First World War tour
#1
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First World War tour
We have one week in the northern part of France/Belgium and intend to tour the World War 1 sites. Any suggestions for the tour plus best place to stay as a base? We are leaving in a week.
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
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How are you touring? By Car? Depends if you want a rural area or bigger city--if the latter, Amiens would do.
Here's a good website I found with lots of suggestions about where to stay http://www.greatwar.co.uk/trip-info/...ommodation.htm
You may not be near Paris, but I really enjoyed visited the fairly new WWI museum near Meaux, France, which is to the NE of Paris. It was fantastic.
http://www.museedelagrandeguerre.eu/en
Here's a good website I found with lots of suggestions about where to stay http://www.greatwar.co.uk/trip-info/...ommodation.htm
You may not be near Paris, but I really enjoyed visited the fairly new WWI museum near Meaux, France, which is to the NE of Paris. It was fantastic.
http://www.museedelagrandeguerre.eu/en
#4
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I too enjoyed the Great War museum in Meaux. It attempts to frame the period from the perspective of the ordinary soldiers and citizens. Meaux is a 45-minute train ride from Gare de l'Est. http://www.museedelagrandeguerre.eu/en
#5
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We found the sights around Verdun to be very interesting when we toured them last summer. We spent about a day and a half. There are good audio guides and exhibits in two of the forts in the area.
I'm glad to know about the museum in Meaux. I will go the next time I'm in France!
I'm glad to know about the museum in Meaux. I will go the next time I'm in France!
#7
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While in Belgium, Ypres is a great place to base. The In Flanders Field Museum is great. The whole countryside is dotted with Commonwealth War Graves (find the ones in your area by using this tool: http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery.aspx).
Other WWI places of interest in Flanders are:
Bayernwald German Trenches: http://www.greatwar.co.uk/ypres-sali...bayernwald.htm
Hill 62 Museum: http://www.greatwar.co.uk/ypres-sali...tuary-wood.htm
Actually, just check out this site: http://www.greatwar.co.uk/index.htm
I can recommend these guide books as well:
Major and Mrs Holt's Pocket Battlefield Guide to Ypres and Passchendaele: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/184...ND6LPMDRKWBOU7
Major and Mrs.Holt's Battle Map of the Ypres Salient: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/095...BGUDZXQEJQYML2
Major and Mrs Holt's Pocket Battlefield Guide to the Somme 1916/1918: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/184...Z6J7BBSPSZWODQ
Walking the Somme: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ADT5KL6S6RQFNC
Other WWI places of interest in Flanders are:
Bayernwald German Trenches: http://www.greatwar.co.uk/ypres-sali...bayernwald.htm
Hill 62 Museum: http://www.greatwar.co.uk/ypres-sali...tuary-wood.htm
Actually, just check out this site: http://www.greatwar.co.uk/index.htm
I can recommend these guide books as well:
Major and Mrs Holt's Pocket Battlefield Guide to Ypres and Passchendaele: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/184...ND6LPMDRKWBOU7
Major and Mrs.Holt's Battle Map of the Ypres Salient: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/095...BGUDZXQEJQYML2
Major and Mrs Holt's Pocket Battlefield Guide to the Somme 1916/1918: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/184...Z6J7BBSPSZWODQ
Walking the Somme: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ADT5KL6S6RQFNC
#8
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kerrylou your tag Austria Belarus is deceptive !!
I am using Amiens and Lille as bases in a week because we want to see Villers Bretonneux and Fromelles. Choose what you want to see then pick a nearby town for exploring eg Flanders in Belgium you could use Ieper and go to Menin Gate (which I highly recommend) , Passchendaele . There are so many sites, cemeteries , memorials you really need to decide what your priorities are .
I am using Amiens and Lille as bases in a week because we want to see Villers Bretonneux and Fromelles. Choose what you want to see then pick a nearby town for exploring eg Flanders in Belgium you could use Ieper and go to Menin Gate (which I highly recommend) , Passchendaele . There are so many sites, cemeteries , memorials you really need to decide what your priorities are .
#9
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I took a one day tour from Brugges using Quasimodo tours for the Western Front and was quite happy. I am not usually a 'tour' type of person but they were very knowledgeable and flexible. Ypres, Hill 60, Cemeteries, Menin Gate, etc are all well worth the trip.
#11
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Oh my gosh, I just noticed now I had somehow mistakenly tagged Austria Belarus!! Thank you for catching that northie.
Thank you for all the advice. We've just booked a B&B outside of Amiens and are leaving in 6 days so all the information will be most helpful.
Thank you for all the advice. We've just booked a B&B outside of Amiens and are leaving in 6 days so all the information will be most helpful.