The best traffic-free bike rides around Guémappe

This small farming village has a rich history and is known for its two Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries from the First World War. The village has a church, a castle, and a range of amenities including bars, a supermarket, a chemist and a post office. Many residents commute to nearby towns such as Arras and Bapaume for work.

The 21st Division captured Héninel on 12 April 1917 and advanced eastwards on the two following days. The 33rd Division then took over the attack. These two divisions are largely represented in the cemetery. In April 1918 this ground was lost, and the eleven German graves in Plot I, Rows D and E, were made when the cemetery was in German hands. After the Armistice, graves were brought in from a wide area round Héninel. The cemetery now contains 307 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 104 of them unidentified. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Wancourt was captured on 12 April 1917 after very heavy fighting and the advance was continued on the following days. The cemetery, called at first Cojeul Valley Cemetery, or River Road Cemetery, was opened about ten days later; it was used until October 1918, but was in German hands from March 1918 until 26 August, when the Canadian Corps recaptured Wancourt. At the Armistice, the cemetery contained 410 graves, but was very greatly increased in the following years when graves were brought in from a number of small cemeteries and isolated positions on the battlefields south-east of Arras. The cemetery now contains 1936 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 829 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 76 casualties known or believed to be buried among them, and to 20 who were buried in Signal Trench Cemetery whose graves were destroyed in later battles.

Hibers Trench Cemetery, situated just north-west of Wancourt near Arras, was begun in April 1917 by the 50th (Northumbrian) Division shortly after the area was captured by British forces at the Battle of Arras. The cemetery contains 136 graves, six of which are unidentified, and also includes three Canadian graves added later in 1918. The simple design is by G.H. Goldsmith and reflects the understated dignity of this memorial. Its position on the Wancourt-Arras road makes it a silent witness to the fierce fighting that took place here, and the presence of personal inscriptions on some of the headstones emphasises the human story behind the numbers. A place of peace, remembrance and reflection.

Le Jardin Minelle is fed by spring water and has a central water feature which is a meeting place for various birds such as moorhens, ducks and swans. It is a beautiful place to walk or enjoy nature.

The Fontaine du Pont-de-Cité or Fontaine de Neptune is a fountain in Arras, France, located on the Place du Pont-de-Cité, on the corner of Rue du 29-Juillet and Rue Saint-Aubert. The fountain was built between 1864 and 1865 and was designed by François Constant Bourgois. The sculpture that adorns the fountain, called “Fleuve”, was made by Vital-Dubray and was cast by the fonderie Ducel in Pocé-sur-Cisse. The fountain is a major landmark in Arras and has been a historic monument since 1988.

If you are looking for a nice bike ride along the Scarpe, you can go to Lock No. 30 in Athies, a lock that regulates the water level and allows the passage of boats . Lock No. 30 at Athies is part of the Scarpe Supérieure, a canalized section of the river which connects Arras and Douai. It is also a hydrographic area which contributes to the water quality and biodiversity of the region. Lock No. 30 in Athies is a privileged place to appreciate the technical and environmental aspects of the Scarpe.

Pelves is a village in the valley of the Scarpe. With the following highlights: The church of St. Vaast, rebuilt together with the entire village after the First World War. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery.