“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. »
George Santayana
Memory tourism in Avesnois is strongly present. In a border area which is the gateway to France, we have been at the heart of major historical conflicts.
Why promote this painful History? To not forget ! These conflicts have forged our common history and it is a duty to pass it on to the younger generation, so that above all, they do not reproduce the errors of the past.
Finally, we must honor these men and women who fell for peace.
New Zealand Liberation Museum – Te Arawhata
New !!!
Thanks to Wētā Worksh Studios to whom we owe the scenography of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, experience a immersive experience full of emotion retracing the liberation of the town of Quesnoy by the Rifle Brigade led by Lieutenant Averill.
Find out more!
Ludovic Leroy OTA
Ludovic Leroy OTA
Ludovic Leroy OTA
Ludovic Leroy OTA
Fort Leveau
In Avesnois, you can retrace this history by discovering the 4 main sites. The museum of Fort de Leveau a magnificent fort entirely dedicated to the First World War. From local history to a more global vision of the conflict, the daily life of the soldiers and the living conditions of the Poilus are presented from the first days of the war in the forts Séré de Rivières to the mud of the trenches..
The Salmagne fort
The Fort of Salmagne is a fortified work of the Maginot Line in the north.
La Salmagne is one of the rare places where you can see, on the same site, fortifications Séré de Rivières and Maginot. In this unusual and atypical place you will descend 30 meters underground to immerse yourself in the daily life of soldiers in 1940.
CAMVSThe Necropolis of Assevent
La Assevent national necropolis is a Franco-German military cemetery. It houses the graves of 1 soldiers who died during the First World War. The necropolis was created in 1916 at the request of the German occupiers to provide a decent burial for all the soldiers who fell during the headquarters of Place de Maubeuge in August 1914.
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The New Zealand Memorial
For many years, the town of Quesnoy has commemorated theAnzac Day, the Sunday closest to April 25. A dawn ceremony also takes place at 6am at the New Zealand Cemetery. It is organized by the New Zealand Embassy, the New Zealand Armed Forces and the town hall. But why New Zealanders at Quesnoy?
On November 4, 1918, the 4th battalion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade liberates the city occupied by the Germans using a very particular tactic to protect Vauban heritage.
Rather than destroying the historic fortifications with artillery fire, it was decided to use infantry instead. Covered by mortar and machine gun fire, and protected by mist and smoke thrown up by the Royal Engineers, the New Zealanders advanced towards the outer ramparts under fire from enemy machine guns and snipers. 93 soldiers died in the assault. Since then the town has been linked to New Zealand and even twinned with the city of Cambridge. An incredible story that we will not fail to tell you…
Commonwealth Cemetery of Quesnoy: UNESCO World Heritage site.
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga