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The Wellington Career Museum in Arras dans le Pas-de-Calais

Musée
Carrière de la Guerre 14-18
Musée de la guerre 14-18

The Wellington Career Museum in Arras

    Rue Arthur Deletoille
    62000 Arras

Timeline

Moyen Âge central
Bas Moyen Âge
Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1100
1200
1900
2000
Moyen Âge - XVIIIe siècle
Operation of chalk quarries
Octobre 1914
Stabilization of the front in Artois
1916
British take over
9 avril 1917, 5h30
Offensive surprise of Arras
1er mars 2008
Open to the public
9 avril 2017
Inauguration of the work *The earth remembers*
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Key figures

Général Nivelle - Commander of the French Army Organized the diversion offensive in Arras.
Maréchal Haig - Commander of the British Army Directed the troops during the battle.
Marian Fountain - New Zealand Artist Author of *The Earth Remembers* (2017).

Origin and history

The Wellington quarry is a network of underground galleries dug from the Middle Ages to extract chalk, used in the construction of Arras. These quarries, forgotten in the 19th century, were rediscovered during the First World War. Their exploitation gradually ceased, but their existence persisted in the memory of the inhabitants, some accessing them from the cellars of their houses.

During World War I, these careers were redeveloped by British troops, including New Zealand engineers, to prepare a surprise offensive against German lines. Two large networks were created under the Saint-Sauveur and Ronville districts, with evocative names such as Wellington, Auckland and Glasgow. These tunnels allowed 24,000 soldiers to suddenly emerge on 9 April 1917, playing a key role in the Battle of Arras.

During the Second World War, tunnels served as an anti-aircraft shelter for the population of Arras. Few traces of this period remain, with the exception of some inscriptions and electrical installations. Today, the site is a museum open to the public since 2008, offering guided tours to discover the history of tunnelers and soldiers, as well as annual commemorations, especially for the centenary of the battle.

The museum also houses a memorial to the regiments who participated in the Battle of Arras, with a wall dedicated to New Zealand tunnelers. A work of art, Land Remembers, created by New Zealand artist Marian Fountain, was installed there in 2017. The site now attracts between 65,000 and 75,000 visitors a year, becoming a major memory site of the First World War.

Collection

Laissez vous guider par l'histoire plus de 20 mètre sous terre !!

External links

Conditions of visit

  • Conditions de visite : Ouvert toute l'année
  • Ouverture annuelle : tous les jours sauf le 1er janvier, les quatre semaines après les vacances de Noël et le 25 décembre. de 10h00 à 12h30 et de 13h30 à 18h00.
  • Tarif individuel : Plein : 7 euros Réduit (enfant et étudiant) : 3.30 euros
  • Contact organisation : 03 21 51 26 95