I went with Leger tours to Normedy when in the UK in 2005. They are based out of the UK so I was the only American on the tour. They were great.
IF it weren't for the damn Mooselimbs, I'd love to do a bicycle tour. Lots of petty crime in Calais, Caen, and cities over 10k. (Priest beheaded recently in NOrmandy)
Just go yourself, its so easy. No tour busses, no fixed schedules. Its so easy, with on-line flights, hotels, AirBNB, etc...
When you get there, call people like this - they will give you great tours, at your own pace and schedule
Ypres / Leper:
www.ypres-fbt.com = Flanders Battlefield Tour
Genevra Charsley & Jacques Ryckebosch
Boeschepestraat 29 ,B-8970 Poperinge
Belgium : 0032 (0) 57360460
Email: info@ypres-fbt.com
Van Tour .. unforgettable.
My daughter and I toured (in order) Paris, Monte St Michel (south Normandy peninsula, on the other coast), then Normandy and the beachheads (1944), then a long drive across north France to the Dunkirk museum in the old coastal forts, the Crecy museum and battlefield (1345-46 campaign) and Agincourt museum (1415) campaignand battlefield (you can do both on the same day - they are about 1-1/2 drive apart, , the Somme (1916) - Ypres-Pasendale (1916-1917), Verdun (1915-1917), then up over towards Belgium and Waterloo (1815), then the Battle of the Bulge (1944-1945).
Sevel of the museums have been recently redone because of their 100 year, 200 year, and 600 year celebrations) and the more recent 50 year dedications.
Do you need a tour?
We did not use one, and enjoyed the time driving between sites. Just get a hotel with a/c at each city so you get a good night’s sleep each night. Driving is easy on the large and small French and Belgium roads.
The little bitty 1-lane hedgerows lanes in Normandy? Go slow - like they had to in jeeps.
you really need two-three days for the Somme battles and their larger museums. Crecy and Agincourt are much smaller - about 2-3 hours each coverts the battle and the sites. There is a WWII V-2 launch site museum right at Crecy too - small, but very interesting.
Dunkirk - 1/2 day at least.
Same with Waterloo - at least 1/2 day, may more to see all the films and interactive exhibits.
Oh yeah, for WWI, read “A World Undone” a week before.
Great book.
We visited the Normandy Beaches in ‘08 and stayed in Bayeux. It’s easy to get personalized guided tours which were great and not too expensive. It was one of the few areas I’ve been in France where they really welcomed Americans. If you can, drive a little further west and visit Mont Saint-Michel. Definitely worth the side trip.
We did an Avalon river cruise to Normandy 2 years ago. Best trip of our lives. River cruise only had 120 passengers, fabulous food, great people and a very relaxed atmosphere. Would highly recommend.
Related to your interest, I was pinged to Dan Carlin’s “Hardcore History” for a pretty extensive narrative of WWI, “Blueprint for Armageddon” which is an absolutely excellent verbal history of WWI, usually a topic rather more obscure than WW2. Heartily recommend it.
That tour is on my bucket list.
My great grandfather was in the Canadian regiment at Ypres. Not a good place to be.
That tour is on my bucket list.
My great grandfather was in the Canadian regiment at Ypres. Not a good place to be.
Back in the 90’s my wife and I were in Paris and took a day trip to Normandy. I didn’t use a tour because none of them went to Utah beach. My grandfather was in the 4th inf division 8th inf regiment and I wanted to see where he landed. Took the train to Caen, and rented a car. I only had a day so it was very rushed. Omaha beach and the cemetery are must sees. Also point du hoc is not to be missed. They had a nice museum at Utah beach as well as several monuments. I wish I had more time. WWII has always interested me so I was my own tour guide. I could have easily spent three or four days there. I may get a chance to go back, my son is looking at attending UT and may major in Plan II, they have a Normandy semester that culminates in a trip to Normandy over the summer.
Bump for my husband - this is on his bucket list. He has interviewed many WWII vets - (an aside - I have all these taped interviews and scanned pictures - probably 30 vets or more ). He so wants to go to Normandy but I think he needs to do sooner rather than later.
Thanks everyone I appreciate your replies, it has given me a starting point.
My wife and I have been to France many times but have never used a tour. Just take a Michelin green guide and a map. The Normandy beaches and graveyard are very accessible. If the weather is good you can pick up picnic supplies at any charcuterie, sorta like a deli. Trip Advisor can steer you to good accommodations.
If you get to Northeast France, You may want to visit Verdun, site of the great battle of WWI.
As I remember visiting the trenches and tunnels (Now filled with concrete and not dirt). How close the Germans were - 30’.
Remember to be careful as there can still be live ammunition near these sites. The French have a group that looks for this and sometimes gets injured or killed. There is an American Cemetery here. When I visited in 89, they were very appreciative of the US in WWI and WWII.
Oh my goodness, Normandy is the most amazing place ever, and I can’t emphasize enough how amazing this place is to stay. It literally made our trip 100x better, you will love it! The village of Ranville is near everywhere, and this chateau has so much history in itself. The small village has a wonderful little grocery with a patisserie that is fantastic. We bought food and cooked every evening and ate outside on the chateau grounds. Just go there. :) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chateau_de_Guernon-Ranville As far as the tours, our family went with a private tour guide but I can’t remember how we found him. If I find the info I will send it to you.
I have visited most of the battlefield in France and Belgium WWI and WWII. If you are well versed in the history of these wars, I would strongly suggest you lay out a plan and follow your own instincts as to how long, where, etc. Drive yourself and govern your time spent where you are most interested.Tell me how long you have and i can give you an idea of what you can cover.
Go to TripAdvisor.com and check out their reviews of various companies, tours, guides, museums, etc. The details there aren’t always up-to-date, and they’re often biased unfairly in a negative direction, but I think this website is about the best source of such info — at least if you can take the time to read with a critical eye.
Anyway, for me, a guided tour of several days thru an entire area is usually best, because I can carry on a extended dialogue about local history and geography with the tour director while we’re on the bus, at restaurants and elsewhere. I learn a lot that way. That was certainly my experience when touring Normandy.
Moreover, the typical guides and tour directors for just about any tour company will know which times are best to visit certain sites, so as to avoid crowds and early closing times. And they will know which sites are worth skipping, especially some of the tourist traps. Also, other tourists in your group often will have in-depth knowledge of particular topics that can be valuable.
My wife and I have used three tour companies recently in Europe: Grand European Tours, Road Scholar and Grand Circle Tours. All were very good, with excellent tour directors. And I’ve heard good things from friends about several of the other big USA and British tour companies.
But the guided tour is not for everybody. Maybe you will enjoy the sites more if you simply hire a local guide at certain sites, then travel on your own from place to place. That approach is usually not my cup of tea, but then I wouldn’t want to judge your personal preferences on the matter.
Further removed from my preferences, some people I know evidently get a certain “satisfaction” from figuring out EVERYTHING by themselves when they travel overseas. No guides anywhere, period. I think they’re seriously short-sighted in this regard — but to each his own.
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