Ribécourt-la-Tour brings together a clearly dated wartime history, the architectural history of Saint-Léger, and a route through fields and hedgerows. It is also home to two First World War military cemeteries with distinct names. When planning your trip, it is helpful to distinguish between the different points of interest: local history, architectural history and a scenic route each appeal to different interests. This lets you decide in advance which topics you would like to focus on during your stay.
First World War: Capture and Control
On 20 November 1917, General Elles and a tank battalion captured Ribécourt-la-Tour. The village remained in Allied hands until the German offensive of 1918. This establishes two important points in the local wartime chronology: the capture on a precisely specified date and the subsequent period of Allied control. The distinction matters for placing events in time: 20 November marks the capture, not the end of the period of control described here. That period lasted until the offensive the following year. The First World War cemeteries also form part of this historical context, but each has its own name and location.
Saint-Léger: From Destruction to Reconstruction
The former Saint-Léger church dated from 1571. It was demolished in 1917 during the Battle of Cambrai. Reconstruction began in 1924 and was completed in the late 1930s. The building’s history therefore spans a predecessor church dated long before the war and a reconstruction associated not with a single year but with a period of several years. If you would like to explore the village’s history through specific buildings, Saint-Léger offers a different perspective from the military cemeteries: here, the focus is on the destruction and reconstruction of a church. The timeline helps distinguish the former church from the later work.
Two Cemeteries, Two Locations
Ribécourt British Cemetery is on the D89 in Ribécourt-la-Tour. Ribécourt Railway Cemetery is at 8 Chemin des Processions, also within the commune. Each is one of the three First World War military cemeteries in the commune of Ribécourt-la-Tour. When planning your visit, the full name and corresponding location are useful points of reference: the names are similar, but the road details differ. If you are including both as separate destinations, note down the addresses separately so it remains clear which cemetery is associated with each location.
Fields and Hedgerows Along the Route
One way to enjoy the landscape is the “Autour de Ribécourt-la-Tour” route. A route description updated on 29 August 2025 leads from Ribécourt-la-Tour through fields and hedgerows towards Villers-Plouich. The direction of Villers-Plouich gives you a specific point of reference; the focus here is on the described route and its landscape. This perspective differs from the village’s history and the architectural history of Saint-Léger. If you would like to include both historical topics and a walk through the countryside in your travel plans, you can consider these interests separately. Check the route’s current course before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Hilaire-Sur-Helpe, La Creche, Prisches, Condé-sur-l'Escaut, Estreux, Coutiches, Saint-Saulve, Staple
For the overview of the wider region: Nord.
