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Teach By Travel - World War Battlefields - France
Day 1:
Departure Flight.
Day 2: Paris
Bonjour! Land at Paris airport, meet your Teach by Travel tour manager, and start your day with a city tour of Paris. See the world-famous symbol of Paris, the Eiffel Tower, Trocadero, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe and more! Dinner and overnight in Paris.
Day 3: Paris
Fascinating morning visit to the Musée des Invalides and its rich collections from the two World Wars of the 20th century, as well as collections from the wars of the Middle Ages through Napeoleon's wars. This afternoon, enjoy your included entrance into the incomparable Louvre Museum before dinner and overnight in Paris.
Day 4: Paris - Reims
Depart Paris this morning and journey to Reims, capital of Champagne, and housing one of the largest and most beautiful cathedrals, where French kings were crowned for nine centuries. Visit the cathedral and monument, then proceed to a champagne wine cellar for a wine tasting. Dinner and overnight in Reims.
Day 5: Reims - Verdun
Today's destination is Verdun, a World War I site where 300,000 French and German soldiers perished in 1916. A local guide brings history to life as you visit the Memorial, the "tranchees," one of the Ligne Maginot fortresses, and the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery with over 14,000 white crosses, a stark reminder of the perils of war. Dinner and overnight in Verdun.
Day 6: Verdun - Étretat
Head northwest to Compiegne to see the train wagon of the Marechal Foch where the armistice was signed between France and its allies and the Germans in November 1918. Continue to Rouen in Normandy to see the old city with its Middle Age streets and houses. On to Étretat and the stunningly beautiful Normandy limestone cliffs of the English Channel. Dinner and overnight in Étretat.
Day 7: Normandy - Deauville
Travel along the Normandy coast and view Honfleur, the small fishing port painted by many Impressionist artists at the turn of the 19th century. Continue to Arromanches to see the landing site of "Operation Overload" where on June 6, 1944 the American troops and their allies built a harbor, which transported millions of troops and materials to free western Europe. Visit the WWII Museum before continuing to Coleville to see the largest American cemetery of WWI in Europe. On to Deauville, built by Princess Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, as a resort in the mid-19th century. Dinner and overnight in Deauville.
Day 8: Caen - Giverny - Paris
Morning visit to the extraordinary Bayeux Tapestry. Arrive at Caen and its informative Memorial, with audio and visual displays to help understand how and why World War II happened. Before arriving in Paris, enjoy a stop at Giverny, home of Monet (in season). Stroll the grounds that gave inspiration to the great painter. On to Paris for dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Paris
A free day in Paris to enjoy your personal sightseeing agenda. Special Farewell Dinner at the Eiffel Tower's Restaurant 58 Tour Eiffel, followed by a Seine River Cruise for a unique view of the "City of Lights."
Day 10:
Return flight.
Highlights:
Round-trip Airfare
Full Time Tour Manager
All Breakfasts and Dinners
Guided City Tour of Paris
Musee des Invalides
Entrance to the Louvre Museum
Reims Cathedral
Champagne Wine Tasting
Verdun Memorial
Meuse-Argonne
American Cemetery
Compiegne
Ligne Maginot Fortresses
Rouen
Honfleur
Arromanches
American Cemetery and Museum at Coleville
Deauville
Bayeux Tapestry
Caen Memorial
Monet's Giverny
Eiffel Tower Dinner
Seine River Cruise
