ARRAS 1: After my fantastic few days in Paris, I headed further north to Arras, specifically because it is close to the Somme, the area where heavy fighting took place in WWII. Not a happy place to visit but very important 
The Grand Place of Arras lit up at night
According to Lonely Planet, there are over 300 of these "giants" all over northern France! They have names, children, get married, grow up, and come out for festivals and feast days. They're also in Spain, the Austrian Tyrol, Mexico, Brazil, India and Belgium. Bizarre but I love things like this! These three are Jacqueline, Colas and their son Dédé
Steps leading up from Arras' souterrains or boves (underground cellars and caves that are under the town hall and main square)
The caves were used as a giant barracks and base during the war (thousands of soldiers lived in them and they were the launching point for a surprise attack on the Germans who didn't know they were down there), and were partly excavated by New Zealand soldiers. There were lots of NZ things like badges and flags, strange to see those things so far from NZ!
Faubourg d'Amiens cemetery in Arras; a British war cemetery. All of these places overwhelm me because of the sheer number of headstones
A memorial in the cemetery to the Royal Flying Corps, including some Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans
The foyer of the Hotel de Ville, I love the arches
The walls of Arras' 17th century citadel
The Grand Place of Arras lit up at night
According to Lonely Planet, there are over 300 of these "giants" all over northern France! They have names, children, get married, grow up, and come out for festivals and feast days. They're also in Spain, the Austrian Tyrol, Mexico, Brazil, India and Belgium. Bizarre but I love things like this! These three are Jacqueline, Colas and their son Dédé
Steps leading up from Arras' souterrains or boves (underground cellars and caves that are under the town hall and main square)
The caves were used as a giant barracks and base during the war (thousands of soldiers lived in them and they were the launching point for a surprise attack on the Germans who didn't know they were down there), and were partly excavated by New Zealand soldiers. There were lots of NZ things like badges and flags, strange to see those things so far from NZ!
Faubourg d'Amiens cemetery in Arras; a British war cemetery. All of these places overwhelm me because of the sheer number of headstones
A memorial in the cemetery to the Royal Flying Corps, including some Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans
The foyer of the Hotel de Ville, I love the arches
The walls of Arras' 17th century citadel
Le Mur des Fusillés (Firing Squad wall), on the outside of the citadel. 218 members of the French resistance were shot here during the second world war
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