DiscoveryTourofWWIandWWIIBattlefieldsinFlanders,Luxembourg,
Oise,MarneandNormandy,highlightsofBrussels,Reims,
Paris,BayeuxandMontStMichel
CustomizedexclusivelyformembersandaffiliatesofTheAmericanLegionandAmericanLegionAuxiliary
*AmericanLegionCentennialtoursconductedbyanEnglish-speakingexpertguide
Airfarenotincluded.
1-BRUSSELS(Saturday)Day1:MorningPick-upatZaventemairport09:00/10:00(subjecttoflightschedules)DepartforZonnebeke/Leper11:30ArrivalZonnebekeLunchatZonnebekeAfternoon13:30TouringPasschendaeleMuseum(Zonnebeke)TheMemorialMuseumPasschendaele1917keepsthememoryaliveoftheBattleofPasschendaele,wherehalfamillionvictimsfelljustfor8kmgainofground.ThemuseumishousedinthehistoriccastleofZonnebekeandfocusesonthephysicalaspectsofWorldWarI
15:15DeparttoLeper15:30TouringFlandersFieldsMuseumatLeperInFlandersFieldsMuseumislocatedinthefamousClothHall(calledtheLakenhalleinFlemish)inthecentreofYpres(Ieper).In1998theoriginalYpresSalientMemorialMuseumwasrefurbishedandrenamedInFlandersFieldsMuseum.InFlandersFieldsMuseumisanawardwinningmuseumwhichhasundergoneamajorrefurbishmentforthecentenaryof1914-1918.TheFlandersFieldsmuseumfeaturesthelatesttechnologicalmuseumapplications,providingvisitorswithtouchscreens,videoprojections,soundscapesandaninteractivePoppyBracelet.
16:15DeparttoWaregem16:45TourFlandersFieldsAmericanCemetery
TheFlandersFieldAmericanCemeteryandMemorialinBelgiumoccupiesa6.2-acresite.Massesofgracefultreesandshrubberyframetheburialareaandscreenitfrompassingtraffic.Attheendsofthepathsleadingtothreeofthecornersofthecemeteryarecircularretreats,withbenchesandurns.Atthispeacefulsiterest368ofourmilitarydead,mostofwhomgavetheirlivesinliberatingthesoilofBelgiuminWorldWarI.Theirheadstonesarealignedinfoursymmetricalareasaroundthewhitestonechapelthatstandsinthecenterofthecemetery.ThealtarinsidethechapelismadeofblackandwhiteGrandAntiquemarblewithdrapedflagsoneachside;aboveitisacrusader'sswordoutlinedingold.Thechapelfurnitureismadeofcarvedoak,stainedblackwithwhiteveiningtoharmonizewiththealtar;43namesareinscribedontheWalls oftheMissing.
17:30:DeparttoBrussels19:30ArriveatBrusselsfourstarHotel“NovotelBruxellesGrandPlace”.freetimevisitofthefamousBrusselsGrandPlaceclosebythehotel.
20:30DinneratHotel,2- BASTOGNE(Ardennes)/LUXEMBOURG/REIMS(Marne)(Sunday)Day208:00DepartforBastogne
10:00TourofBastogneWarMuseumand/or"BattleoftheBulge"confrontationsites
TheBattleoftheBulge:aclimax
OnDecember16,1944theGermanslaunchtheirlastmajoroffensiveintheWest.BastogneisacapitalstaketheAmericanshavetodefendatallcost.OnDecember19,1944,BrigadierGeneralAnthonyMcAuliffe,actingcommanderofthe101stAirborneDivisionarrivesinBastognewithhisdivisionandheestablisheshisheadquartersattheSous-LieutenantHeintzBarracks.OnDecember22,1944hewriteshistory:heanswers"NUTS"totheGermantroopsencirclingBastogneanddemandingsurrender.HisshortbutpowerfulstatementbecomesaturningpointintheBattleoftheBulge.
Since2010BASTOGNEBARRACKSisaninterpretationCentrefortheSecondWorldWar.Besuretovisitthe"Nuts"basementillustratingadecisivestepintheBattleoftheBulge,aswellasthenumerousexhibitiongalleries.Discoverthe"VehicleRestorationCenter"givingRoyalMilitaryMuseumarmouredvehiclesanewleaseoflife.
12:00Lunchbreak(Lunchboxavailableinthecoach)12:30DepartBastogneforLuxembourg13:30ArriveLuxembourgAmericanCemeteryandMemorial,Hamm,ValduScheid
tourthecemetery,GeneralThirdArmyGeorgeS.Patton’sgrave
14:30DepartReims17:00ArriveReims,visittheMuseumoftheSurrender
OnMay7,1945,GermanyofficiallysurrenderedtotheAlliesbringinganendtotheEuropeanconflictinWorldWarII.GeneralAlfredJodl,representingtheGermanHighCommand,signedtheunconditionalsurrenderofbotheastandwestforcesinReims,France,whichwouldtakeeffectthefollowingday.Asaresult,May8wasdeclaredVictoryinEurope,V-EDay,aholidaystillcelebratedbymanyEuropeancountries.
18:30Check-inat4starhotel“MercureCentreCathedrale”,freetimevisit.20:30Dinnerathotel3- REIMS/SERINGES-et-NESLES/CHÂTEAU-THIERRY/PARIS(Monday)Day3:09:30DeparthotelReims10:00Visitof“LANSON”Champagnecellarwithchampagnetasting11:00DepartforSeringes-et-Nesles11:45touringatOise-AisneAmericanCemetery
TheOise-Aisnemilitarycemeterywascreatedontheveryspotwherethe42ndAmericanDivision,theso-called“RainbowDivision”fought.Amongthe6,012gravesisthatofthepoetJoyceKilmer,asergeantinthe165thRegiment(42ndDivision),whowaskilledonJuly30th1918.
Afternoon
13:00Lunchbreak13:30DepartforChâteau-Thierry14:15TouringatChâteau-ThierryAmericanMonumentandwreathlaying
TheChâteau-ThierryAmericanMonumentisamemorialdedicatedin1937fortheinvolvementofUSforcesduringWorldWarI.15:30DepartforParis17:00Arriveatfivestarhotel“SofitelParisArcdeTriomphe”(check-inathotel)Freetimevisits19:00DepartforSeinerivercruisewithdinner
22:45ReturntotheHotel4- PARIS/NORMANDY(Tuesday)Day4:08:30breakfastathotel09:30Departfromhotelfora2hourscitytourtoenjoythemainsitesofPariswithcommentariesofthetourguideandhop-onandofftoexplorethecity,includingtheplaquemarkingthebirthplaceofTheAmericanLegionandPershingHall.
11:30LeaveParistowardNormandy13:30LunchbreakinHonfleurandfreetimetosightsee
16:30DepartHonfleurforManoir-du-Quesnay18:00ArriveatManoirduQuesnay.
19:30welcomedinneratManoirduQuesnay
5- D-DayBeaches(Wednesday)Day508:00BreakfastatManoirduQuesnay09:00departforUtah-Beach
09:45D-DayExperienceCenterandmuseums11:00DepartforUtahBeachviaAngovilleauPlain(101stAirborneaidstation)
13:00LunchbreakatCaféRoosevelt(Utah-Beach)
Afternoon14:00WN5andUtahBeachmuseum
15:00DepartforpositionWN10,UtahBeach,Atlantikwall,France,1944
15:45DepartforSainteMèreEgliseandLaFière(82ndAirborneactiononD-Day)17:30DepartforMDQ18:00ArriveMDQ19:30DeparttoagastronomicrestaurantinBayeux(locatedinthemedievalcity,closebytheGothicCathedral).22:00returntoMDQ6- D-DayBeaches(Thursday)Day608:00BreakfastatManoirduQuesnay09:00DepartforLaCambe09:30TourLaCambeGermanCemetery
10:15DepartforPointeduHoc10:45TourPointeduHoc
13:00LunchbreakatcaféoverlookingOmahaBeach14:00Toursectors/WN62–WN65–WN72
15:30ArriveatNormandyAmericanCemeteryinColleville-sur-Merforwreathlaying
17:45ReturntoMDQ18:00ArriveMDQ19:00DeparttoarestaurantinPort-en-BessinspecializedinlocalseafoodandNormancuisine21:30ReturntoMDQ
7- MontSaintMichelandBayeux(Friday)Day707:30BreakfastatManoirduQuesnay08:30DepartforMontSaintMichel10:15ArriveSaintJamesAmericanCemetery
11:30TourMontSaintMichel
13:00LunchbreakatLeMtStMichel14:30DeparttoBayeux16:00ArriveBayeux.Tourthefamous10thcenturytapestry,freevisitofthemedievaltownandGothicCathedral
18:00FreetimevisitinBayeux19:30DinnerinagastronomicrestaurantinBayeux21:30ReturntoMDQ
8- ReturntoParisairports/hotels
(Saturday)Day8
07:00BreakfastatManoirduQuesnay
08:00DepartforParisOptional10:00StopatGiverny(visitMonetgardens)
Alternate:StopatEscadrilleLafayetteMemorialMarnes-la-Coquette
13:00EstimatearrivaltimeinParisairports/hotels
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DiscoverytouroftheWWIandWWIIBattlefields
inFlanders,Luxembourg,Oise,Marne,andNormandy
Terms,ConditionsandInclusions
From:BRUSSELStoPARISDuration:8days/7nightsDatesAvailable:2018 October 20 - 27 November 10 - 17 November 24 - December 1st December 8 - 15
2019 February 2 - 9 February 16 - 23 March 2- 9 March 16 - 23 April 6 - 13 April 27 - May 4
Groupsize:10to12participants
Prices(validthroughMarch2019)
Possiblenumberofparticipantspereachtour:12participants:2800Eurosperperson,indoubleortwinroomonly(nosingleroom)11participants:3050Euros,indoubleortwinroomSupplementsingle:1,000euros,withonesingleavailablepertourof11participants10participants:3050Eurosperperson,indoubleortwinroomSupplementsingle:1,000euros,withtwosinglepertourof10participantsTourincludes:
• Travelbyfirstclassair-conditioned15-seatcoachduringthe8days• ServicesofanexpertguideinWWIandWWIIhistory• Allvisits,scenicdrives,andsightseeingasdescribedintheItinerary• 3nights’accommodationinfourandfivestarhotels(Brussels,Rheims,andParis)• 4nights’accommodationatManoirduQuesnay(AmericanLegionD-DayAnniversaryHonorary
Post1944,Normandy)• Breakfastdaily• 7dinners(includingaSeinerivercruisewithdinner)drinksincluded(onebottleofvintagewine
for2,mineralwaterandcoffee)• ChampagnetastinginRheims• A2-hourPariscitytour• Allentrancefeesaspertheitinerary• Individualaudio-guide• Individualinsurance(medicalexpenses,repatriationassistance,civilliability)duringthewhole
tour(8days)startingfromBrusselsendinginParis.• Localtaxesandendoftourtipsforguideanddriverincluded
Notincluded:
• Airfare,lunchbreak,extranightinParisorairporthotelsonDay8• Expensesofapersonalnature
EnrolforaTour
Firstofallenrolforatourintheabovelisteddates,thankyoutoindicatehowmanycouplesandsingles.Nodepositrequiredwhenyouenrol.Youwillberegisteredinawaitinglistuntil10to12participantshavejoinedforthesamedates.Youwillthenbeaskedtoproceedwiththebooking.
BookingConditions
DEPOSITWhenagroupof10to12participantsissetupforspecificdates,anon-refundabledepositof1000€(euros)perperson,pertour,isrequireduponbookingtosecureyourplaceFINALPAYMENTThebalancepaymentwillbeduenolaterthan60dayspriortotourdeparture.CANCELLATIONSAllcancellationsmustbereceivedinwriting.Emailsorfaxareaccepted.Ifcancellationisreceivedmorethan80dayspriortodeparture,thedepositwillbeforfeited.Ifcancellationisreceivedbetween80and61dayspriortodeparture,acancellationfeeof50%ofthetotalbalancewillbecharged.Ifcancellationisreceivedlessthan60dayspriortodeparture,acancellationfeeof100%ofthetotalbalancecostwillbecharged.Toenrolforatourpleasecontact:
MANOIRDUQUESNAY
F14710–[email protected]
FAX:+33231223903TELEPHONERESERVATIONS:+33231225717
Or
Mailformto:THEAMERICANLEGIONMAGAZINEc/oEuropeanBattlefieldsTour
P.O.Box1055INDIANAPOLIS,IN46206Faxto:(317)630-1280
E-mail:[email protected]
