A powerful and somber landmark, the Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery reveals the true scale of loss and destruction experienced in this corner of France during WWI. Many who visit Cabaret-Rouge come to remember fallen family members or pay tribute to soldiers from Commonwealth countries. You can visit as part of a tour of northern France’s wartime sights; many itineraries stop at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial and military cemeteries such as Notre Dame de Lorette and the Maison Blanche German Cemetery.
Because the Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery is open to the elements, come prepared with sun protection on hot days, or layers and solid footwear on cool and rainy ones.
The cemetery is free for all to enter, and you don’t need to book a ticket before visiting.
Keep in mind the solemn nature of the landmark, and refrain from taking photos of other mourners and visitors.
The Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery is located at 5000F Rue Carnot in the small village of Souchez. The village is just a 15-minute drive via the D937 from the nearby hub of Arras and is 45 minutes from Lille via the N41. It’s also within day-trip distance of Paris: Travel via the A1 to make the 125-mile (201-kilometer) journey.
The Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To make the most of your experience, visit during typical daytime hours, and aim for a good-weather day. The cemetery is likely to be busiest during the summer, and on and around Armistice Day on November 11.
If you want to dig deeper into northern France’s WWI history, combine your visit to the Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery with Memorial ‘14-18, located just a few minutes up the road. The 3-part site includes a History Center, housed in a strikingly modern building, which exhibits wartime artifacts; the Ring of Memory, an enormous, ring-shaped memorial emblazoned with the names of the 580,000 people who died in the region during the war; and the National Necropolis of Lorette, France’s largest military cemetery.