A 12th Century town in Northern France is on a mission to attract more New Zealanders, and have them stay a little longer, highlighting the wider region.
Le Quesnoy is home to The New Zealand Liberation Museum Te Arawhata, which explores the story of the liberation of Le Quesnoy by Kiwi soldiers in World War One. The museum’s director Elizabeth Wratislav says it has become an incredible drawcard for Le Quesnoy. “Le Quesnoy is a site of pilgrimage for Kiwi families;, everyone will have some kind of personal connection here, whether through family, school or where they were born,” she says.
The museum can be built into a wider itinerary in the region, with Wratislav saying there is so much to see after you’ve visited Te Arawhata. “The great thing about the town is it’s also the perfect base to discover northern France.” Agents can combine a visit to the museum with a visit to Le Quesnoy itself, as well as the Somme, the Carrière Wellington tunnels in Arras, and Passchendaele where revered All Black captain Dave Gallaher died. “Le Quesnoy is a unique French experience that you don’t get from busy and crowded centres like Paris, Nice and Bordeaux,” adds Wratislav.
“Experiences like the ramparts make it an intriguing and interesting destination beyond simply the story of the liberation.”
Le Quesnoy, is located three hours from London and two from Paris. It can also be combined with other nearby destinations, including Reims, Bavay and Lille as well as Le Cateau-Cambrésis. See more HERE.
