Les Boves – Wellington Quarry Underground Tunnels
Directly beneath the Grand'Place lies a labyrinth of chalk tunnels — known as boves — that have been carved out since the Middle Ages for building stone and later used as cellars, workshops and, most dramatically, as a secret city for 24,000 Allied soldiers before the Battle of Arras in April 1917. The Wellington Quarry section is now a gripping underground museum that tells that story with rare i
History Underground
New Zealand tunnellers (hence 'Wellington') extended the medieval boves into a 20-km network capable of housing entire divisions, complete with a light railway, hospital, water supply and electricity. Troops emerged directly into battle on 9 April 1917, achieving one of the most successful surprise attacks of WWI.
The walls still bear the graffiti, names and regimental badges scratched by soldiers who knew they might not return. Walking past them in near-silence is one of the most affecting experiences in the entire Somme and Artois region.
Visiting Today
The guided tour (audio guide available in English) lasts about 45 minutes and descends 20 metres by lift. Temperature underground is a constant 11°C year-round — a jacket is essential even in August. The museum above ground provides excellent context with maps, photographs and personal testimonies.
Book tickets online in advance during July and August when queues can be long; the rest of the year walk-ins are usually fine. The entrance is through the Hôtel de Ville on Place des Héros.
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