Bapaume – Reconstruction, Remembrance and Routes

During a stay in Bapaume, you can explore historic buildings, memorial sites and activities such as hiking, cycling or public swimming. If you are looking for a hotel in Bapaume, tailor your plans to the focus of your trip: would you mainly like to learn about the reconstruction after the First World War, choose a route or include swimming?

Landscape and reconstruction

Bapaume lies at the transition between the Plateau artésien and the Artois plain, at a passage known as the “seuil de Bapaume”. During the First World War, more than 95 percent of the town was destroyed, and it was completely rebuilt after the conflict. The story of this reconstruction can be seen in buildings with different connections to the past: after its destruction, Église Saint-Nicolas was rebuilt on its earlier foundations between 1924 and 1929. It houses the 15th-century statue of Notre-Dame de Pitié, which is listed as a monument. After the war, Hôtel de Ville was rebuilt at its original site in 1931 and 1932. In different ways, the church and town hall both connect with the former site.

Keep, bastions and belfry

The keep marks the site of Bapaume’s former castle. The layout of the medieval fortification walls and high towers can still be made out there. Bastion du Dauphin and Bastion de la Reyne are two of the city’s bastions that can still be visited; Bastion de la Reyne is on Route de Cambrai. Practical arrangements for visiting the bastions may vary, so check what is currently possible before your visit.

At Hôtel de Ville, an outdoor gallery high in the tower offers panoramic views. The belfry reaches 55 m at its highest point. If you plan to take in the view, check access to the gallery before your visit.

Memorial sites and museum

Bapaume Australian Cemetery commemorates soldiers who died in Bapaume and the surrounding area during the First World War. It is also the resting place of 18 Australian and New Zealand soldiers who were recovered from the rubble after the town hall explosion. Musée de Bapaume also displays a marble plaque and a clock from a former building. The cemetery and museum focus on different aspects: the cemetery commemorates those who died in the war and the town hall explosion, while the two exhibits come from a former building.

Hiking, cycling and swimming

The GR145 Arras–Bapaume long-distance hiking trail includes Église Saint-Nicolas in Bapaume. The Les 4 Chemins cycling route starts in Bapaume and follows in the footsteps of the First World War. A route description updated on December 23, 2024, gives the VTC loop as 47 km, four hours and easy in difficulty. This offers a choice of different combinations of activity and theme: the long-distance trail with the church in Bapaume, or a cycling trip connected with the history of the First World War. Check the route conditions before hiking or cycling.

If you would rather plan an activity in the water than follow a route, Piscine Oxygène du Seuil de l’Artois offers public recreational and lane swimming. Aquacycling and aquadynamics are also available. The programme may change seasonally, so check the current opening times and sessions before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Morval, Torcy, Calais, Audruicq, Le Portel, Saint-Georges, Ferques, Bourthes.

For the broader travel guide: Pas-De-Calais.