Morval brings together the history of a village and several specific places of remembrance. French recaptures during the First World War, reconstruction from 1919 onwards, and the history of the church give the village a strong historical focus. There is also a Calvary cross at the northern entrance to the village and a military cemetery. Morval lies on the plain of southern Artois. Its historical themes offer different starting points for a stay: from the history of war and reconstruction to religious and military remembrance.

War History and Reconstruction

During the First World War, Morval changed hands several times. French troops recaptured the village on 25 September 1916, lost it again on 23 March 1918, and finally retook it on 29 August 1918. The sequence includes a recapture, another loss, and a later final retaking. The episode in March 1918 is especially important for understanding the timeline: the 1916 recapture was not the last change in control of the village.

After Morval’s residents had left, the village was bombarded and completely destroyed. Reconstruction began in early 1919. Some residents had previously visited the ruins, and huts had also been erected. The history of reconstruction therefore includes not only its beginning in 1919, but also the steps that came before it: visiting the ruins and erecting the huts.

Church and Bells

The rebuilt church of Morval was almost a replica of its predecessor, but was constructed using different materials. Architectural continuity and change exist side by side here: the former church remained the reference point for the design, while the materials changed. This makes the reconstruction more than a simple restoration of the previous building.

Morval’s three bells stand on the site of the former churches. They were erected in 1993, after the church was destroyed in September 1987. The bells and the church building are therefore two distinct points of reference in the village’s history: the church’s design almost echoes that of its predecessor, while the bells, erected in 1993, mark a period of their own.

Religious and Military Remembrance

Morval’s Calvary cross commemorates the restoration and blessing of the centuries-old cross on 5 May 1946. It is located at the northern entrance to the village on the D74. This site therefore brings together a specific date and a clearly identified location. The cross adds a religious and local perspective to Morval’s history, alongside the chronology of the fighting and the reconstruction.

Morval’s military cemetery is a British military cemetery. A German section of honour contains 17 German war graves from the First World War. Both the cemetery’s British designation and the German graves are part of its character; together, they make different national connections visible at the same site. The cemetery thus adds another form of remembrance to the events in the village and helps place Morval’s history in context.

Discover more destinations: Bécourt, Baincthun, Enquin-les-Mines, Le Portel, Wimille, Marck, Coulogne, Lillers.

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