Croisilles can be explored through two distinct aspects: the rebuilding history of its Saint-Martin Church and several memorial sites from the world wars. There are also guided village tours, events and a route through the fields that returns to the commune via the voie verte. You can therefore shape your stay around cultural history, remembrance or a walk through the countryside.

Church Art and Village Culture

Saint-Martin Church was built between 1924 and 1933 as part of the first reconstruction. Its regionalist Neo-Romanesque style thus belongs to the period when Croisilles was rebuilt after the First World War. Notable stained-glass windows complement the architecture: they were designed by Julien Vosch and produced in the 1930s and 1950s. The construction period and the two periods in which the windows were created show that the interior furnishings took shape in several stages.

The “Village Patrimoine” label highlights Croisilles’ natural and historical treasures and promotes rural tourism. If you would like to learn about the village’s history through more than just individual sites, Croisilles Histoire et Nature offers village tours with a knowledgeable local guide. The organisation’s programme also includes events as part of “Village en scène” and activities for the European Heritage Days. Specific event dates may vary, so check them before your trip.

Three Memorial Sites, Each Offering a Different Experience

Croisilles British Cemetery is 300 metres along Rue Eugene Hornez, southwest of the village centre, away from the road to St. Leger (D9). It contains 1,171 burials and commemorations of Commonwealth personnel from the First World War. The graves of six Commonwealth airmen from the Second World War are also located there. If you plan to visit the cemetery, check the access conditions before setting out.

Croisilles Railway Cemetery lies southeast of the village. A path of about two kilometres branches off from the junction of Rue du Moulin and Rue de la Gare; check the path conditions before setting off. The cemetery contains 181 Commonwealth burials from the First World War, as well as 26 German burials. This site therefore brings together different national histories of remembrance in one cemetery.

A one-kilometre path leads to Summit Trench Cemetery, which lies 100 metres west of the village. It contains 74 burials from the First World War, including five unidentified burials. Compared with the roughly two-kilometre walk to Railway Cemetery, the approach is shorter. Path conditions may change here too, so check them before setting out.

Fields and the voie verte

The “Evadez-vous à Croisilles!” route starts at the village shops and heads towards the communal stadium through the fields. It then returns to the commune via the voie verte. This route offers a different focus from the church and memorial sites: rather than visiting individual historic destinations, it centres on a route through the fields that returns to the village. Check the route and path conditions before setting off.

If you are looking for hotels for a stay in Croisilles, first consider which of these aspects will shape your visit: church art and village culture, the memorial sites or the route through the fields. Village tours and events are other possible points of interest; check their dates separately from your route planning. This way, you can tailor your accommodation search to the experiences you actually plan to enjoy.

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