Historvius (mapping history)

WW1 Battlefields in France

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If you are seeking to explore WW1 Battlefields in France or wish to visit or tour these First World War battlefields, then you can explore our interactive map above or navigate further by using the links below.

From the remains of the Somme battlefields to those of Verdun and beyond, the World War One Battlefields in France tell of the terrible cost of the First World War. Today, the WW1 battlefields in France can be explored independently or with organised tours of these WWI battlefields, and there are a number of interesting and moving places to visit.

The devastating nature of this terrible conflict was witnessed throughout the war along the Western Front, with huge armies dug into the muddy fields of France and set-piece advances involving hundreds of thousands of men bringing huge loss of life, often for little gain. Today, visitors to the WW1 Battlefields in France can experience recreations in museums, explore the surviving trench works and visit memorials and cemeteries to those who died.

There’s a diverse selection of WW1 Battlefields in France and you can plan some interesting places to see on your travels in France by browsing our selection. Some of the best known World War One battlefields in France include the Lochnagar Crater, Louvemont, the Newfoundland Memorial and of course the battlefields of the Somme. Beyond these sites, and beyond the WW1 Battlefields in France themselves, a number of other interesting places can be explored to find out more about this devastating conflict.

Once you’ve explored the WWI Battlefields in France you can use our itinerary planner tool to plan out your trip and then print off a free pocket guidebook, which you can take with you as you examine these WW1 battlefield sites.

Our database of WW1 Battlefields in France is growing all the time, but we may not cover them all. Remember, if you know of other World War One battlefields in France, you can always add them to Historvius now by visiting our upload page.

WW1 Battlefields in France : Site Index

  • Aisne-Marne American Cemetery Aisne-Marne American Cemetery
    The Aisne-Marne American Cemetery is a US World War I cemetery and the site of the Battle of Belleau Wood, one of many US WW1 Battlefields in France.
    Photo by jinterwas (cc)

  • Chateau-Thierry American Monument Chateau-Thierry American Monument
    The Chateau-Thierry American Monument is a World War I American memorial and among the American WWI Battlefields in France.
    Photo by NorthJoe (cc)

  • Cimetière Chinois de Nolette Cimetière Chinois de Nolette
    Cimetière Chinois de Nolette is a French World War One memorial site to the Chinese workers who contributed to the war effort. While not one of the actual WW1 Battlefields in France, it is an interesting World War One site.

  • Douaumont Ossuary Douaumont Ossuary
    The Douaumont Ossuary commemorates fallen soldiers from the Battle of Verdun. It holds the bones of 130,000 French and German soldiers who fell in the WW1 battlefields of France.
    Photo by ** Maurice ** (cc)

  • Dunkirk Cemetery and Memorial Dunkirk Cemetery and Memorial
    The Dunkirk Cemetery and Memorial commemorate the commonwealth troops that fought there in both World Wars in the WW2 and WW1 battlefields in France.

  • Etaples Military Cemetery Etaples Military Cemetery
    The Etaples Military Cemetery is a commonwealth cemetery built on the former site of a WW1 military hospital.
    Photo by Charles D P Miller (cc)

  • Fort Douaumont Fort Douaumont
    Fort Douaumont was one of the strongest, most state of the art forts in France at the time of the First World War. However, in 1916, it was destroyed during the Battle of Verdun and today it lies as one of many ruined First World War Battlefields in France.
    Photo by Wolfgang Staudt (cc)

  • Fort Vaux Fort Vaux
    Fort Vaux was a French fortress occupied by the Germans in the Battle of Verdun. It is one of many surviving WW1 Battlefields in France.
    Photo by Ryan Scott (cc)

  • Historial de la Grande Guerre Historial de la Grande Guerre
    Historial de la Grande Guerre is a museum near the site of the Battle of the Somme and focused on the social effects of World War I. A useful and interesting stop while exploring the WW1 Battlefields of France.
    Photo by yannick_vernet (cc)

  • Le P’tit Train de la Haute Somme Le P’tit Train de la Haute Somme
    Le P’tit Train de la Haute Somme is a reconstruction of the supply line used by allied forces in France during World War I which would have served the WWI Battlefields in France.
    Photo by openroads.com (cc)

  • Lochnagar Crater Lochnagar Crater
    The Lochnagar Crater is a large indentation in the earth in France where one of the explosions was set off which signalled the start of the Battle of the Somme. It is one of the most dramatic WW1 Battlefields in France.
    Photo by sisaphus (cc)

  • Louvemont Louvemont
    Louvemont was once a French village, unoccupied since the Battle of Verdun, World War One. It is a poignant example of the World War One Battlefields in France.

  • Newfoundland Memorial Newfoundland Memorial
    The Newfoundland Memorial represents the best surviving trench system from WWI and commemorates the efforts of the 1st Battalion of the Canadian Newfoundland Regiment. It is amongst the best preserved WW1 Battlefields in France.

  • Pozieres Pozieres
    Pozieres was the site of a major battle between Allied and German forces in 1916 during the First World War, forming the first part of the Battle of the Somme and is one of many surviving WW1 Battlefields in France.

  • Somme battlefields Somme battlefields
    The Somme battlefields in France are a series of sites where the Battle of the Somme was fought during World War I. They are among the most famous WW1 Battlefields in France.

  • The Chapel of the Souvenir Francais The Chapel of the Souvenir Francais
    The Chapel of the Souvenir Francais is a memorial to French soldiers who fought in the Battle of the Somme, one of the most well-known WW1 Battlefields in France.

  • The Franco Australian Museum The Franco Australian Museum
    The Franco Australian Museum in the Picardie region of France explores the contributions and experiences of Australian troops during World War I. An interesting stop to take while exploring the WW1 Battlefields of France.

  • The Somme 1916 Museum The Somme 1916 Museum
    The Somme 1916 Museum explores the realities of the First World War Battle of the Somme and outlines the WWI Battlefields of France.

  • Ulster Memorial Tower Ulster Memorial Tower
    The Ulster Memorial Tower in France is a memorial to the men of Ulster who fought and gave their lives during World War I. A lesser-known but interesting place to visit while exploring the WW1 Battlefields of France.

  • Verdun Memorial Verdun Memorial
    The Verdun Memorial is a comprehensive museum of the Battle of Verdun and a memorial to fallen soldiers set in the Verdun battlefield, one of the most famous WW1 Battlefields in France.
    Photo by Wolfgang S (cc)

  • Vis-En-Artois Cemetery Vis-En-Artois Cemetery
    Vis-En-Artois Cemetery is a First World War burial site in France’s Pas de Calais region.
    Photo by jinterwas (cc)

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