Morval: A story of reconstruction and places of remembrance

Morval lies on the plain of southern Artois. For travelers who also choose a place to stay based on its historical character, the events of the First World War, the reconstruction, and several sites of remembrance shape the picture here. The town’s history can be seen in different forms: in the dated changes of control during the First World War, in a calvary cross, in three bells at the site of former churches, in the rebuilt church, and in a military cemetery. These traces range from religious and architectural heritage to the commemoration of soldiers. Morval can therefore be understood above all through its specific local history.

Changes of control and reconstruction

During the First World War, Morval changed hands several times. French troops recaptured the village on September 25, 1916, lost it again on March 23, 1918, and finally retook it on August 29, 1918. These dates place the military events in sequence. The story of the destruction and reconstruction, by contrast, turns attention to the village itself.

After the residents had left Morval, the village was bombed and completely destroyed. Reconstruction began in early 1919, after some residents had visited the ruins and huts had been built. The changes of control, the destruction of the village, and the start of reconstruction can thus be understood as distinct stages in its history.

Church, calvary cross, and bells

The rebuilt church also points to a new beginning: it was almost a replica of its predecessor, but was built using different materials. Both aspects are therefore important in understanding its architectural history: its close resemblance to the previous building and the different choice of materials. This combines continuity with change without equating the rebuilt church with the earlier building.

Morval’s calvary cross stands at the northern entrance to the village on the D74. It commemorates the restoration and blessing of the centuries-old calvary cross on May 5, 1946. The cross’s location and the date of its restoration and blessing give this memorial a specific point of reference. The date relates to these events, not to the changes of control Morval experienced during the First World War.

Three bells from Morval stand at the site of the former churches. The bell monument is therefore tied to the former church site. It emphasizes a different aspect from the calvary cross, whose history is connected with its restoration and blessing in 1946. Both are part of Morval’s religious heritage, but each highlights a different aspect of it.

Morval Military Cemetery

Morval Military Cemetery is a British soldiers’ cemetery. A German section contains 17 German war graves from the First World War. The cemetery’s designation and the graves in the German section identify two specific aspects of the site: its British designation and the German group within the cemetery. Remembrance here thus takes a different form from that of the religious memorials.

When looking for a hotel for a stay in Morval, you can choose which historical aspects to focus on according to your interests. The changes of control and reconstruction tell of different phases in the town’s history, while its religious heritage is reflected in the near-replica church and the story of the calvary cross. Morval can thus be understood from several specific perspectives, rather than reducing its history to a single event.

Discover more destinations: Rang-Du-Fliers, Dennebroeucq, Beugny, Clairmarais, Berneville, Condette, Auxi-Le-Château, Beutin

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