathers of the Australian Imperial Force toiled in to fight for "King & Country" and of course this beautiful village of Villers-Bretonneux.
In March 1918, the Germans launched a major offensive to take the strategic town of Amiens. As the Germans moved westwards towards their goal, they captured Villers-Bretonneux on 23 April. The British high command feared that if the Germans moved on to take Amiens, the war would be lost. The job of retaking Villers-Bretonneux was assigned to two Australian brigades.
The plan was to encircle and trap the Germans. There would be no preliminary bombardment. Instead the Australians would launch a surprise attack at night. Two battalions would begin the assault from the south towards the east of Villers-Bretonneux while three battalions would attack from the north at the same time.
The assault began at 10pm on 24 April. It was a do-or-die attack. The diggers took out the German machine guns then fought the enemy in a ferocious house-to-house confrontation. One German officer later wrote that the Australians 'were magnificent, nothing seemed to stop them. When our fire was heaviest, they just disappeared in shell holes and came up as soon as it slackened.'
By dawn on 25 April, exactly three years after the Anzacs stormed ashore at Gallipoli, the Australians had broken through the German positions and the French and Australian flags were raised over Villers-Bretonneux. It took the rest of the day and into the next to secure the town. But secure it they did and the Anzacs established a new front line, marking the end of the German offensive on the Somme. A British General called the Anzac attack 'perhaps the greatest individual feat of the war'.
But it came at a huge cost for Australia. 1200 died saving the village.
The French, though, have never forgotten the sacrifice. The Australian flag still flies over Villers-Bretonneux. A plaque outside the Town Hall tells the story of events in the town in 1918. Kangaroos feature over the entrance to the Town Hall. The main street is named Rue de Melbourne.
The children of Villers-Bretonneux are especially indebted to Australia. After the war, it was money donated from schoolchildren in Victoria that paid for the rebuilding of the village school. It was named Victoria School and a plaque recalls the diggers' sacrifice:
What a pretty place the memorial is to visit. It is so peaceful.
The grounds are superbly maintained, the headstones are millimetre perfect.
Be sure to run your hands over these beautiful headstones, the feel, the texture, the quality is outstanding, and remember these are over 95 years old.
Take your time, have a good read of some of the names and dates, its very sobering to understand what happened here all those years ago.
The sandstone carvings of the Australian flags are truly amazing, and worth your time just to look at them, almost a work of art in themselves.
The bullet hole ridden memorial is testament as to what happened here during WWII, when this beautiful village and this monument were nearly lost again.
All the inscriptions mean something, so a tour guide id recommended.
What amazed me is it looked like construction only ceased a couple of years ago. The surrounding area simply has NOT changed in all these years.
This is what makes the memorial so special, it overlooks the same view as it did when all these Australian hero's defended this pretty place on the other side of the world, they had never even heard of, and without fear they did just that.
"Never forget Australia" is emblazoned on the back wall of the Victoria School. This has been there for over 95 years, and the children of the Victoria School will ensure it stays there for the next 95 years.
They will never forget us, nor will we ever forget this amazingly beautiful and peaceful little village every Australian has heard of, Villers-Bretonneux, and its beautiful Australian War Memorial.
If you want the WORLDS best coffee, a visit to the "Le Forum" Café at 1 Rue de la République on the corner of Rue du Général Leclerc. Amazing coffee amazing people even though they do not speak English one little bit :-)
It is not a problem, they are fantastic and we so much enjoyed the warm surroundings while there.
Located near Amiens and just south of the River Somme, about 135km from Paris by car, or a 45 minute car ride from the Train station of St Quentin (which is about a 1.5 hour train ride from Gare du Nord station in Paris) you will find a small village trapped in time.
Just outside this village is the Australian war memorial.
This beautiful little village has not changed much at all from the horrifying images I have seen of the village being destroyed during WWI in 1918.
The images you see of never ending mud from WWI news reels & The Somme, completely surround this village & memorial on the drive out, this is all you can see. The same mud our Australian forefathers of the Australian Imperial Force toiled in to fight for "King & Country" and of course this beautiful village of Villers-Bretonneux.
In March 1918, the Germans launched a major offensive to take the strategic town of Amiens. As the Germans moved westwards towards their goal, they captured Villers-Bretonneux on 23 April. The British high command feared that if the Germans moved on to take Amiens, the war would be lost. The job of retaking Villers-Bretonneux was assigned to two Australian brigades.
The plan was to encircle and trap the Germans. There would be no preliminary bombardment. Instead the Australians would launch a surprise attack at night. Two battalions would begin the assault from the south towards the east of Villers-Bretonneux while three battalions would attack from the north at the same time.
The assault began at 10pm on 24 April. It was a do-or-die attack. The diggers took out the German machine guns then fought the enemy in a ferocious house-to-house confrontation. One German officer later wrote that the Australians 'were magnificent, nothing seemed to stop them. When our fire was heaviest, they just disappeared in shell holes and came up as soon as it slackened.'
By dawn on 25 April, exactly three years after the Anzacs stormed ashore at Gallipoli, the Australians had broken through the German positions and the French and Australian flags were raised over Villers-Bretonneux. It took the rest of the day and into the next to secure the town. But secure it they did and the Anzacs established a new front line, marking the end of the German offensive on the Somme. A British General called the Anzac attack 'perhaps the greatest individual feat of the war'.
But it came at a huge cost for Australia. 1200 died saving the village.
The French, though, have never forgotten the sacrifice. The Australian flag still flies over Villers-Bretonneux. A plaque outside the Town Hall tells the story of events in the town in 1918. Kangaroos feature over the entrance to the Town Hall. The main street is named Rue de Melbourne.
The children of Villers-Bretonneux are especially indebted to Australia. After the war, it was money donated from schoolchildren in Victoria that paid for the rebuilding of the village school. It was named Victoria School and a plaque recalls the diggers' sacrifice:
What a pretty place the memorial is to visit. It is so peaceful.
The grounds are superbly maintained, the headstones are millimetre perfect.
Be sure to run your hands over these beautiful headstones, the feel, the texture, the quality is outstanding, and remember these are over 95 years old.
Take your time, have a good read of some of the names and dates, its very sobering to understand what happened here all those years ago.
The sandstone carvings of the Australian flags are truly amazing, and worth your time just to look at them, almost a work of art in themselves.
The bullet hole ridden memorial is testament as to what happened here during WWII, when this beautiful village and this monument were nearly lost again.
All the inscriptions mean something, so a tour guide id recommended.
What amazed me is it looked like construction only ceased a couple of years ago. The surrounding area simply has NOT changed in all these years.
This is what makes the memorial so special, it overlooks the same view as it did when all these Australian hero's defended this pretty place on the other side of the world, they had never even heard of, and without fear they did just that.
"Never forget Australia" is emblazoned on the back wall of the Victoria School. This has been there for over 95 years, and the children of the Victoria School will ensure it stays there for the next 95 years.
They will never forget us, nor will we ever forget this amazingly beautiful and peaceful little village every Australian has heard of, Villers-Bretonneux, and its beautiful Australian War Memorial.
If you want the WORLDS best coffee, a visit to the "Le Forum" Café at 1 Rue de la République on the corner of Rue du Général Leclerc. Amazing coffee amazing people even though they do not speak English one little bit :-)
It is not a problem, they are fantastic and we so much enjoyed the warm surroundings while there.
Written August 12, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KieranMcC
Brisbane, Australia93 contributions
Apr 2011 • Friends
This impressive memorial - The Australian National Memorial - is 10-15 minutes drive from Amiens and on the D23 between Villers-Bretonneux and Corbie. It is well signed from the D1029 from Amiens and worth a visit at any time of the year . In days of yore you had to obtain the key, to ascend the tower, from the gendarmerie in Villers-Bretonneux. These days it appears to be open during the day, at least in the warmer months, perhaps owing to a greater number of visitors in recent years . The panorama from the tower - north to Corbie and the Morlancourt Ridge , west to Amiens, south to VB and east to Le Hamel gives an excellent perspective of the Australian fighting here from April-August 1918 in one sweep. From here you can can get your bearings to do a loop through Corbie , driving up the Morlancourt Ridge and along the D1 to the St Colette Brickworks ( scene of The Red Baron's downing ) and the Australian 3rd Div Memorial , crossing back across the Somme at Sailly-Laurette and proceeding to the Australian Corps Memorial Park overlooking Le Hamel . From here , back to VB and the Victoria School , where the Musee Franco-Australien is located . That whole drive without stops can be undertaken in well under the hour , but of course a stop in all of the abovementioned places is rewarding . Access to the tower is not permitted , however, between 23-26 April each year , owing to the technical preparations and tidy up for the telecast of the Dawn Service on Anzac Day . If you are heading out to the Dawn Service on Anzac Day under your own steam be aware there is a traffic plan in place - that can be viewed under the commemorations tab of the Australian Government's Dept of Veterans' Affairs . The municipality has put buses from the main rail hub in Amiens for Anzac Day, for people not driving and not part of a tour. Departure times are around 4.15am -4.30am , to get you to VB by around 5.15am for the start of the service. Check ANZAC in France website - www.anzac-france.com .
Written August 17, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mrandmrsbeas
Sydney, Australia532 contributions
Sep 2014 • Family
In the middle of fields in Villers-Bretonnex is the Australian War Memorial which honours those who gave their lives during this important battle. The cemetery is well maintained. Take time to walk to the top of the tower and then wander through reading the headstones. You can record your visit in the visitor register kept on site. For Australians travelling independently to the area I would suggest you stay at Peronne (recommend Som Home) and travel to the various areas from there. The tourist information in Peronne gave us an excellent brochure and map of Villers-Bretonnex which detailed all the key sites in the town which we would not have found without it. As our visit was on a Sunday, the Franco-Australian museum was closed (as was everything else in the small town) We also went to the Adelaide cemetery where the unknown solider was exhumed and repatriated to Australian War Memorial in 1993. Other sites included Crucifix corner cemetery, French War memorial, Villiers-Bretonneux cross and the Tank Monument (very small on the side of the road and easy to miss). Lest we forget.
Written September 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
QueenK21
Melbourne, Australia6 contributions
Dec 2017
This was recommended to us by some friends who had visited in Summer. We saw that there were tours available for quite a cost but on the advice of our friends we chose to do it ourselves. We were staying in Paris and it was only two trains to get from Paris out to Villers-Bretonneux - very easy! The second train is only about ten minutes.
We arrived in Villers just before 9am and wandered around while waiting for the museum to open. The man working at the museum was extremely informative and the museum itself was very well done. Once we had finished looking in the museum the man gave us directions to get to the Adelaide Cemetery and the War Memorial. We walked from the Museum to the Cemetery first probably taking about twenty minutes and then after spending some time at the cemetery we walked to the Memorial.
It is a bit of a walk to get there but it takes you through the town centre and then you walk through the countryside hills, really quite nice. When we were there there was a couple getting a private tour. We felt we really saved money by skipping the tour because if you visit the museum you receive all of the information that you need and then you are merely able to reflect once you are at the cemetery and memorial.
Would definitely recommend this trip to others, especially Australians. It's also a good way to see more to France than just Paris without travelling too far or spending too much money. We went in mid-December and the weather was good enough that we could walk between sites, only the wind was a little strong at the memorial.
We arrived in Villers just before 9am and wandered around while waiting for the museum to open. The man working at the museum was extremely informative and the museum itself was very well done. Once we had finished looking in the museum the man gave us directions to get to the Adelaide Cemetery and the War Memorial. We walked from the Museum to the Cemetery first probably taking about twenty minutes and then after spending some time at the cemetery we walked to the Memorial.
It is a bit of a walk to get there but it takes you through the town centre and then you walk through the countryside hills, really quite nice. When we were there there was a couple getting a private tour. We felt we really saved money by skipping the tour because if you visit the museum you receive all of the information that you need and then you are merely able to reflect once you are at the cemetery and memorial.
Would definitely recommend this trip to others, especially Australians. It's also a good way to see more to France than just Paris without travelling too far or spending too much money. We went in mid-December and the weather was good enough that we could walk between sites, only the wind was a little strong at the memorial.
Written March 3, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ryszard L
Sydney, Australia329 contributions
May 2014 • Solo
As you drive into the village of Villers-Bretonneux from the direction of Amiens, there is a large sign on the side of the road featuring a stylized kangaroo with the message 'L'Australie en Picardie". It's almost a home away from home! A left turn on to the D23 and it's a short drive to the Australian War Memorial. When I reached it, the rain had stopped and, as I was the only one there, I found parking easy and I stopped to look around the countryside. The Memorial sits alone on top of a rise with commanding views over the fields to Amiens. The wreaths from the ANZAC Day Service were still there which added more poignancy to the scene. The only sound was the rushing of the wind as it blew strongly over the countryside and, when the sun came out, the clarity of the air made the dazzling white of the memorial and headstones even more stark. The whole atmosphere was one of sombre reflection as, again, the dreadful toll of the war became a palpable reality. No Australian should miss this.
Written April 18, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard F
Brisbane, Australia81 contributions
Nov 2013 • Solo
This is an essential place for Aussie tourists to visit. There are lots of tombstones there and there is a list of names of the fallen soldiers on the wall towards the back of the memorial. You can search for your family name there. The town of Villers-Bretonneux is only a short drive from the memorial. You can grab something to eat at the Victoria Cafe in town, or visit the school where there's a sign that says "Never forget Australia". They obviously love the Australians in this town. Amiens, which is a reasonably large town, is only about a 20 - 30 minute drive away. I stayed in Amiens when I visited. Amiens has plenty of hotels and restaurants etc. Villers-Bretonneux is a very small town.
Written October 31, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hey everyone,
I am looking for a good, reasonably priced tour guide for a 1 - 2 day tour in Villers Bretonneux - we are doing a last minute trip next week and EVERYTHING seems to be booked up... any contacts or suggestions??
Alternatively, is it fairly easy to organize something with a guide on arrival or is everything generally booked out?
Written May 22, 2019
Try ‘Terres de Memoire Somme Battlefield Tours’, we did a fantastic one day tour with them last year, definitely worth the $$s.
Written May 24, 2019
Hi, I am traveling to France to attend the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Australian War Memorial on Sunday the 11 November. I am staying in Paris but was wondering what is the best way to get to the Memorial from Paris? The first train to Amiens on Sunday morning arrives too late. I don’t mind a private transfer but am traveling on my own and thought other people may be traveling from Paris?
Written November 5, 2018
We drove there. The memorial didn’t seem to have much public transport going there. You may find it easier to hire a car for the day.
Written November 6, 2018
duckling2018
Gold Coast, Australia
Hi, will be looking at doing a battlefield tour end of April-May "Anzacs on the Western Front" 2019, wondering if anyone has done this tour, and what tour companies?
Back- Roads,
Mat McLachlan
France at your Fingertips.
Written August 11, 2018
Hi, We had a car and we stayed in Amiens and just drove to Villiers Bretonneux, there is parking at the site, although if you are going to go for Anzac Day you may not be able to park there. I do not know which tour companies go there, but there is lots of them.
Written August 14, 2018
Julie C
Surrey Hills, Australia
I will be travelling by train to Villers Bretonneux and want to go to the John Monash Centre. What are my budget options?
Written June 10, 2018
Very affordable as long as you’re happy to walk from the station. The walk is like walking across an undulating meadow so wear comfortable shoes / boots. The memorial site itself is free admission and the John Monash centre is also free if you bring your own headphones for the tour. If not, they sell headphones for about €3 each from memory. You’ll want to do this for the full experience.
Written June 12, 2018
Was just wondering the best way to get from Amiens to Villers_Bretonneux for the dawn service? We have our passes but not sure if there are buses that run from Amiens to V-B. Any help, suggestions etc would be appreciated
Written January 26, 2018
Hi, We hired a car for a few days, so not too sure how other transport systems go. There seemed to be plenty of parking in the area.
Written January 28, 2018
Hi, we would like to attend the 100 anniversary next April at Villers-Bretoneux. We were thinking of flying into Frankfurt and hiring a car with friends. Is this a good idea to drive through Germany and France and how do we get tickets please for the service?
Written May 9, 2017
We did an escorted tour with Sylvestre of Terres du Memories. Train from Paris to Amiens where we were picked up at Station and that night dropped at Lille Station. I'm sure if you emailed some of these tour people they could advise as to plans in place for VB Anniversary.
Written May 9, 2017
Hi I'm planning to travel to the Memorial Sites from Paris (by train/public transport) in early May.
Travelling on my own @ this stage. Would it be better to head back to Paris the same day - are there nice places to stay in the surrounding towns.
Is it worth touring North into Belgium?
Written February 5, 2017
Ditto about the accommodation. Don't miss the Victoria schoolas you travel the area. We stayed in Amiens which had a lively area by the river for dinner etc. There is a battlefield tour departing by the station which we did with 2 Australians and it was very good. Belgium... Bruges and Ghent are very pretty to visit and we spent a few days in and around Brussels, we went to Tyne Cot cemetery and a battlefield tour around there which we found very interesting. Last post at the Mennin Gate in Ypres was very moving. I particularly remember the Canadian memorial when recalling that day.
Written February 6, 2017
We will be travelling to Villers-Bretonneux for the dawn service this year, what is the best way to get to the service from the town, my wife and I are travelling with our 3 children ages 5 to 10. Is there a bus service from the town or other options?
Written January 23, 2017
Look I'm not sure what sort of transport would be available as we were on a tour but I would say you would have no problems with getting to the dawn service as many Australian will be doing the same thing as you an I would assume the locals would be catering for such event and providing transport services to and from Villers-Bretonneux . You would probably able to contact local Tourism Board for more information. Be prepared for cold conditions and rug up.
Written January 24, 2017
Hello my husband and I will be in Amiens around November 11th this year 2016. Will there be commemoration services on this day at the War Memorial or can you suggest where we should be on Armistice Day. Thank you Sue
Written August 6, 2016
I too would check with War Memorial in Canberra. or if you get a Tour Guide, they should know in advance.
Written August 9, 2016
Hi All,
I am thinking of catching the train up. How do you get from the train station to the memorial without walking?
TIA Mel
Written June 6, 2016
Cannot do it without a walk.
Villers Bretonneux train station is at the bottom of the village about 1 k from the "main road". The War memorial is about 2 k's out of town, 3 k's all up one way walk. I walked from the memorial, after the dawn service, into town. An easy walk and would be quite pleasant depending on the weather. I was rained on.
Written June 7, 2016
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