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Day Trip — France — 1 October 2026

Villers-Bretonneux
Australian National Memorial

The site of a pivotal 1918 WW1 battle where Australian forces recaptured the town from German troops. The Australian National Memorial and the Sir John Monash Centre stand here today as a tribute to the 295,000+ Australians who served in the First World War.

~2h
Drive each way
Free
Entry (book timed slot)
~5h
On the ground
4h
Return drive total
Book the Sir John Monash Centre NOW

The Sir John Monash Centre (SJMC) operates on free timed entry, but entry must be booked in advance online. Slots do fill up, especially for visitor groups. You'll regret not booking. The SJMC website is at sjmc.gov.au — do this well before departure.

The Australian National Memorial is open access (no booking required), but the SJMC interpretive centre is the must-do that requires booking.

The Story

On 24–25 April 1918, Australian and British troops launched a night counter-attack and recaptured Villers-Bretonneux from German forces — halting the German advance on Amiens and arguably preventing a serious threat to Paris. It was ANZAC Day, 1918.

The town's relationship with Australia is profound and genuine. The local school was rebuilt with donations from Australian schoolchildren after the war, and the words "Do Not Forget Australia" still hang in the classroom. The Villers-Bretonneux primary school to this day maintains a sister-school relationship with schools across Australia.

The Australian National Memorial was unveiled in 1938 by King George VI. The tower bears the names of 10,982 Australians who died in France and have no known grave. The Sir John Monash Centre, opened in 2018 on the 100th anniversary of the battle, tells the full story of Australian involvement in WW1 through immersive technology and personal accounts.

What You'll See

AN
Australian National Memorial
The memorial tower and surrounding cemetery maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The tower lists the names of 10,982 Australians who died in France with no known grave. The grounds include the cemetery where many Australians are buried. Open access, no booking, deeply moving. Allow 45–60 minutes here.
FreeNo booking required
SM
Sir John Monash Centre (SJMC)
Australia's national commemorative centre on the Western Front, opened in 2018. Named after General Sir John Monash — the Australian commander widely regarded as one of the most capable generals of WW1. Immersive audio-visual storytelling takes visitors through the Australian experience of the war. Genuinely world-class interpretive centre. Free entry, book timed slot at sjmc.gov.au.
Book ahead at sjmc.gov.auFree~1.5–2h
VB
Villers-Bretonneux Town
The town itself has a School Museum (Musée Franco-Australien) with exhibits on the connection between Villers-Bretonneux and Australia. The school corridor with the "Do Not Forget Australia" sign is well worth visiting. The town square has a statue of a digger. The whole town is conscious of and proud of its Australian connection.
School Museum: small entry fee
CM
Nearby Cemeteries & Memorials
The Somme region is dotted with WW1 cemeteries and memorials. If time allows, Thiepval Memorial (14km north) is the largest British memorial on the Western Front. Pozières (26km north) has significant Australian history from 1916. These are all on the way depending on your route.
Optional extraOn the Somme

Suggested Day Plan

~8:00am
Depart Brussels
Take the hire car south on the E19/A1 toward France. Cross into France near Mons. Continue on to Amiens area.
~10:00am
Arrive Villers-Bretonneux
Park near the memorial. Head to the SJMC first for your booked timed slot.
~10:00–11:30am
Sir John Monash Centre
The immersive interpretive centre — allow 1.5–2h. Book your slot in advance.
~11:30am–12:30pm
Australian National Memorial
The memorial tower and cemetery. Walk the grounds, find the names, take time to reflect.
~12:30pm
Lunch in town
There are a couple of cafes in the village. Nothing fancy, but they appreciate the visitors. Alternatively, bring lunch.
~1:30pm
Town walk & school museum
The Musée Franco-Australien in the school is small but worthwhile. See the "Do Not Forget Australia" sign.
~3:00pm
Drive back to Brussels
~2h return drive. Back in Brussels by 5pm. Return the hire car. Final evening in Europe.
Day Trip Facts
  • CountryFrance
  • Date1 October 2026
  • FromBrussels (hire car)
  • Drive each way~2h
  • Total drive~4h return
  • SJMC entryFree (book ahead)
  • Memorial entryFree (no booking)
  • CurrencyEuro (EUR)
  • BorderSchengen — no check
Why It Matters

As Australians, this is genuinely one of the most significant WW1 sites you can visit. The Villers-Bretonneux battle on ANZAC Day 1918 is a remarkable piece of history, and the SJMC is one of the best interpretive war memorials in the world. Do your homework before you go — read a bit about Monash, the AIF, and the 1918 battles.

Hire Car Note

This is a second hire car — different from the Munich→Prague one. Hire in Brussels for 1 day (1 Oct). Belgium to France is straightforward (Schengen zone, no border restrictions). No cross-border permission needed for EU hire cars.

← Back to Brussels