Standing 70 feet (21 meters) tall and built from striking white stone, the Ulster Tower is both a World War I memorial and a unique landmark in its own right. The tower itself is symbolic—it’s an exact replica of Helen’s Tower in Belfast, which overlooked the training ground where the 36th Ulster Division prepared for their departure to the frontlines of the Battle of the Somme.
Many tours of the Somme battlefields in northern France stop at the Ulster Tower, where you can visit the Memorial Room, see the plaques of remembrance, and learn more about the Battle of the Somme at the visitor center.
Visits to the Ulster Tower are often combined with the nearby Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.
Guided walking tours of Thiepval Wood take in the original trenches used by the 36th Division, and can be booked in advance through the visitor center.
The visitor center has a café, a small museum, and a souvenir shop. There’s also a restroom on-site.
The Ulster Tower is located on the outskirts of Thiepval Wood, about 0.5 miles (1 kilometer) northwest of the village of Thiepval. There’s no public transportation to the tower, so you’ll need to drive there or visit as part of a tour. It’s about a 45-minute drive from Amiens or a little over 1 hour from Lille.
The Ulster Tower is open seasonally from Marcht through November, from Tuesday to Sunday. Tours of Thiepval Wood are available, but must be booked in advance.
The Battle of the Somme was one of the bloodiest battles of World War I, taking place along the northern reaches of the Somme River between July and November 1916. Today, the area is dotted with memorials, museums, and war cemeteries, honoring the fallen soldiers and educating visitors about the war. Follow the Remembrance Trail from Péronne to Albert, which links sites including the Lochnagar Crater, the Australian National Memorial, the Somme 1916 Museum, the Museum of the Great War, and the Ulster Tower, along with the region’s famous poppy fields.
