WWI & WWII

Day 1: Paris
Upon arrival in Paris, you will be greeted & transferred to your hotel for the evening. Time permitting, you may explore some of the sights & sounds of Paris; sip on a coffee or glass of wine at a local bistro or roam Champs-Élysées, a street famous for retail. That evening, you will enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel or local restaurant, at your group’s request.

Day 2: Paris - Compiènge – Amiens
Following breakfast at the hotel, you will leave for Compiènge a town in northern France with a long history of war. In fact, Joan of Arc was captured here during the Hundred Years War & it was the origin of the Martyrs of Compiènge who were executed for being enemies of the French Revolution. During the First World War, the Allied armistice with Germany was signed at Le Francport near Compiènge. This was also the same site that the armistice was signed between a defeated France & Germany during the Second World War & soon became an internment camp. You will then continue on to Amiens. Like Compiènge, Amiens has played an important role in French military history. Because of its proximity to Britain as well as it being a railway hub, Amiens was often a tactical military focus for both sides in the world wars.

Day 3: Amiens
With the help of a local expert guide, today you will have an entire day to explore the Somme Region. This region, which is situated on the Somme River, was the site of the WW1 Battle of Somme considered to be one of the bloodiest battles in the history of humanity with over 1,000,000 soldiers killed or wounded. The landscape still shows signs of the battle and because of the losses during the Battle of Somme as well as the number of other conflicts fought in the region, Somme is home to many military cemeteries, memorials & museums. You will have the chance to visit two such monuments, the Somme American Cemetery & Memorial & the Musée Somme 1916, located in former aircraft shelters from WWII. That evening, you will have dinner & stay overnight in an Amiens hotel.

Day 4: Caen
After breakfast in the hotel, you will depart from Amiens for Normandy. Along the route, you will stop to visit the Memorial Pegasus, a monument to the 6th Airborne Division of the British army, the first airborne force to aid in the Normandy landings. From the memorial, you will continue on to Normandy where you will have dinner at the hotel & stay overnight.

Day 5: Caen
After breakfast, you'll set off for a full day of excursions in Normandy, the first stop being a visit to Bayeux. Like Amiens, Bayeux’s coastal location made it crucial in terms of European military history. Bayeux was the first city to be liberated during the beach landings & was later the site where Charles de Gaulle would declare France to be a friend of the Allied Powers. The Battle of Bayeux did very little physical damage to the city, so as you explore the city, you are able to see the same buildings that were standing during the World Wars. After Bayeux, you will continue to one of France’s most iconic landmarks, the Abbey of Mont St. Michel, a commune accessible only by a tidal causeway. The Abbey sits atop a hill exhibiting a communal design meant to reflect feudal society.  So, the Abbey & monastery are at the top, the Great halls & retail stores are in the middle with the bottom showcasing the houses of fishermen & farmers. Because of its location & topography, Mont St. Michel served as a strategic fort in many military engagements. Tonight, you can relax & enjoy dinner at your hotel.

Day 6: Caen
Today, a local guide will lead you on your full-day excursion to the Normandy battlefields & beaches. First, you will stop at the U.S. Cemetery which sits atop a cliff overlooking the English Channel & Omaha Beach. Then you will spend the remainder of the day at Omaha Beach, a 5-mile stretch that was one of the 5 segments of territory planned to be recovered from German occupation during the Normandy landings. Though the offensive at Omaha Beach was eventually successful, this particular segment of the operation proved difficult as very little went as planned. A highlight to today’s trip, & exclusive to your tour, is that you will be able to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony on one of the D-Day beaches. You will conclude your day with dinner & an overnight at a Caen hotel.

Day 7: Paris
You will begin today with the trip to the Caen Memorial Museum. While the museum offers a wide variety exhibits about the Second World War, its emphasis is on the Allied offensives against Germany on the European front. Following the museum, you will return to Paris for a farewell dinner at the first-floor restaurant of the Eiffel Tower. It will be an unforgettable end to your time & travels in France. You will have your overnight in Paris.

Day 8: Paris
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Optional Add-On: Tour of Western Europe
Once in France, you are only a short train or plane ride away from experiencing the rest of Europe. Personalize your exploration of European history & culture to suit your interests.

Additional Optional Add-Ons Available Upon Request.