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Normandy/France - War History
Posted on 2/4/26 at 4:09 pm
Posted on 2/4/26 at 4:09 pm
Starting to plan a trip for my wife and 20 yr old (loves WW2/History). Promised my son I'd take him and do not know where to start. Are there any tips/recommendations on agencies that can help make this a memorable trip? Any must see and dos while there. How much time do we need to plan to stay in that area. TIA
8
Posted on 2/4/26 at 4:21 pm to Chewbacha
You don't need a travel agency.
FYI, if you tried to search this board, the default date range in a search only goes back 7 days.
Here is a good thread And a few mentions in this thread. Try to spark some interest in WWI. You're going to be in the area, and the fact that he will be able to look at cows grazing in a field and see the shell impact craters from over 100 years ago may intrigue him.
FYI, if you tried to search this board, the default date range in a search only goes back 7 days.
Here is a good thread And a few mentions in this thread. Try to spark some interest in WWI. You're going to be in the area, and the fact that he will be able to look at cows grazing in a field and see the shell impact craters from over 100 years ago may intrigue him.
quote:
Depart from your centrally located hotel in Brussels or greet your guide in the city center, depending upon which option you selected. Climb aboard a comfortable, air-conditioned coach and admire the scenic surroundings as your travel towards the town of Vladslo. Disembark and explore the German Military Cemetery of Vladslo, a poignantly peaceful area that features the famous sculpture by Käthe Kollwitz, Grieving Parents.
Next, venture to the small city of Diksmuide and see a stretch of the Western Front that symbolizes Belgium’s courage and heroism during the conflict. See impressive monuments like the Yser Tower (IJzertoren) and the grand Gate of Peace (IJser Gate) then return to the vehicle for the scenic subsequent leg of the journey.
Stop in the somnolent town of Passchendaele and discover how a bloody battlefield underwent a radical transformation into this quaint place, then revitalize with a hearty ploughman's lunch in a local restaurant. After feasting on local delicacies, head to the Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery to reflect upon the 35,000 graves that immortalize the memory of fallen soldiers.
Next, travel to Essex Farm Field Hospital and see the bunkers that inspired John McCrae to write his influential poem, In Flanders’ Field. Hear fascinating tales of violent warfare and the dank conditions soldiers lived in then enrich your knowledge with the comprehensive exhibitions of the Flanders’ Field Museum.
Venture to Hill 60 to see some strategic tunnels then disembark at the picturesque town of Ypres to enjoy some independent exploration and dinner (own expense). Reconvene with your guide at a pre-arranged time to witness to soul-stirring Last Post Ceremony at Ypres’ Menin Gate. Absorb the saddening simplicity of the service then return to your vehicle for the drive back to Brussels
(From TripAdvisor)
Notice, for scale, the size of the van in the parking lot
Lochnagar Crater
Posted on 2/4/26 at 4:33 pm to LemmyLives
He enjoys WW1 history as well. (Favorite movie is 1917) Will check out other threads you mentioned
Posted on 2/4/26 at 4:38 pm to Chewbacha
Presuming Paris is in your plans and he likes war, the Musee de Arrmee is often missed. There is so much cool shite, including hundreds of polished cannons, etc., and it's 3-4 hours, and I walk really fast.
Posted on 2/4/26 at 4:43 pm to Chewbacha
A ton of WWI stuff is in Belgium, or in NE France, but it's a quick train ride between Paris and Brussels (where I rented a car). I drove a few times, because some of the American cemeteries are out in the middle of nowhere, as was Bastogne. Verdun, the Somme, and Ypres were depressing in the right way.
In Bastogne (I drove from Paris), there is a museum with a room in the basement to simulate you being trapped in a house while you're being shelled. It's not a Disney experience, but you'll both enjoy it.
In Bastogne (I drove from Paris), there is a museum with a room in the basement to simulate you being trapped in a house while you're being shelled. It's not a Disney experience, but you'll both enjoy it.
Posted on 2/4/26 at 4:50 pm to LemmyLives
Thanks for the info. He loves museums. He will read EVERY bit of information there.
Posted on 2/4/26 at 4:54 pm to Chewbacha
One thing that many don’t visit is Pegasus Bridge, where the British glider troops landed. There is a short book by Ambrose about it.
Posted on 2/4/26 at 5:46 pm to Chewbacha
Don't sleep on Tripadvisor to see the breadth of what is in particular areas. Just don't get too laser focused on the "top 5" lists, scroll through looking for things that interest you and the boy.
One example was of a preserved part of a trench (I don't remember why) in the middle of an industrial park. The Trench of the Long Knives (they're now replicas, they've been broken off and stolen repeated.) This is just Verdun.
One thing to account for when you're driving outside of cities (I advise you to park the car in major cities and walk/train over driving in town) is that their gas station systems are nothing like ours. In Bastogne, for instance, there was one gas station (I didn't see any others), which was closed, and IIRC I had to drive close to 45km back on the main road to find an open gas station.
And if you hit the Netherlands, the speed cameras will absolutely nail you for going 2km over on the freeway (and there were a LOT of them). I was watching cars pass me at high rates of speed, so thought I was good, until Avis sent me the ticket a few weeks later.
One example was of a preserved part of a trench (I don't remember why) in the middle of an industrial park. The Trench of the Long Knives (they're now replicas, they've been broken off and stolen repeated.) This is just Verdun.
One thing to account for when you're driving outside of cities (I advise you to park the car in major cities and walk/train over driving in town) is that their gas station systems are nothing like ours. In Bastogne, for instance, there was one gas station (I didn't see any others), which was closed, and IIRC I had to drive close to 45km back on the main road to find an open gas station.
And if you hit the Netherlands, the speed cameras will absolutely nail you for going 2km over on the freeway (and there were a LOT of them). I was watching cars pass me at high rates of speed, so thought I was good, until Avis sent me the ticket a few weeks later.
Posted on 2/4/26 at 9:01 pm to Chewbacha
Overlord Tours is a popular guided tour company that covers the D-Day beaches. People generally stay in Bayeux (or Caen) and allow one or two full days for the experience.
The museum in Bastogne is good too.
Posted on 2/4/26 at 10:06 pm to Chewbacha
Stay in Bayeux and tour the beaches with Overlord Tours.
We did this in April of 2019 just weeks before the 75 th anniversary of DDay.
We flew in to Paris, stayed there for a few days (during which time we watched the fire at Notre Dame right from the beginning), then got a rental car and drove to Bayeux. Bayeux is a quaint little town that is one of the few places around there that was not bombed during the war. Its Old Town and Cathedral are still intact.
One day we took an all day tour of the beaches with Overlord and it was excellent. It was like being shown around by a history professor.
One day we drove to Mont St. Michel for a day trip.
After about four days in Bayeux, we drove back to Paris, turned the car in and stayed for a few more days before flying home.
That was a great trip.
Bayeux and Overlord Tours is the way to go.
We did this in April of 2019 just weeks before the 75 th anniversary of DDay.
We flew in to Paris, stayed there for a few days (during which time we watched the fire at Notre Dame right from the beginning), then got a rental car and drove to Bayeux. Bayeux is a quaint little town that is one of the few places around there that was not bombed during the war. Its Old Town and Cathedral are still intact.
One day we took an all day tour of the beaches with Overlord and it was excellent. It was like being shown around by a history professor.
One day we drove to Mont St. Michel for a day trip.
After about four days in Bayeux, we drove back to Paris, turned the car in and stayed for a few more days before flying home.
That was a great trip.
Bayeux and Overlord Tours is the way to go.
This post was edited on 2/4/26 at 10:19 pm
Posted on 2/5/26 at 6:55 am to Chewbacha
Another vote for Overlord Tours
We flew into Paris, got a quick bite and took a train to Bayeux. It is an awesome little town with tons of WWII history. We rented an AirBnB and the next morning our Overlord Guide picked us up at our apartment. We did the full day Band of Brothers tour. It was amazing. The detail and visual aids the guide provided were top notch. I get chills just typing about it.
We did 2 nights in Bayeux then back to Paris for 5 nights. It was cool to see all of the sights, but the people we encountered in Paris were very cold to us. We had heard that before we went, but I thought it was just a wives tale. The Louvre is amazing, as well as Versailles. Don't miss the Musee d'Armee- the amount of war history is incredible. They have full suits of armor lining hallways, including items from Napolean and other Kings. Then you finish it off at Napolean's Tomb. We thoroughly enjoyed it.
We flew into Paris, got a quick bite and took a train to Bayeux. It is an awesome little town with tons of WWII history. We rented an AirBnB and the next morning our Overlord Guide picked us up at our apartment. We did the full day Band of Brothers tour. It was amazing. The detail and visual aids the guide provided were top notch. I get chills just typing about it.
We did 2 nights in Bayeux then back to Paris for 5 nights. It was cool to see all of the sights, but the people we encountered in Paris were very cold to us. We had heard that before we went, but I thought it was just a wives tale. The Louvre is amazing, as well as Versailles. Don't miss the Musee d'Armee- the amount of war history is incredible. They have full suits of armor lining hallways, including items from Napolean and other Kings. Then you finish it off at Napolean's Tomb. We thoroughly enjoyed it.
Posted on 2/5/26 at 9:23 pm to Chewbacha
Do not miss Sainte-Mere-Eglise! The story of what happened there is incredible and they have a great little museum that tells you all about it.
Caen also has a great WWII museum.
Caen also has a great WWII museum.
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