ANZAC Day
Every 25 April near Amiens, at the Australian National Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux, ANZAC Day pays tribute to the soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who died in the First World War.
Anzac Day - Villers-Bretonneux - © S. CoquilleWhat is ANZAC Day ?
This ceremony pays tribute to the soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who perished during the First World War. More than 100 years later, the emotions remain intact.
It was in Villers-Bretonneux in particular that the expeditionary force stood out, by stopping the German push on April 24th, 25th and 26th, 1918. But Australian troops took part in other battles in the Val de Somme territory, such as at Le Hamel where, on July 4th, 1918, General John Monash led his troops to victory in just 93 minutes, combining for the first time artillery, infantry, the air force, armoured vehicles and airdrops.
Programme for the ceremony on Thursday 25 April 2024 :
- 2:30am: Australian National Memorial site opens ;
- 4:00am: Pre-service program commences ;
- 5:30am: Official Anzac Day Dawn Service commences ;
- 6.30am : Conclusion of the service ;
- 8.00am : Opening of the Sir John Monash Centre (bookings required from 24 to 27 April at info@sjmc.gov.au or +33 3 60 62 01 40) and the Victoria Museum in Villers-Bretonneux.
ANZAC DAY
2024
To attend the commemoration, you need to register online. Don't forget to bring your ID with you on the day of the ceremony.
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Hot drinks are available before and after the ceremony.
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Please bring warm clothing
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The Auberge de Fouilloy will be open from 4.00 am to serve breakfast, without reservation.
79 rue Aristide Briand | 80800 FOUILLOY
Tel : + 33 6 67 96 65 78
Getting to ANZAC Day
- From Amiens
Somme Tourisme sets up shuttles from Amiens to the Australian National Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux, in order to attend the Dawn Service ceremony at 5:30 a.m.
Two types of shuttle service are available:
- Short journey: departs Amiens station (in front of the Tour Perret) at 2.30am for the Australian National Memorial (Fouilloy). Return to Amiens around 8am.
- Long route: Depart Amiens station (in front of the Tour Perret) at 2.30am for the Australian National Memorial (Fouilloy) for the Anzac Day ceremony, then transport to the Villers-Bretonneux war memorial for the 9am ceremony. Return to Amiens around 11.30am.
If one of the shuttles is full, please send an email to accueil@somme-tourisme.com to let us know when a new shuttle will be available.
With the shuttles, a part of ticket purchases will be donated to the Somme Battlefields For Peace.
Please note that the purchase of a ticket for the shuttle does not give access to the Anzac Day ceremony.
- From Villers-Bretonneux
- Shuttles between Villers-Bretonneux and the Australian National Memorial will be available from 2.15/2.30am and will run throughout the day (the last departure from the Sir John Monash Centre to Villers-Bretonneux will be at 5pm (when the site closes)).
- Two car parks in Villers-Bretonneux: Parking Top and Parking de la Gare
Highlights
in Amiens
Jardin de la paix 'Garden of Dreams'
This garden will be created by Australian artists, in collaboration with French landscape designers, as part of the Art and Gardens Festival. One of the Australian landscape gardeners is associating the memory of his great-grandfather, a soldier who served with the Australian Corps on the Somme, with this tribute. Reflecting the growing friendship between our two countries, the garden will evolve over time to become increasingly beautiful.
- Wednesday 24 April 2024 at 2:30pm | Inauguration of the Garden of Dreams, the Australian Peace Garden at the Citadelle of Amiens in the presence of Gilbert Fillinger, Director of Art et Jardins Hauts-de-France
The inauguration was cancelled due to recent weather conditions, which delayed the project - Very limited capacity, no reservation required
- Citadelle | 80000 AMIENS
Commemorative Bailey Bridge donated by the Corps of Royal Australian Engineers.
Highly symbolic, this bridge represents the friendship that exists, despite the distance, between the two nations. It is entitled ¨The Bridge of Friendship between Australia and France: dedicated to all Australian Army engineering units involved in the First World War¨.
- Wednesday 24 April 2024 at 3:30pm | Inauguration of the Bailey Bridge at the Jardin des plantes
- Very limited capacity, no reservation required
- Jardin des plantes | 80000 AMIENS
Exhibition "Vignacourt 14/18, the rear-front in the Great War
In partnership with the Vignacourt 14-18 Interpretation Centre, this exhibition marks the launch of commemorations linked to ANZAC Day, in memory of the battles of the Australian and New-Zealand Army Corps.
During the Great War, Vignacourt was an important rear base for Allied soldiers, particularly Australians. Louis and Antoinette Thuillier had a camera and improvised a photo studio in the courtyard of their farm. Civilians and soldiers came to be photographed.
Forgotten for almost a century, these photos have now become a collection that is unique in the world! Some of these emblematic photos are being shown for the first time in Amiens at the Tourist Office...
A free exhibition not to be missed!
- From Friday 19 April to Sunday 12 May 2024
- Open Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 6.30pm (6pm from October to March) and Sundays, 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm.
- Free admission
- Office de Tourisme et des Congrès d'Amiens Métropole | 23 place Notre-Dame | 80000 AMIENS
Mémorial National Australien de Villers-Bretonneux
This imposing memorial, standing behind a vast cemetery, pays tribute to the Australian soldiers who were killed during...
