Visit the Notre-Dame-de-Lorette National Necropolis
A few kilometers from Arras, on the heights of Ablain-Saint-Nazaire, lies one of France's most powerful memorial sites.
The Notre-Dame-de-Lorette National Cemetery is a striking site, remarkable for its scale, its silence, and the universal message it conveys.
Here rest more than 42,000 soldiers who fell during the First World War on the Artois and French and Belgian Flanders fronts.
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023 as part of the Western Front Memorial and Funeral Sites, this place invites a visit imbued with solemnity.
Book your hotel in Arras to discover this unique memorial site in France.
The cemetery stands out naturally in the landscape. From the hilltop, the view encompasses a vast panorama, rich in symbolism.
At the heart of the site stand the basilica and the lantern tower, true visual and spiritual landmarks.
Designed by the architect Louis-Marie Cordonnier, these monuments watch over the thousands of graves aligned with solemn precision.
The 52-meter-high lantern tower emits a light visible up to 70 kilometers around each night, like a beacon in the night, recalling the memory of the combatants, known and unknown.
From the end of the war, the hill of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette established itself as a major place of commemoration.
The temporary cemetery created during the Battles of Artois became, from 1919 onward, a central necropolis bringing together the remains from more than 150 military cemeteries.
Today, Notre-Dame-de-Lorette is the largest French national necropolis.
The graves are arranged around the chapel and the tower, while the ossuaries house the remains of numerous unidentified soldiers.
The whole complex exudes an impression of understated grandeur, conducive to contemplation and reflection.
Completely restored, the chapel is well worth a visit. Its luminous mosaics, stained-glass windows, and organ have regained all their splendor and contribute to the peaceful atmosphere of the place.
Beneath the lantern tower lies the main ossuary, further reinforcing the symbolic dimension of this unique building.
Nearby, the Ring of Remembrance extends the visit with a universal perspective.
The names of nearly 580,000 soldiers of all nationalities are inscribed there, without distinction of rank or origin.
During your visit, you may encounter the honor guards of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette.
More than 4,500 volunteers take turns each year to watch over the site, welcome visitors, and answer their questions.
Their discreet yet invaluable presence also helps locate graves and convey the history of the site with compassion.
Staying at the Best Western Plus Le Fairway in Arras is an ideal starting point for exploring the major memorial sites of the Pas-de-Calais region, such as Notre-Dame-de-Lorette.
Necropolis Opening Hours
October to March: 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
April to May: 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
June to August: 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
September: 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The Notre-Dame-de-Lorette National Cemetery is a striking site, remarkable for its scale, its silence, and the universal message it conveys.
Here rest more than 42,000 soldiers who fell during the First World War on the Artois and French and Belgian Flanders fronts.
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023 as part of the Western Front Memorial and Funeral Sites, this place invites a visit imbued with solemnity.
Book your hotel in Arras to discover this unique memorial site in France.
Notre-Dame-de-Lorette: A Place of Remembrance
The cemetery stands out naturally in the landscape. From the hilltop, the view encompasses a vast panorama, rich in symbolism.
At the heart of the site stand the basilica and the lantern tower, true visual and spiritual landmarks.
Designed by the architect Louis-Marie Cordonnier, these monuments watch over the thousands of graves aligned with solemn precision.
The 52-meter-high lantern tower emits a light visible up to 70 kilometers around each night, like a beacon in the night, recalling the memory of the combatants, known and unknown.
The largest national necropolis in France
From the end of the war, the hill of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette established itself as a major place of commemoration.
The temporary cemetery created during the Battles of Artois became, from 1919 onward, a central necropolis bringing together the remains from more than 150 military cemeteries.
Today, Notre-Dame-de-Lorette is the largest French national necropolis.
The graves are arranged around the chapel and the tower, while the ossuaries house the remains of numerous unidentified soldiers.
The whole complex exudes an impression of understated grandeur, conducive to contemplation and reflection.
The chapel and the lantern tower, the heart of the Notre-Dame-de-Lorette site
Completely restored, the chapel is well worth a visit. Its luminous mosaics, stained-glass windows, and organ have regained all their splendor and contribute to the peaceful atmosphere of the place.
Beneath the lantern tower lies the main ossuary, further reinforcing the symbolic dimension of this unique building.
Nearby, the Ring of Remembrance extends the visit with a universal perspective.
The names of nearly 580,000 soldiers of all nationalities are inscribed there, without distinction of rank or origin.
Meeting the Honor Guards
During your visit, you may encounter the honor guards of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette.
More than 4,500 volunteers take turns each year to watch over the site, welcome visitors, and answer their questions.
Their discreet yet invaluable presence also helps locate graves and convey the history of the site with compassion.
Staying at the Best Western Plus Le Fairway in Arras is an ideal starting point for exploring the major memorial sites of the Pas-de-Calais region, such as Notre-Dame-de-Lorette.
Necropolis Opening Hours
October to March: 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
April to May: 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
June to August: 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
September: 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
