Belgium, Lux, North France Travel Planning: Which Historic Battlefields Would You See?
Belgium, Lux, North France Travel Planning: Which Historic Battlefields Would You See?
(OP)
My daughter (A research librarian) and I are planning a 1 week north France-Belgium-Luxemburg trip later this fall to see the historic battlefields and "general sites" across the area. Would fly into Paris, go the the "usual" tourist sites there by tour bus, but then she wants to drive across the area looking at the area of the battlefields and sites across the region.
Over 2000 years since the Roman conquests, there are obviously hundreds - if not thousands - of interesting sites. Equally, we want to go to the more interesting architectural and battlefields just to "see" what each one really looks like: the Paris buildings, Mont St-Michel, Crecy, Agincourt for Medieval.
Waterloo (south of Brussels).
The trenches of Loos, Ypres at least. The Somme valley itself? Probably not enough time. Verdun is also too far to reasonably drive unfortunately.
Normandy (while over near St-Michel), Dieppe, Calais, Falais, the Eben-Emanual ruins, Bastogne, the Ardennes.
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What else would you add? Which have you been to, and would recommend skipping?
I know the written histories of these from many different sources, and I know this can't be a very in-depth tour at any of the places, but we want to get to a realistic number of the sites.
Over 2000 years since the Roman conquests, there are obviously hundreds - if not thousands - of interesting sites. Equally, we want to go to the more interesting architectural and battlefields just to "see" what each one really looks like: the Paris buildings, Mont St-Michel, Crecy, Agincourt for Medieval.
Waterloo (south of Brussels).
The trenches of Loos, Ypres at least. The Somme valley itself? Probably not enough time. Verdun is also too far to reasonably drive unfortunately.
Normandy (while over near St-Michel), Dieppe, Calais, Falais, the Eben-Emanual ruins, Bastogne, the Ardennes.
---
What else would you add? Which have you been to, and would recommend skipping?
I know the written histories of these from many different sources, and I know this can't be a very in-depth tour at any of the places, but we want to get to a realistic number of the sites.





RE: Belgium, Lux, North France Travel Planning: Which Historic Battlefields Would You See?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau-Thierry...
Not sure 1 week is enough time...
RE: Belgium, Lux, North France Travel Planning: Which Historic Battlefields Would You See?
They are maintained by locals and they are beautiful little spots.
They each have a little chapel and some background on the battles in the area.
Some are from WW II and others from WW I.
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P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube
RE: Belgium, Lux, North France Travel Planning: Which Historic Battlefields Would You See?
Look for the interesting 'second tier' sites.
For example, the lines at Louvre were huge, but there are a number of very interesting small art museums in Paris with no waiting.
Have fun.
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P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube
RE: Belgium, Lux, North France Travel Planning: Which Historic Battlefields Would You See?
B.E.
You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.
RE: Belgium, Lux, North France Travel Planning: Which Historic Battlefields Would You See?
They fought for many reasons, but they all expected peace at the end of it.
STF
RE: Belgium, Lux, North France Travel Planning: Which Historic Battlefields Would You See?
an interesting, restored, fort from WW1.
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: Belgium, Lux, North France Travel Planning: Which Historic Battlefields Would You See?
It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. (Sherlock Holmes - A Scandal in Bohemia.)
RE: Belgium, Lux, North France Travel Planning: Which Historic Battlefields Would You See?
MikeL.
RE: Belgium, Lux, North France Travel Planning: Which Historic Battlefields Would You See?
However, as mentioned above there's a lot of history to look at so what appeals most to you & your daughter?
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Belgium, Lux, North France Travel Planning: Which Historic Battlefields Would You See?
RE: Belgium, Lux, North France Travel Planning: Which Historic Battlefields Would You See?
this is the bicentennial of the 1815 battle and the crowds are very large. If you go make sure that it early in the day and not on a weekend.
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P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube
RE: Belgium, Lux, North France Travel Planning: Which Historic Battlefields Would You See?
RE: Belgium, Lux, North France Travel Planning: Which Historic Battlefields Would You See?
I would stick to Paris and northern France / Belgium
You could hire a car in Paris and drive, but you can use the train system and hire a car at the system, so I suggest TGV to Lille (1 hour). In a car, you would still be in Paris after an hour!
My favourites in Northern France: Vimy Ridge (you seem to be able to see most of northern France / Southern Belgium from this hill, which is why they fought for it)
See the The Canadian National Vimy Memorial which is the only well restored trench system I believe.
Ypres Cloth Hall - restored building destroyed in 1st war and with excellent museum.
If you have time, go to Normandy (train to Bayeux, 4 hours from Lille, via Paris)
See:
Bayeux Embroidery (my wife tells me that it is not a tapestry)
Pegasus Bridge (British Glider landing)
Sainte-Mère-Église (USA Para troops)
Omaha Memorial / cemetery
Arromanches for British beaches and Museum with fabulous model of Mulberry Harbor
For train travel http://www.seat61.com/
If you have any relatives buried in any of these areas, you can visit the graves. Guess you have a website to find these.
If you do not have a relative, you can visit my uncle's at Ecoivres Military Cemetery, Mont-St. Eloi
Enjoy, good luck, take it easy!
RE: Belgium, Lux, North France Travel Planning: Which Historic Battlefields Would You See?
You can hire cars via the rail operator SNCF
Forgot to add, when in Ypres, visit the Menin Gate (war memorial). At 8pm every day the road is closed and the local fire brigade play Last Post. Another MUST. Need plenty of Kleenex