Richebourg is a destination for travellers who want to make First World War memorials and historic architecture the focus of their stay. The memorial sites offer different perspectives: from engraved names and a cloister-like structure to memorials for soldiers from India and Portugal. These differences provide a thematic thread for a visit; the church and designated themed routes offer further tangible points of interest.
Memorials offering different perspectives
The Neuve-Chapelle Indian Memorial is the only monument on the Western Front dedicated to the soldiers and labourers from colonial India who were killed or went missing during the First World War. The white stone monument was designed by Sir Herbet Baker; its architecture is inspired by Indian models. It commemorates 4,847 soldiers who fought on the Western Front during the war. The memorial is located at the junction of the RD 947 and the RD 171 in Richebourg-l’Avoué.
The Touret Memorial offers a different architectural approach. It resembles a cloister, with vaulted Portland stone passageways and a square courtyard. The names of 13,479 soldiers who went missing before 25 September 1915 are engraved on its walls. While the Indian Memorial focuses on its special dedication to soldiers and labourers from colonial India, the inscriptions at the Touret Memorial draw attention to the missing.
Portuguese remembrance and an April date
A total of 1,831 soldiers are buried in the Portuguese Military Cemetery. Their remains were transferred here from various cemeteries in France, Belgium and Germany. The cemetery is considered the only memorial site commemorating Portugal’s involvement in the First World War. The Notre-Dame de Fatima chapel stands opposite the Portuguese Military Cemetery. It was built in 1976 in memory of Portuguese soldiers who suffered during the German offensive in April 1918.
Every year, a Franco-Portuguese commemoration of the Battle of the Lys is held at the cemetery on the first or second Saturday in April. Check the exact date before travelling. You should also check visitor access to the cemetery before your visit.
Another historical connection is the Saint-Vaast Post Military Cemetery, where many soldiers of the Royal Sussex Regiment have been buried since 30 June 1916, the date of the so-called Battle of the Boar’s Head.
The church and routes as further points of reference
The first church in Richebourg was Romanesque and was built in the 12th century. The church in Richebourg has 22 narrative stained-glass windows, signed by the glass painter Emile Janaud. Visitors interested in architecture can appreciate the church’s history and its stained-glass art as two different perspectives.
The “14-18, a Worldwide Conflict” route begins at the Champs de mémoire du Bas-Pays motorhome stop on Rue de la Briqueterie in Richebourg. The themed cycle route can also be travelled by car. Before setting off, check the signage and, if travelling by car, the road and parking situation.
Le Touret Military Cemetery and Memorial has its own route connection: it is a stop on the “Le Front” route in the “Chemins de mémoire 14-18” network in Nord-Pas-de-Calais. Check the route conditions before planning a stage. This allows you to plan a specific route starting point, a themed route choice and the different historical focuses separately.
Discover more destinations: Clairmarais, Fampoux, Fressin, Marles-Sur-Canche, Quiestède, Ruminghem, Maisoncelle, Guisy.
For the regional travel overview: Pas-De-Calais.
