Bapaume combines a prominent location at the transition between the Plateau artésien and the Artois plain with a history that can be read concretely in its buildings. The town lies along a passage known as the “seuil de Bapaume.” More than 95 percent of Bapaume was destroyed during the First World War; after the conflict, the town was completely rebuilt.

Rebuilding the church and town hall

After its destruction in the First World War, Église Saint-Nicolas was rebuilt on its original foundations between 1924 and 1929. The church also houses the listed 15th-century statue of Notre-Dame de Pitié. The building’s history and an older work of art meet here in one place, although they do not date from the same period.

After its destruction, the Hôtel de Ville was rebuilt on its original site in 1931 and 1932. An outdoor gallery at the top of the tower offers panoramic views; the belfry reaches a height of 55 metres. Check whether the gallery is open before your visit. The two reconstruction stories offer a concrete timeline for comparison: work on the church ended in 1929, while work on the town hall followed in 1931 and 1932.

Medieval traces and places of remembrance

The Donjon marks the site of Bapaume’s former castle. The location of the medieval fortification walls and tall towers can still be made out there. This gives the site a different focus from the church and town hall, whose reconstruction followed the destruction of the First World War.

Bapaume’s two bastions that can still be visited today are the Bastion du Dauphin and the Bastion de la Reyne. The latter is on the Route de Cambrai. Opening arrangements may vary, so check visiting information in advance.

The Australian Cemetery commemorates soldiers who fell in Bapaume and the surrounding area during the First World War. Eighteen Australian and New Zealand soldiers, recovered from the rubble after the town hall explosion, are buried there. The cemetery thus focuses specifically on remembering those who were buried after the building was destroyed.

Hiking, cycling and swimming

The GR145 Arras–Bapaume long-distance hiking trail includes Église Saint-Nicolas in Bapaume. Another kind of excursion is offered by the Les 4 Chemins cycling route: it starts in Bapaume, follows the traces of the First World War and is a 47-kilometre VTC loop. A route description updated on 23 December 2024 gives a riding time of four hours and rates the difficulty as easy. Check route conditions before setting out.

For those looking for a place to swim rather than a tour, Bapaume has the Piscine Oxygène du Seuil de l’Artois. It offers the public recreational and lane swimming, as well as Aquacycle and Aquadynamique sessions. The programme may change seasonally, so check the current schedule in advance.

Discover more destinations: Tournehem-Sur-La-Hem, Pernes-lès-Boulogne, Tigny-Noyelle, Fampoux, Stella-Plage, Lens, Tramecourt, Acq.

For the broader travel overview: Pas-De-Calais.