For many looking to pay tribute to fallen troops or family members—especially for Australian visitors—Pozières is a pivotal stop within northern France’s Somme Valley. If you explore the village on foot, look out for places of remembrance such as the Tank Memorial; Memorial to the Australian 1st Division; and battlefield sites such as Mouquet Farm and the Pozières British Cemetery and Memorial. Many guided tours also visit Pozières, including those that focus on the Australian experience of WWI. Others also pair visits with area highlights like Amiens Cathedral.
Due to uneven ground, the Pozières Memorial and British Cemetery are not easily accessible to wheelchair users.
All the wartime memorials and landmarks of Pozières are free to visit, you don’t need to book tickets in advance.
Wear good shoes when visiting Pozières, especially if you plan to tour area battlefields, which have many trip hazards.
Pozières is in northern France’s Somme department, roughly 40 minutes northeast of Amiens or south of Arras via the D929. The village is also within day-trip distance of major cities such as Lille (roughly 1 hour by car) and Paris (2 hours by car). If you won’t be driving, guided tours offer an easier way to explore.
The village of Pozières—and its many memorials—is free for all throughout the year. For the best experience (given that most landmarks are open to the elements), aim for a good-weather day, and visit during typical daylight hours. Note that Pozières is likely to be busiest during the summer, and on and around Armistice Day on November 11.
After Pozières, if you want to pay further tribute to the many thousands of Australian soldiers who lost their lives during WWI, head to the Australian National Memorial. Roughly 30 minutes by car southwest of Pozières, the monument—part of Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery—is a powerful place of national mourning.
