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A Guided Tour of France’s Historic Battlefields and War Memorials

France is home to some of the most significant battlefields and war memorials from World War I and World War II. These sites offer an opportunity to learn about the history of these wars and pay tribute to the soldiers who fought and died for their country. A guided tour of these sites can be a powerful and moving experience, providing a deeper understanding of the sacrifices made by those who fought in these conflicts.

In this article, we will be exploring some of the most famous battlefields and war memorials in France, including those on the Western Front, the Eastern Front, and the Southern Front. We will also provide information on what to expect on a guided tour, and tips and advice on how to plan your visit .

The Western Front

The Somme region in northern France is known for the famous battles that took place during World War I. The Battle of the Somme, which lasted from July to November 1916, was one of the bloodiest battles of the war, with over 1 million casualties. The Somme region is home to several war cemeteries and memorials that commemorate the soldiers who fought and died in the battle, including the Thiepval Memorial and the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial.

The Battle of Verdun, which took place from February to December 1916, was one of the longest and most brutal battles of World War I. The Verdun region is home to several war cemeteries and memorials that commemorate the soldiers who fought and died in the battle, including the Douaumont Ossuary and the Verdun Memorial.

The Ypres region in western Belgium was the site of several major battles during World War I, including the Battle of Ypres in 1914 and the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917. The Ypres region is home to several war cemeteries and memorials that commemorate the soldiers who fought and died in the battles, including the Menin Gate Memorial and the Tyne Cot Cemetery.

The Eastern Front

Alsace , located in northeastern France, was the site of several major battles during both World War I and World War II. The region is home to several war cemeteries and memorials that commemorate the soldiers who fought and died in the battles, including the Hartmannswillerkopf Memorial and the Struthof-Natzweiler Memorial.

Lorraine, located in northeastern France, was the site of several major battles during both World War I and World War II. The region is home to several war cemeteries and memorials that commemorate the soldiers who fought and died in the battles, including the Metz Memorial and the Nancy Memorial.

The Southern Front

The maginot line:.

The Maginot Line, a series of fortifications and bunkers built along the French-German border before World War II, was an important part of France’s defense strategy during the war. The line, named after French Minister of War André Maginot, was intended to deter a German invasion. The Maginot Line saw action during the Battle of France in 1940 and many of the fortifications and bunkers can still be visited today. Visitors can tour these fortifications and learn about the history and tactics of the French defense during World War II, including the museums and exhibits dedicated to this topic.

Normandy Beaches

The Normandy beaches, located on the northwest coast of France, were the site of the famous D-Day landings during World War II. On June 6, 1944, the beaches of Normandy were the location of the largest amphibious invasion in history, as Allied forces landed on five beaches in an effort to gain a foothold in Europe and defeat the German army.

One of the most famous beaches is Omaha Beach, where American forces faced heavy resistance and sustained heavy casualties. Another famous beach is Sword Beach, where British and Canadian forces landed. The invasion was a turning point in the war and marked the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany.

The Normandy beaches are now home to several war cemeteries, monuments and museums that commemorate the soldiers who fought and died during the D-Day landings. Visitors can pay their respects to the fallen soldiers by visiting the American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, the Bayeux War Cemetery and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery in Ranville. The D-Day Museum in Arromanches is also a must-see for visitors interested in learning more about the history of the landings and the events that led up to them.

Visitors can also take a guided tour of the beaches and the surrounding area, which can include visits to key landmarks such as the Pointe du Hoc, the Omaha Beach Memorial and the Airborne Museum in Sainte-Mère-Eglise. These tours can provide a deeper understanding of the logistics, strategy and sacrifices made during the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy.

Planning Your Guided Tour

When planning your guided tour of France’s historic battlefields and war memorials, there are a few things to consider. First, it is important to choose the right tour company for your budget and needs.

Second, select the right itinerary for your interests and time frame. There are many different tours available, some of which focus on specific battles or regions, while others cover multiple sites. Make sure to choose an itinerary that will allow you to see the sites you are most interested in.

Finally, it is important to organize transportation. Some tours include local bus transportation, while others do not. If transportation is not included, it is important to plan how you will get to the various sites on your itinerary .

Of course on one of our tours, you’ll have your private driver and luxury vehicle to escort you and your private group. 

Get In Touch With Our Team For A Tour Itinerary

A guided tour of France’s historic battlefields and war memorials can be a powerful and moving experience. It allows visitors to learn about the history of these wars and pay tribute to the soldiers who fought and died for their country. From the Western Front to the Eastern Front and the Southern Front, there are many significant sites to visit and learn from. By planning ahead and selecting the right tour company, itinerary and transportation, you can have a memorable and educational experience. Remember that these sites are not only important for their historical significance, but also for the sacrifices made by those who fought in these conflicts.

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World War 1 & 2 Battlefields

France world war 1 & 2 battlefields self-drive tours.

If you are particularly interested in World War history, we can craft a tour just for you. The key regions you will want to visit are Normandy , Verdun and the Somme . All you have to do is contact us and tell us your special interests, as well as any other activities you’d like to include in your trip (such as wine-tasting, hiking, and particular places you wish to visit). Then we’ll put together an itinerary based on your interests, allowing you to explore places, learn about the history, and enjoy activities at your own pace.

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Verdun and Argonne: Echoes from World War I

Explore the off-the-beaten-track landscapes of Verdun and Argonne , regions once scarred by the ravages of World War I. As you drive through and explore these regions on foot with an expert private guide, you'll witness the remnants of fierce battles and the memorials that now stand tall in honor of the fallen.

You’ll discover that the Verdun area has long played an important role in conflicts throughout European history, as it is situated at the crossroads of France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg.

Verdun resonates with stories of bravery, sacrifice, and the sheer endurance of the human spirit. Here, you can explore the Verdun Memorial , which not only commemorates the sacrifices of troops of several nationalities but also educates visitors about the grueling ten-month-long Battle of Verdun.

We’ll arrange for an expert private guide to take you to these key sites, as well as a village that was completely destroyed during the battle and never rebuilt. You’ll see some of the ruins and signs marking where different buildings in the village used to be.

Amidst the tranquil forests of Argonne, stories of heroic American soldiers come to life, a testament to their unwavering spirit during intense combat. In Argonne you’ll be able to visit the Romagne-sous-Montfaucon German military cemetery and memorial , as well as the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery , the largest American military cemetery in Europe. Over 14,000 American soldiers who died during World War I are buried here, making it an important pilgrimage site for Americans and a testament to the sacrifice of the U.S. soldiers during the First World War.

The Somme: The Great War's Fiercest Battles

The Somme region saw some of World War I's bloodiest confrontations. A journey through these once-devastated landscapes provides a somber reminder of the sheer scale of conflict and the human cost attached to it. 

The Battle of the Somme, which took place in 1916, remains one of the most fiercely fought battles in history, with over a million casualties. Today, this region, dappled with scars and memorials, serves as a living museum to the heroism and sacrifices made by those who served.

By visiting places like the Thiepval Memorial , you'll be paying homage to the thousands of soldiers whose final resting place remains unknown. The massive Lochnagar Crater , a result of underground warfare, shows the devastating might of artillery during the war. The numerous cemeteries across the region hold the remains of British, French, American, Australian and German soldiers and various other nationalities.

The Somme is more than just a battlefield; it's a testament to endurance, resilience, and the human spirit. France Just For You will arrange for a private guide to accompany you and help you gain a deeper understanding of the events that shaped the course of history and the legacies that still influence the world today. The stories from the Somme are not just about warfare but also hope, camaraderie, and the indomitable spirit of humanity amidst its darkest hours.

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Normandy: Relive World War II’s Pivotal Moments & Walk in Your Ancestors’ Footsteps

We’ll help you embark on an fascinating journey along the historic coastline of Normandy, where the traces of World War II still linger. As you explore these iconic shores, each beach tells a unique tale of courage and liberation. 

Omaha Beach stands as a stark reminder of the heavy casualties sustained by American forces , while Utah Beach saw more successful landings and advances made by the Allies.

Gold Beach and Juno Beach , despite their calm beauty today, bear the weight of intense battles fought by British and Canadian forces respectively. Not far from these shores, the town of Sainte-Mère-Église  tells tales of American paratroopers who played a crucial role in the early hours of D-Day. Each site, each stretch of sand, serves as a poignant marker of the pivotal Normandy landings.

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Arromanches has a key role in the memory of D-Day, best known for its remarkable Mulberry Harbors . These temporary portable harbors, a feat of wartime engineering, were crucial in the success of the Allied invasion, allowing vast amounts of supplies and troops to be landed in the days following D-Day. 

Not far from Arromanches lies the iconic Pegasus Bridge , the site of a daring airborne operation in the early hours of June 6, 1944. British paratroopers, in a swift and strategic move, captured this vital structure, ensuring that the eastern flank of the landings would be protected. Today, Pegasus Bridge stands as a testament to the meticulous planning, precision, and valiant efforts of these airborne troops.

Chee Keong & Catherine Loo-Khaw

Many of our travelers over the years have had a father, grandfather or uncle who fought in the Battle of Normandy, and wanted to retrace their ancestor's footsteps . In these cases, we work with expert private guides to create an itinerary that includes the exact places where their ancestors would have stayed and fought. If you have a personal connection to France, let us know and we’ll help bring your family history alive for you.

Harry from Australia

A Personal Touch with France Just For You

France Just For You brings history alive, allowing you not only to visit these iconic sites but to deeply engage with them. Through private tours, you can relive tales of bravery, understand the grand strategies, and, for those with ancestors who fought in these wars, follow in their footsteps. This may involve visiting the battlefields or beaches where they fought, towns they stayed in, or their grave, if they were killed in action in France. 

Expert guides, with an intimate knowledge of local history, ensure that every moment of your journey resonates with meaning and relates to your personal interests.

Embarking on this self-drive tour is not just about revisiting history, but honoring the millions of individuals who shaped it. As your self-guided itinerary takes you through these important sites (along with a private guide for some sites), you'll experience a blend of reflection, understanding, and profound respect. 

If you’re interested in booking a personalized tour of France World War 1 & 2 Battlefields with France Just For You, crafted according to your interests and/or family history, please contact us and we will get back to you within 1 working day. In the meantime, we invite you to take a look at our World War History Tour of France, which will give you an idea of the type of itinerary we can plan for you.

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Get immersed into the Battle of Normandy and Bayeux history. How To Get There This Day Tour starts in Bayeux. From Paris, you can take a direct train. Bayeux Old City Bayeux may not be well known compared to Omaha Beach but the city has a lot to interest travelers. We plan for you to walk around Bayeux old city in the morning. We will provide a detailed map and information: restaurants, special shops, streets you don’t want to miss. You will also see the famous Bayeux Tapestry which is a beautiful testimony of the Middle Ages and William the Conqueror history. The WWII Landing Sites In the …

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Our Travelers’ Reviews

My husband and I prefer to travel independently not on tours but I am getting tired of doing all of the planning. Emilie did an excellent job of planning the trip. I gave input on the type of hotels and the places that we wanted to see and she took care of the details. The hotels that she picked were outstanding. All but one day we followed her …

My husband and I prefer to travel independently not on tours but I am getting tired of doing all of the planning. Emilie did an excellent job of planning the trip. I gave input on the type of hotels and the places that we wanted to see and she took care of the details. The hotels that she picked were outstanding. All but one day we followed her itinerary and were pleased. One day my husband wanted more WWII stuff and me were able to change plans at the last minute.

We just returned from a 15 day trip to Paris, the Loire Valley and Normandy. Our trip was planned by Emilie with precise attention to detail, giving us our perfect itinerary. We were independent in our travels but it was evident that Emilie and her staff were available throughout the trip. They appeared to always be mindful of our location and …

We just returned from a 15 day trip to Paris, the Loire Valley and Normandy. Our trip was planned by Emilie with precise attention to detail, giving us our perfect itinerary.

We were independent in our travels but it was evident that Emilie and her staff were available throughout the trip. They appeared to always be mindful of our location and needs, some of which changed unexpectedly. All of our lodgings were comfortable and our tours and activities were perfect. There were even a few nice surprises along the way! There is clearly no one better to plan your trip to France than France Just for You.

This was our first trip to Europe with just the two of us doing all the planning. I was looking for someone to help with the details of lodging and transportation and found Emilie through this site. She planned an incredible trip for us to Normandy/Brittany, Loire Valley and Paris. She is easy to work with, responsive and organized. I told her what …

This was our first trip to Europe with just the two of us doing all the planning. I was looking for someone to help with the details of lodging and transportation and found Emilie through this site. She planned an incredible trip for us to Normandy/Brittany, Loire Valley and Paris. She is easy to work with, responsive and organized. I told her what we wanted to do and where we wanted to go and she pretty much planned the entire trip. If you aren't sure what you want to do she will make suggestions. A couple of months before the trip she sent a very complete guidebook, maps, tickets, etc. all organized by date. The planned activities kept us busy, but there was flexibility in the schedule if desired. This was our first time traveling on our own with a rental car and we felt very comfortable given Emilie's tips and directions. The lodging in B&Bs was enjoyable with wonderful hosts and guest dinners. Compared to our previous trips to Europe we found Emilie's service to be of comparable value with a more unique travel experience. We would definitely use her service again. Thanks Emilie!

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World War I Battlefields

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See Where WWI's Battles Were Waged During a 4-Day Guided Tour in France & Belgium

Live through the history and grit of World War I during this 4-day guided tour of its key battlefields and monuments. Journey from Paris to the Ypres Salient battlefields and see the Passchendaele Memorial and Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, the largest cemetery in the world for Commonwealth forces. Later, visit the Australian Fromelles Military Cemetery, where 250 British and Australian soldiers were buried after the Battle of Fromelles. Meet a Local Expert for a tour of the key battlefields of the Somme and see the church in Albert where many weary soldiers stopped for comfort on the way to those battlefields. On the way to Paris, visit the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux and the Franco-Australian Museum in the local Victoria School.

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Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.

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Battlefield and War Cemetery Tours

Frenchtours Ltd is the preferred tour guide and operator for a variety of regimental associations, schools, and overseas travel agents wishing to organize a quality tour of battlefields and war sites in France at a reasonable cost. A package can be for guide only, hotel only, rental car only or a combination of all three. Groups or individuals are catered for, whether it be a day trip or a week’s touring. We are happy to provide testimonials and references. Frenchtours MD, Michael Smith is a licensed, bilingual guide, based in the Somme department of France for the past 30 years. He is also licensed and insured to carry passengers in his comfortable 7 seat Renault Grand Scenic.

Popular itineraries :

Australian WW1 : Pozières, Mouquet Farm, Villers-Bretonneux, Australian national monument, Victoria School and museum.

Canadian WW1 : Beaumont-Hamel battlefield (France), Vimy Ridge battlefield (France), Essex Farm (Belgium), St. Julien (Belgium), Ypres (Belgium)

British WW1 : La Grande Mine, Thiepval, Monument to first tank battles, Beaumont-Hamel battlefield, Ulster Tower, café with trenches in the back garden.

South Africa and New Zealand also have important memorials.

United States WW1 : American action in Bellau Wood, Argonne Forest, St. Mihiel, Montfaucon.

United States WW2 : D-Day landings and subsequent actions (Battles of Normandy), Omaha Beach, Utah Beach. German surrender (Reims in eastern France)

Canada WW2 : Juno Beach, Caen, Dieppe, Adegem (Belgium), Pont-Rémy (the 2 Bailey bridges constructed by Canadian engineers in September, 1944, are still standing).

IMPORTANT : If you do use a guide please ensure that your guide holds the appropriate guide’s licence, and if it’s a driver/guide, that the vehicle and driver are licenced and insured to to carry passengers. The gendarmes and transport ministry inspectors are increasingly vigilant in this respect. I’ll be happy to email mine on request.

World War I Guided Tours

Re-live the slaughter, the bravery, and the devotion to duty. How did the poppy became the symbol of their sacrifice in this bloody war? How did the war start, and why? In which respects was this a 19th Century war, and in which respects a 20th Century war? Find the answers with French Tours.

Frenchtours Ltd is the preferred tour operator for a variety of regimental associations, schools, and overseas travel agents wishing to organize a quality tour at a reasonable cost.

We can arrange a package for guide only, hotel only, rental car only or a combination of all three. Groups or individuals are catered for, whether it be a day trip or a week’s touring. We are happy to provide testimonials and references.

Cross no-man’s land at Beaumont-Hamel, walk the trenches at Vimy Ridge, listen to the moving ‘Last Post’ bugle call at Ypres, visit the armistice clearing where the ceasefire was on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, 1918.

Whether you are from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, or the Indian sub-continent, there is a tailor made programme for you.

Some comments:

‘Best guide ever…..’ Sgt. Bill O’Kane, Retired Sgt, US Marine Corps ‘Your package was definitely the highlight.’ Frank G, Canada ‘Excellent tour of the WW1 Battlefields’ Nick W, UK

If you are looking for a guide to show you the best of the First World War sites, then please get in touch with Michael Smith at French Tours. He will be happy to answer any questions you have.

World War II Guided Tours

Learn the background of how Hitler came to power, and the subsequent subjugation of Europe under the jackboot. Hear about the ‘forgotten’ but crucial fronts; North Africa, Russia, Italy. Visit the Normandy Beaches, the sites of the D-Day Landings, for an unforgettable and moving experience: Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Point du Hoc with its massive shell craters, the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, the German guns and bunkers, still in place.

Visit a museum with unique wartime film footage taken by both sides of the conflict. Visit the Gold, Sword and Juno Beaches, to include Mulberry Harbour, Pegasus Bridge, as well as the beautiful Normandy countryside and villages.

Michael Smith has years of experience in guiding visitors around the key locations of the Second World War in France and the rest of Europe. Whether you are an individual or a small group he can tailor the tour towards your interests and background. Please contact Michael if you have any questions.

‘Our thanks to Michael Smith for being our guide and showing us his wealth of knowledge on the whole subject of Normandy’ European War Museum

Napoleon and the Napoleonic Wars Tour

See where Napoleon trained as an officer in the army of King Louis XVI, then his rise to power with the revolutionary army. Learn about his campaigns, his marriages, his exile on Elba, his subsequent escape, and regrouping of his armies to confront his enemies at Waterloo.

After his defeat he was exiled to the remote South Atlantic island of St. Helena, and we can see a reconstruction of his last home there. We can visit his tomb in Paris.

If you are interested in taking a tour which includes key sites which featured in Napolean Bonaparte’s life, then please contact Michael Smith who will be pleased to give you advice on an itinerary.

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• Battlefield Tours & Holidays in France

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Historic trips.

Plan your own tour of the historic battlefields of France such as the Somme, Normandy or Verdun, and stay at a French Connections self catering holiday property or gite.  France has been at the centre of European history for centuries.  Discover the past for yourself with a battlefield tour of these important sites in France.

As a result, the country has had more than its fair share of struggle and conflict, reflected today in the many battlefields, monuments and cemeteries which scatter large areas of the French countryside. 

Plan a battlefield tour of France

Organised battlefield tours aren’t for everyone, especially the more independently minded traveller. It's easy to plan your own visit to the historic battlefields of France, taking in the sites that interest you the most or making a special trip to visit the war grave of a fallen relative. Book your accommodation along the way at one of our 3000 self catering holiday properties, gites or bed and breakfasts across France.

Visiting the Normandy Battlefields

On 6th June 1944 American, British and Canadian forces landed on the Normandy beaches, as part of Operation Overlord, and then fought a grim battle to break out of their beachhead and eventually liberate Paris. You can visit the invasion beaches themselves, local museums, American and Commonwealth war cemeteries, and special sites of military interest such as the German battery at Pointe du Hoc and Pegasus Bridge on the Orne Canal near Caen. Other places to visit in the area include the Bayeaux Tapestry and the monastery at Mont St Michel. Find a self catering holiday property, gite or bed and breakfast in Normandy.

Visiting the Somme Battlefields

Visit the moving and evocative battlefields of the Somme, where Kitchener’s army attempted the long awaited ‘big push’ in July 1916, but instead walked into the teeth of well prepared German defences. The Somme was also the scene of Operation Michael, the opening German counter offensive of March 1918. There are numerous sites to visit in the area including preserved trenches, museums, war graves, and of course the famous Thiepval monument to the missing. Plan your trip to the Somme battlefields with one of our self catering properties, gites or bed and breakfasts in the local area.

Visiting the Verdun Battlefield

Verdun in Eastern France is the scene of one of the most tragic and futile battles of the First World War. Chosen by German generals to draw the French into a battle of attrition, Verdun proved incredibly costly to both sides. Visit the famous forts of Verdun and experience the full enormity of this major battle. Visit the Verdun battlefield and stay at one of our self catering properties, gites or bed and breakfasts.

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Memorials of World War II

About this tour.

An unforgettable journey of discovery and remembrance awaits you as you travel between London, Normandy and Paris on the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. Explore London’s connections to World War II during a city tour focused on The Blitz. Cross the English Channel, retracing the parallel journey nearly 160,000 courageous Allied troops took on June 6th, 1944, as they set out to liberate Europe from the Nazis. Immerse yourself in the history of Normandy’s D-Day Landing Beaches and visit the Normandy American Cemetery. Visit Saint-Mère-Église, the first French town liberated from the Nazis and learn about the brave paratroopers who parachuted into Normandy on the night of June 5–6, 1944. Conclude your journey in Paris, the City of Light with a festive dinner cruise along the Seine River.

Your Tour Includes

• 4 Handpicked Accommodations

Included Highlights

• London & Paris WWII-Focused City Tours
• The D-Day Story Museum
• English Channel Crossing

Your Tour at a Glance

8 Breakfasts

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Optional Excursions

Starting at $180.00

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Highlights and inclusions.

Must-See Inclusions:

Experience the Peace Memorial Museum that vividly documents the causes and consequences of WWII.

Spend 3 nights in the Normandy region and take a journey back in history to the D-Day landing beaches.

Cultural Experiences:

Retrace the D-Day preparation efforts at The D-Day Story Museum, dedicated to Operation Overlord.

Navigate the path of the D-Day Landings as you cross the English Channel by ferry.

Set foot on the hallowed grounds of the Normandy landing beaches.

Culinary Inclusions:

Enjoy London’s culinary renaissance at a dinner featuring gastro-pub cuisine.

Sample traditional French cider during a visit to an apple orchard in Normandy.

Admire the “City of Light” as you float down the Seine River on a relaxing dinner cruise.

• Caen Peace Memorial Museum
• Arromanche-les-Baines
• Longues-sur-Mer
• Apple Cider Farm Visit
• Normandy American Cemetery
• Omaha Beach
• Pointe du Hoc
• Airborne Museum
• Giverny Gardens
• Seine River Dinner Cruise

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Hotel-Radisson Blu Edwardian Grafton

Hotel-Renaissance La Defense

Join us for a spectacular evening in one of Paris’s most beloved institutions, the famous Paradis Latin. Situated in a building associated with Napoleon and rebuilt by Gustav Eiffel himself, the Paradis has been running here since 1889. Enjoy a sumptuous dinner with wine, then bring on the champagne and let the show commence!

Accommodations

Arrive earlier.

Pre Night: Radisson Blu Edwardian Grafton From $150 per night

Radisson Blu Edwardian Grafton

Portsmouth marriott hotel, mercure caen city center-port de plaisance, renaissance la defense, stay longer.

Post Night: Renaissance La Defense From $150 per night

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The Great War in France

Sites and memorials from the first world war 1914-1918.

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The Great War remembered

WW1 Military  cemeteries in France

World War 1 battlefields museums and monuments

Staying in northern france.

• Click here for hotels in the Somme area , around the town of Albert
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A Tour of World War I Memorials in France

Mary Anne Evans 

World War I Memorials are scattered across northern France and are well known and much visited. So it comes as a surprise to learn that new sites and new memorials from World War I are still being discovered and built, nearly a century after 'the war to end all wars.' The history of World War I has not yet been definitively written and it is doubtful if it ever will be. There is a real compulsion to understand and come to terms with World War I which has not receded with time. It comes from the feeling that we should never forget such a horrifying war but it's also very much due to both local and international research.

The main battles of World War I were fought around Ypres in Belgium and a tour of World War I battle sites often starts there. But there's plenty to see further south in France around the attractive towns in the area. The discovery of 250 bodies around Fromelles has led to a new cemetery; there's a new memorial currently being constructed to Wilfred Owen, the poet who captured the 'Pity of War', and one individual who refused to give up in his search for a World War I tank now displays the Mark IV weapon in a barn at Flesquière.

This mini-tour of three new World War I sites takes you from Lille southwest to Fromelles, south to Flesquières and then east to Ors. You can easily do this in a day from ​ Lille , Arras or Cambrai .

Fromelles (Pheasant Wood), a New World War I Cemetery

Fromelles is a little village around 11 miles (18 kilometers) southwest of Lille off the N41 towards Lens. On the way into the village, stop at the memorial to the Australians who died in the Battle of Fromelles. Drive past the striking statue of one soldier carrying a hopelessly wounded comrade, commemorating the numbers of Australians killed here and carry on to the new War Cemetery in Fromelles. This is the first new cemetery built by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in 50 years and it marks the battle of July 19th, 1916. The headstones, arranged in the obligatory strict military rows, are bright and white and the memorial entrance is of smart, unweathered red brick. After seeing older cemeteries with their mellowed headstones, trees and flowers, Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) War Cemetery comes as a bit of a shock.

The Battle of Fromelles was the first major World War I battle on the  Western Front involving Australian troops and it was a disaster, made particularly raw for the troops by the fact that this was a mere sideshow to the Battle of the Somme. The 5th Australian Division suffered huge losses: 5,533 killed, wounded, taken prisoner or missing. The 61st British Division suffered 1,547 losses. At Fromelles it is believed that 1,780 Australians and 500 British soldiers died.

While many of the bodies from the battle were buried decades ago in nearby peaceful cemeteries like VC Corner and Rue Pétillon, the discovery of 250 bodies in a mass grave in Pheasant Wood in September 2009 by the specialist company, Oxford Archaeology, was a huge breakthrough in the search for more of the dead of World War I. It was immediately clear that a new cemetery had to be constructed.

The identification of the bodies has been an extraordinary process of forensic detective work, involving DNA from distant relatives and a huge research effort working with institutions like the Imperial War Museum  in London .

The remains of the dead were re-buried officially in Fromelles Military Cemetery in January and February 2010. On July 19th, 2010, the Cemetery officially opened, marking the 94th anniversary of the Battle.

A World War I Tank Revealed 90 Years Later

From Fromelles, a drive south of 50 miles (84 kilometers) takes you around Arras and Cambrai to the small village of Flesquières, deep in farming country.

For six years, Philippe Gorczuynski, a local hotel owner, historian, and author, searched for a tank which an elderly lady had remembered being pushed by Russian prisoners into a huge hole near the café her family ran. Along with professional help, he eventually discovered the tank, Mark IV Deborah, in 1998 and had it dug up.

This was just the start of the story as he began to research into the lives of those who died in the tank during the important Battle of Cambrai, November 20th, 1917 which involved 475 British tanks. It was the first test for this new form of weapon which was to have such a decisive effect on modern warfare.

Philippe Gorczuysnki bought a barn in the village and installed the tank there with a small private museum in a small adjoining building. Deborah stood in the barn, isolated, battered and partly destroyed. Interest gathered and now Deborah is installed in a new museum beside the Commonwealth War Grave in Flesquières.

The tank stands in all her battered heroism in a specially constructed below-ground chamber. Around her are the stories of her discovery and her previous existence which are a wonderful mix -- a tale of heroism on the battlefield and a present-day detective story of how he discovered the tank and researched the lives -- and deaths -- of its occupants.​

The Last Hours of World War I Soldier-Poet, Wilfred Owen

Wilfred Owen, the English poet whose poetry about WWI had such an impact at the time and is still so evocative today, is buried in the cemetery of Ors, a small village near Le Cateau-Cambresis. It’s around 28 miles (45 kilometers) east of Flesquières, driving via Cambrai.

The soldier-poet spent his last night with his fellow soldiers just outside the village in the dark and dank basement of the Forester’s House. Part of the Army encampment, this small red-brick house is currently being transformed in a particularly imaginative way into a monument to the poet. It all started with the efforts of the local mayor who, curious about the number of English who came to the village asking for information on the poet, contacted the Wilfred Owen Society a few years ago. He was so intrigued by the story and impressed by Wilfred Owen’s reputation and his poetry that he began to lobby for a memorial. 1 million euros were raised and the memorial opened in autumn 2011.

In the village itself, there’s a sign beside the canal where the poet was shot, just 5 days before the end of the war. The skirmish happened where the road crosses the bridge over the slow-moving water. Further on the Wilfred Owen Library has a small section of books on the poet and the war. From here, it’s a short drive to the cemetery – not a large, official War Cemetery, but a peaceful, local one with a British corner devoted to the soldiers who died here.

Every year, on November 4th, the village holds a memorial concert in the church and a reading of his poetry. It's called The Wilfred Owen Memorial.

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WW1 Battlefields Road Trip - Historic Drive Through France And Belgium

Day 1: drive from calais to amiens via arras, drive from the uk to calais (or fly into paris).

Presuming you're starting from the UK, the most comfortable option is probably to take your own vehicle and either hop aboard a cross-channel ferry from Dover or take the Channel Tunnel shuttle service from Folkestone.

If you're flying to France, then the Paris is generally the most convenient option for this kind of trip, being just a few hours from many of the most important areas and offering a plethora of car hire options.

As ever, our advice is to make the most of the time available by getting on the road as early as possible, as well as checking our essential guide to driving in France before you travel.

Head south towards Arras

As soon as you alight the ferry follow the signs for the A26 toll road - or 'Road of the English' as it has come to be known thanks to the number of British tourists using it - and start to head south towards the city of Arras, just over an hour away. Don't worry, driving on the right will feel natural in no time at all!

Just off of the A26 there are some fascinating World War 1 monuments, but the closer you get to Arras, the more frequent they become; perhaps this is no surprise, given that this countryside was the location for numerous bloody battles, including the 1917 Battle of Arras, which lasted little over a month but resulted in the deaths of 285,000 soldiers.

As you drive through France you'll notice road signs with poppies on - these generally point off of main roads and towards historically important towns, memorials, museums, battlefields and graveyards.

They tend to appear sporadically so don't be tempted to rely on them exclusively, but definitely call in at any that pique your interest - this itinerary is only a guide.

Top tip: Take a good guidebook with you so that your co-pilot can look up places as you go along, especially if you're aiming to seek out history relating to a particular nationality.

Stop at the world's largest French War Cemetery

The first stop of the trip is the Nécropole Nationale Française de Notre-Dame de Lorette, the world's largest French war cemetery.

Still relatively overlooked by British visitors and therefore quieter than many similar places you will encounter on a World War I circuit, over 40,000 soldiers are buried or their remains held in the ossuary here, alongside the ashes of a number of World War II concentration camp victims.

The site also includes an ornate chapel and a lantern tower, and is neighboured by the 'Ring of Memory' memorial, unveiled in 2014, which lists the names of the 576,606 soldiers of 40 nationalities who died in this region during WW1, alphabetically rather than by rank.

Visit the Canadian National Vimy Memorial

Next up, approximately 15 minutes on from Notre-Dame de Lorette Cemetery, is the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, which serves as a tribute to all Canadian service personnel that were killed between 1914-1918.

Built on top of the Vimy Ridge, the location of what is widely considered one of the most successful - but bloody - Canadian offensives of World War I, it features two gigantic white pylons adorned with various sculptures and is engraved with the names of those still missing.

Also in the grounds of the memorial are the trenches where these men would have fought, now preserved and able to be walked through.

Driving between the two you'll also come across the Lens' 14 - 18 Centre d'Histoire Guerre et Paix, which details the impact that the conflict had on this area through letters, photographs and film clips. Feel free to stop and take a look!

Continue onwards on your road trip to Arras

You're probably quite hungry by now, so continue on another eight miles or so into the city of Arras to for a bite to eat. Having been situated directly on the Front Line, Arras was all but completely destroyed during the war, with 75% of the city requiring rebuilding; nonetheless, it's not at all hard to imagine what it would once have been like here.

Many of the city's restaurants and cafes are clustered around the town's two central squares, the Place des Heroes and the Grand'Place, and on the strip that links them.

Ch'ti Charivari, on the Grand' Place would be our pick for the best lunch - from chunky burgers to classy cheese boards, there's something for everyone.

On-street parking in Arras is usually surprisingly easy to come by, but if all else fails there are also a number of car parks near to the Grand'Place and Arras train station.

Visit Carrière Wellington (Wellington Tunnels)

After you've finished lunch, enjoy a stroll around Arras, then pick up your car and make the short drive over to the Wellington Tunnels Museum on the other side of the city.

Taking you into the warren of passages that exist over 20m below the city's pavements, it explains the work of the tunnellers who expanded this cave system - which originally dated from the Middle Ages - into a space capable of hiding 24,000 troops ahead of the Battle of Arras.

The tunnels do have to be seen by guided tour, so save time by booking ahead online.

Pay your respects at Queen's Cemetery, Bucquoy

The first British cemetery on this WW1 self-drive battlefields tour is not one of the major and much-photographed burial grounds such as Thiepval or Tyne Cot (they're coming later), but a relatively small one situated along the side of a nondescript road near Bucquoy, about 20 minutes south of Arras.

Low-key and surrounded by farmland, it would be easy to drive straight past Queen's Cemetery, but that would be a mistake; it's entirely the sense of smallness and loneliness that makes it so sobering.

Add in the knowledge that it's one of literally hundreds just like it scattered across the French countryside, and that's when you start to realise the scale of the loss of life caused by the war.

When visiting, look out for a special plaque commemorating six British soldiers (the author's great uncle included) who were, for reasons still unknown, buried in a nearby German cemetery and whose graves were later destroyed.

Walk through Beaumont Hamel Newfoundland Memorial Park

Less than 15 minutes along on the route, the next stop on the trail is a memorial to one specific group who suffered extraordinary losses: the Newfoundland Regiment.

On the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 80% of this regiment were injured or lost their lives in an assault on enemy lines that lasted just 30 minutes.

Featuring war graves and bringing visitors face-to-face with trench life, via the largest section of naturally preserved battlefields on The Somme, it's a place that stands out as particularly powerful, even in an area known for its heavy concentration of WW1 sites.

Owing to the fact that it is so undisturbed, there is believed to be a considerable amount of unexploded ordnance around here, and many of the areas are out of bounds; nonetheless, you can walk through trenches, see the pockmarked landscape, and really get a sense of how horrifyingly close the two sides were to each other.

While you can do self-guided tours of the site, the Canadian tour guides that work here provide an added level of clarity so we definitely recommend joining them.

Head to Thiepval Cemetery

Just 10 minutes drive from the Newfoundland Memorial Park is one of the world's most famous WW1 memorial locations, Thiepval.

Commemorating more than 72,000 British and South African servicemen who were reported missing in the Somme up until 20th March 1918, its adjoining cemetery also holds the graves of over 300 Commonwealth and 300 French soldiers, the majority of whom remain unidentified.

Also adding to the experience, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) have created the Thiepval App , which provides more information about the battle, tells the personal stories of over 900 of the men listed here and makes it easy to find their names on the arch.

Do note that access to the site can only be gained by following Rue de L'Ancre from Thiepval village, as SatNavs and Google Maps will sometimes try to take you via other routes.

Stop at Lochnagar Crater

The next stop of the day is the Lochnagar Crater, a 30-metre-deep, 100-metre-wide bowl that was created by the explosion of a large mine placed below German trenches just two minutes before the launch of the very first offensive of the Battle of the Somme.

At the time, the blast was considered to have been the largest man-made noise, with some reports even suggesting that it was heard as far away as London.

Although just a 10-minute drive from Thiepval, by following the D73 and then the D929 route you will also get to see (or be directed to) many more monuments and military cemeteries, including the Pozières Memorial, which sits on the side of the main road.

Drive down to Amiens

It was in 1918 in Amiens that the ferocious Battle of Amiens was fought, a 100-day period that changed the course of the war and ultimately led to the end of the conflict.

Today the city is a world away, with a calm atmosphere, quaint cafes and plethora of flower boxes - and it makes for the perfect place to spend the night.

Depending on how you're doing for time, you may wish to stop off in the town of Albert during the drive between the Lochnagar Crater and Amiens.

Here, you'll find a museum dedicated to the Battle of the Somme and be able to see the statue of the Golden Virgin on top of the Basilica, which was knocked to an almost horizontal position early on in the war and came to be a point of superstition among troops, who said that the war would only end when it fell.

When you arrive in Amiens, park up and check into your hotel, then spend the evening browsing the bookshops and craft stores of Quartier Saint-Leu and sipping wine in one of the waterside restaurants.

For dinner, Restaurant T'Chiot Zinc is one that's worth a visit, despite looking like some kind of puppet theatre from the outside.

Visit the cathedral

Even if you're not religious, popping into Amiens' cathedral is something that you should do while staying in the city.

Having escaped WW1 relatively unscathed, it boasts incredible Gothic architecture, as well as a number of tributes to soldiers killed during the First and Second World Wars.

From June - September, and in November and December, the outside is illuminated by a light show - times vary depending on the month, so check their website ahead of your visit.

Day 2: Drive from Amiens to Verdun

Wake up early and get a a good breakfast, as today's journey is the longest total distance we will cover in one day of this trip.

Taking in the armistice signing location, an internment camp and an American military cemetery, the route moves eastwards towards the city of Verdun, with the afternoon spent amidst the long-lasting impact of the Battle of Verdun. Ready? Let's get going.

See where the armistice was signed at Clairière de l'Armistice

While it would surely be fitting to finish a World War I battlefields road trip with a visit to where the armistice that ended the conflict was signed, its location between Amiens and Verdun means that it actually slots more naturally into second day of this road trip.

Known in English as the Glade of the Armistice, this national memorial near Compiegne is centered around a forest clearing marking the very spot where Allied powers and Germany agreed to cease hostilities.

It was also here in 1940 that Hitler met with French officials to negotiate an armistice between France and Germany, a meeting that ended with the establishment of a zone of German occupation in the country.

As well as the main monument, there is also a really interesting museum dedicated to the story of both of these armistices, complete with a replica of the carriage in which the signing took place.

An optional WW2 addition: Royallieu-Compiègne Internment Camp Memorial

Although not technically sticking with the World War I theme, another thought-provoking memorial that you may wish to visit in this area (and just a short drive from Clairière de l'Armistice) is the Royallieu-Compiègne Internment Camp Memorial.

Managing to be both educational and touching, it tells the story of over 40,000 French Resistance fighters and Jewish citizens who were held here during WW2 before being sent to camps in German territory.

The lists of the deportation destinations on the walls - Auschwitz-Birkenau and Buchenwald among them - are a dark reminder of the fact that it wasn't only WW1 that had a huge impact on this area.

Visit Oise Aisne American Cemetery and 'Plot E'

It takes about an hour or so more to reach the Oise Aisne American Cemetery, which is built on the spot where the so-called 'Rainbow Division' - created from units from 26 states as a symbol of inter-state collaboration - fought.

While visiting this perfectly-manicured final resting place of over 6,000 US soldiers, keep your eyes open for the grave of poet Joyce Kilmer, who lost his life just four months before the war ended.

Also here is Plot E, a semi-secret burial ground that does not even exist officially, in which US army personnel executed for dishonourable offences during World War II are buried, the majority of them having been convicted of crimes such as murder.

Unfortunately, there's little chance of you actually getting to look inside - it's separate from the main cemetery, shrouded from view and accessible only through the back door of the superintendent's office. That said, there's no harm in asking.

Stop in Reims for lunch

With a plentiful supply of restaurants and cafes, Reims is a good choice for a lunch pitstop.

For some truly French cuisine, our recommendation has got to be L'Epicerie Au Bon Manger, a small family-owned deli that has just a handful of tables but whose charcuterie can't be beaten and whose attention to detail will leave you smiling.

Walk off your lunch with a short amble around the city, taking in its many attractive buildings, before continuing on your way to Verdun; it should take you roughly an hour and 20 minutes to reach your destination.

There is (surprisingly affordable) on-street parking in the centre of Reims - red and orange zones have a maximum period of two hours, green have a maximum of five.

If you can't find a spot, there are also a number of car parks, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Head to the Verdun Memorial and Museum

Your first stop after checking into your hotel should be the Verdun Memorial, which focuses on the Battle of Verdun.

The longest battle of the whole of World War I, it completely reshaped the area (as you will see) and is estimated to have killed approximately 300,000 people, and wounded a further 600,000, in the process.

The museum serves as a useful and fitting introduction not only to the battle itself, but to other locations in this area, by taking you on a virtual tour through the battlefields and delving into the daily life of those serving in the trenches.

Expect to spend at least an hour, but do try not to run too far over - there's still lots to see today.

Experience a ghost town at Fleury-devant-Douaumont (Zone Rouge)

When you've finished at the Verdun Memorial pay a visit to Fleury-devant-Douaumont, directly next door, which is one a number of villages in France that are officially recognised as 'a place that died' for the country.

Having been completely destroyed by the Battle of Verdun, it was deemed a 'Zone Rouge' - an area so damaged by the war that it is considered unfit for human habitation - by French authorities in 1918.

Over a century since the end of the war, it's still considered too contaminated by corpses, explosives, toxins and poisonous gas to farm or build on.

Now reclaimed by nature, visitors can walk through where this village once existed, with posts indicating what buildings formerly stood in their place - including a grocery store, a church, a cafe and, most poignantly, a school.

Climb the tower at Douaumont Cemetery and Ossuary

By now you don't need to be told of the human cost of World War I, but a visit to Douaumont Cemetery and Ossuary, a few minutes further on from the memorial, can't help but bring it all home once more.

Located within the Verdun battlefield, the cemetery is the largest of French World War I burial grounds, with over 16,000 graves and an ossuary housing the remains of over 130,000 unidentified soldiers from both France and Germany, whose bones are visible through a series of small windows.

Entry to the grounds is free, but there is a €6 fee to climb the tower that is built above the ossuary and provides a breathtaking bird's-eye view of the site.

Next stop on your WWI road trip: Fort Douaumont

The next stop on our trail is Fort Douaumont, one of the most fought-over sites in this area, which changed hands several times during the course of World War I.

It's less than a mile away from the cemetery, so we suggest leaving your car there and walking along the road for a close up view of how battle-scarred the landscape still is.

Stepping inside of this damp and chilly fort, complete with stalagmites, you can't help thinking how bad life outside the fort must have been, if this was the driest, safest option.

Although the rooms themselves are not all that comprehensive, there are fully guided tours, self-guided audio headset tours and paper handouts available.

With the most popular option, the headset tour, you can expect to spend about an hour working your way round.

Head back into Verdun

After you've visited all of today's locations, the drive back to Verdun should take about 20 minutes or so.

Although it has become a city that very much exists around historical tourism, and isn't really all that beautiful, do take an early evening stroll around it, particularly to see the imposing and castle-esque Porte Chaussee up close.

For dinner, scoot on over to La Brasero, an unassuming little restaurant who have cooking meat down to absolute perfection.

Day 3: Drive from Verdun to Mons

Today's drive starts in Verdun, France and crosses the border into Belgium, eventually ending up in the city of Mons. Although there are multiple routes you could take, the two below are the ones that we'd recommend in terms of places to stop.

Crossing the border between France and Belgium should be a simple process, with just a road sign marking the transition between the two countries.

Driving in Belgium tends to be fairly similar to France, with tailgating seemingly borderline compulsory, although there are no toll roads to contend with. At the time of writing, both petrol and diesel were a few cents per litre cheaper in Belgium.

Route 1: Visit Hitler's bunker

By travelling via Charleville-Mézières and joining the N5 on the Belgian side you will pass close to Brûly-de-Pesche, from where Adolf Hitler orchestrated the invasion of France.

Nip off of the main road and drop into the Brûly-de-Pesche 1940 museum, which is formed around the actual bunker that Hitler stayed in.

Route 2: Detour to Dinant

Another option is to drive via the Belgian city of Dinant, a route that requires a detour but only adds about 40km to the total journey.

One of the first places to feel the catastrophic impact of World War I, Dinant was the site of intense fighting between French and German forces in August 1914, which eventually culminated in the brutal massacre of 674 unarmed civilians.

A visit to La Citadelle de Dinant, of which both sides desired control, will explain what happened here as well as providing a wider history of the town.

Afterwards, grab a coffee and a crepe at Cote Sax cafe and have a walk along the waterfront, before heading on your way.

Learn about the town's history at the Mons Memorial Museum

Arriving in Mons in the early afternoon, check into your hotel and get your bearings before heading over to the Mons Memorial Museum, about a 10-minute walk from the Grand Place. Don't worry, there will be time to explore the city itself later.

Providing a strong understanding of why this town has so frequently been a centre of conflict throughout the years, as well as painting a picture of what life was like for civilians living in Mons under occupation, it's a surprisingly moving and different take on the events of World War I.

With over half of the permanent exhibition space dedicated to World War I, it's probably one of the strongest and most useful museums on the entire trip.

Tour Saint-Symphorien Cemetery

Different in both appearance and nature to any of the graveyards on the journey so far, the Saint-Symphorien Cemetery contains almost equal numbers of graves of both British and German soldiers killed in the Battle of Mons, the first major British military action of World War I.

Unlike in other cemeteries, soldiers of all ranks and nationalities, including Victoria Cross and Iron Cross holders, lie within touching distance of one another.

Of particular note are the graves of 17-year-old John Parr, who was killed in August 1914 and is believed to have been the first British soldier to die in the conflict, and George Ellison, who is believed to have been the last British soldier killed - dying 90 minutes before the armistice came into effect - and is, coincidentally, buried opposite him.

Feet away from these men lies George Price, the last Commonwealth soldier to die, just two minutes before the armistice.

Saint-Symphorien Cemetery is a few kilometres outside of town and getting there will require the car, although you could also choose to take the 22 bus from Mons to Saint-Symphorien Ecoles. From there, it's an easy 10-minute or so walk down a country lane.

Spend the evening away from the battlefields

If you do still have time to spare in the afternoon, then take some time to discover Belgium away from the battlefields by paying a visit to one of Mons' museums.

Two trusty options are the Doudou Museum, which illuminates the heritage of the city's famous Doudou festival, and the Francois Duesberg Museum, which is dedicated to decorative arts including pottery, clocks and jewellery.

Alternatively, climb the Mons Belfry for a view over the city (last admission is 5:15pm).

Later on, grab dinner and drinks at one of the many restaurants and cafes located on or around Mons' Grand Place - we recommend Le Mechoui, not far away from the tourist information centre.

Look out for the two remembrance plaques in the porch of the square's most striking building, the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), and if you can find the lucky Guardhouse Monkey on the side of the building, then be sure to give his head a rub for good luck.

Day 4: Drive from Mons to Ypres

Our the next city in this WW1 self-drive itinerary, Ypres, has long earned its place as a 'must-include' on any World War 1 tour, both for its location of the horrifying Battle of Ypres and its determination to remember the atrocities that took place there.

There isn't really all that much to see on the drive from Mons to Ypres, and it takes less than two hours in total, but as it's such a pretty city to just hang out in we'd suggest getting on the road nice and early anyway.

Educate yourself at the In Flanders Fields Museum

As you may have guessed already, we're big fans of putting each area's history into context, so make your first destination in Ypres the In Flanders Fields Museum.

Housed in the former Cloth Hall, the museum tells the story of WW1 in the West Flanders region of Belgium, and covers all aspects of warfare you could imagine, using modern technology to deliver everything from nurses' testimonies to 'then and now' visuals.

You'll probably spend longer here than you plan to, but do take time to really watch the (surprisingly tasteful) actors who bring personal stories to life at various points - it makes the human connection so much more poignant.

Spend the afternoon getting to know Ypres city

After the intensity of the previous few days, you're probably going to want to take some time to just kick back, relax, and enjoy Ypres.

While visitors may be drawn to the city for its history, it's actually incredibly charming in its own right - think beautiful architecture, chocolate shops, cute cafes, and walking trails along waterside ramparts. Go ahead and enjoy just doing nothing this afternoon!

Top tip: If you're in the city on a Saturday, the Kazematten Brewery offers tours between 3pm - 5pm, which cost €10 and include three tasting samples.

Visit Menin Gate and witness the Last Post

After walking around town, make your final visit of the day the Menin Gate, which honours British and Commonwealth soldiers killed in action in the trenches around Ypres whose graves are unknown, and is inscribed with almost 55,000 names. It's almost scary how easy it is to find your own surname or that of someone you know.

Every evening at 8pm, volunteer buglers from the Last Post Association stand underneath the Gate and sound the Last Post in a ceremony that has been conducted every day since 1928.

If you can be there when it happens, do - it's simple and yet quite something at the same time. On busy days, crowds start to gather from about 7:30pm, so if you want to be able to see the buglers then get there early.

Day 5: Explore Ypres and drive back to Calais

It's the fifth and final day of the trip, but that doesn't mean we're slowing down. While this is not the kind of trip in which you could ever say we're saving the 'best' until last, we've certainly saved some of the most well-known places for today.

First though, there's just one thing to do and that's have a much needed lie-in and find a cosy cafe for a traditional Belgian breakfast.

Trust us when we say that the pancakes at Mimi's teamed with one of their deliciously frothy coffees make for a particularly great morning treat.

Suitably stuffed? Let's get moving.

Stop by the Christmas truce memorial, near Ploegsteert

The first stop of the day is a visit to the site of the legendary 1914 Christmas truce - surely a must for any history-loving football fan.

Marked by a cross dedicated to the 'Khaki chums,' it's a small but sombre memorial. If you wish to do so, take a football, shirt or scarf to leave next to the memorial, as many have done before.

Right next door you'll find the Prowse Point Cemetery, which is the only cemetery on the Ypres Salient that is named after an individual soldier and contains many graves from around the time that the match was played.

Just down a muddy track to the side of the memorial (but not accessible by car) is the peaceful Mud Corner Cemetery, for soldiers from Australia and New Zealand.

Trudge through Sanctuary Wood Museum (Hill 62)

Roughly a 25-minute drive back towards Ypres is Hill 62, which witnessed some of the most intense fighting in the area. In the aftermath of the war the trenches were cleared of bodies and bombs by a local farmer, but otherwise left intact, and the complex now serves as a slightly rough-and-ready museum.

Although more 'artificially' preserved than some of the other trenches you will have come across on this trip, they are more manageable for individuals who have trouble walking and wield no less impact.

Spend some time sloshing through the mud and clambering through the tunnels - these trenches might be comparatively neat, but it's still not what you'd call a pleasant experience.

Prepare to be moved at Tyne Cot Cemetery

The next stop of the journey is, arguably, one of the most famous remembrance sites in the whole of Europe: Tyne Cot Cemetery.

Even after four days of cemeteries, it's still hard not to be slightly taken aback by its sheer scale when you see it for the first time, with almost 12,00 individual white headstones lined up, and a Memorial to the Missing wall listing a further 35,000 names.

The first thing to do when you arrive, however, is to pop into the small visitor centre which provides a good introduction to Tyne Cot, as well as displaying heartbreaking letters from loved ones.

Afterwards, spend a while just walking between rows upon row, noting in particular how many of the graves in the world's largest Commonwealth War cemetery are unnamed. All we can say is bring a tissue!

As one of the major landmarks on any World War I tour, Tyne Cot does get busy, so visiting early in the morning or in the late afternoon is better, if possible. Like most CWGC sites, parking is free.

Head to Langemark German Cemetery

In stark contrast to the rows of white at Tyne Cot, the rows of flat, black grave markers of Langemark German Cemetery are moving in an entirely different, considerably more downcast way.

Not only is it darker, but it's considerably smaller in size, despite more than 44,000 soldiers being buried here; one mass grave even contains the remains of almost 25,000 individuals.

Top tip: The two cemeteries are less than a 15-minute drive apart, so visit one and then the other for maximum impact.

Driving to Essex Farm

Before we call time on this northern France and Belgium road trip, there's just one more major stop to make - the Essex Farm Advanced Dressing Station.

That said, there are multiple smaller monuments between Langemark and Essex Farm, including the Welsh Memorial Park, a tribute to all Welsh servicemen and women, and Cement House Cemetery, which is still used to accommodate new burials as bodies continue to be discovered.

The Harry Patch Memorial, which was unveiled by the very last surviving soldier of WW1 Harry Patch, who died in 2009 age 111, is also on this road.

Take a moment to reflect at Essex Farm Advanced Dressing Station and Cemetery

Said to be where John McCrae wrote his famous poem In Flanders Fields while serving as a medic, the concrete bunker at Essex Farm was once a makeshift A&E that would have been crowded with wounded troops.

Today, it has been restored and - even though it is empty - standing inside, you get a sense of how inadequate it must have been in a theatre of war.

When you're walking around the cemetery for those that did not make it, take a second to reflect in front of the poppy-clad grave of Valentine Joe Strudwick, the youngest soldier buried here, who was killed in 1916 at the age of 15.

Drive back to Calais

Well, the time has come to head home - we hope you've learned something useful.

At just over 60 miles, the drive back to Calais shouldn't take much more than an hour, giving you plenty of time to stop for one last dinner along the way.

On the French side, there's a cheap and cheerful restaurant called Bistrot de Groenberg in the town of Beruges, who keep it simple with a meat-and-fries based menu.

If you'd rather stay in Belgium for dinner, Restaurant't Molenhof in Vleteren is a stand out choice, with decoration as quirky as the food.

Getting back to Paris

The drive from Essex Farm to Paris takes roughly three hours - whether you choose to make the drive this evening is entirely up to you, likely depending on what time your flight is.

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War Graves in France, Pas-De-Calais

Irene Caswell visits war graves in France to pay her respects to those who fell in both World Wars and finds the trip a deeply moving experience.

When I mentioned to friends and family that I was travelling to Northern France to visit the new Experience centre opened by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission near Beaurains, there were a few blank faces.

The sweeping landscapes of the Pas de-Calais department are lush and there are many pretty towns. To my surprise I found the experience of exploring the cemeteries and monuments a uniquely positive one. Visiting the sites is primarily an act of remembrance but I found that I came away with more than I had bargained for.

A staggering 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth died in the two World Wars.

After a few days the sight of an unimaginable number of graves, all beautifully maintained, the remarkable architecture and the peaceful locations had transmuted a collective sense of gratitude into something more personal.

Below are the top sites to visit war graves in France, Pas de-Calais region.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Experience

A staggering 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth died in the two World Wars. Each year, there are almost 40 remains discovered, and it is estimated it would take an incredible 4,300 years to find all the missing.

The new CWGC Experience centre near Beaurains was recently opened by HRH The Princes Royal. Whilst more people than ever are visiting the war graves not many are aware of the people and the stories behind-the-scenes involved in recovery and reburial, and the maintenance of the cemeteries, from carpenters and gardeners and recovery teams to stonemasons.

Many of the WWI cemeteries and memorials were designed to a high standard by 20 th century architectural giant, Sir Edwin Lutyens. For the first time, glass walls allow visitors at the centre to view the craftspeople involved in preserving these historic sites. Visitors are able to discover how 21 st technology is used to carve the iconic headstones and craft regimental badges and take a peek inside woodwork and garden machinery repairs areas. In the galleries, displays and screens illustrate how remains continue to be recovered, identified and reburied.

The centre not only focuses on the Western Front but also shines a light on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s responsibilities in diverse sites across Africa, Asia, Australasia, Eastern Europe and the Americas without distinction on account of race, religion or status. In addition it holds and updates an extensive and accessible records archive also available online.

Béthune and the British

During the First World War, Béthune was very much a British town with a steady flow of Commonwealth soldiers either quartered there or on leave. Hospitals were set up to treat the wounded from the front just 10 miles away. During the German offensive on Lys on 9 April 1918 around 70,000 shells destroyed 90% of the town. Remarkably the 47m high Belfry tower survived despite severe cracks and missing its top section.

The town of Béthune was reconstructed in the 1920s and includes the stunning townhouses around the square. Designed by architect, Jacques Alleman, these feature high gables with charming ornamental reliefs, combining Art Deco and regionalist styles.

The Belfry is the last remaining building of the medieval period dating from 1388. It is one of a group of 56 Belfries in Belgium and France, historical buildings that are designated by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. Access is by arrangement and there are 133 steps to climb to the rampart, used by a sentryman as late as 1918.

Here you can see the four large dials which tell the time, and appreciate the panoramic views. There are four floors so you can still admire the scenery in stages if you do not have a good head for heights. The 35 bells are located on the third floor and they chime a different melody each quarter hour.

We rounded-off our afternoon in Béthune with afternoon tea at the friendly local boulangerie Lecocq, where we sampled regional specialties including a marvellous chocolate and meringue miniature cakes aptly named ‘Merveilleux’.

International Memorial’ 14-18 Notre-Dame-de-Lorette

I am cheating a little on numbers here as this site actually features three distinctive memorials dedicated to the First World War.

The rows of white crosses stretch into the distance as a reminder of the area’s bloody past watched over by the basilica

The National Necropolis of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette

Also known as the Ablain St. Nazaire French Military Cemetery, this is the largest of its kind in the world. At the top of the Notre-Dame-de-Lorette hill at Souchez stands the ornate Basilica Notre-Dame-de-Lorette.

Created shortly after the conflict by the French State there are 20,000 individual tombs and a further 22,970 soldiers placed in eight ossuaries. Visitors can walk past them to pay their respects although complete silence is required.

Soldiers who fell in the Artois region, as well as French and Belgian Flanders are interred here. And the Honour Guards stand sentry still today.

The ground was strategically important during the First World War and the focus for three battles. The rows of white crosses stretch into the distance as a reminder of the area’s bloody past watched over by the basilica. A light beam from the top of the Lamp Tower is visible from afar. Both monuments were designed by architect Louis-Marie Cordonnier.

Mémorial 14-18 Visitor Centre

Another astonishing piece of architecture, designed by Pierre-Louis Faloci and situated at the foot of the Lorette hill, is the Mémorial 14-18 Visitor Centre. Nestled amongst the battlefields the sleek black concrete and glass building makes a bold impression on the landscape. The dark cubes were created to echo the defence blockhouses, or fortifications, constructed in World War I.

The museum’s collection has been curated by an international research committee from France, Belgium, Germany and England and led by historian and author, Yves Le Maner.

There are seven sections featuring objects, over 300 large scale photographs (official and those taken by soldiers) and video footage from the period. The displays explore trench warfare in Northern France under occupation, death on the front lines and more. With the help of 21 st technology, animated maps allow visitors to discover the extent of the conflict on the region’s towns and countryside, and the reconstruction.

The Ring of Remembrance

This breathtaking structure, designed by Philippe Prost and inaugurated in November 2014, is architecturally awesome.

The Ring of Remembrance World War I memorial in Ablain-Saint-Nazaire straddles the landscape and reflects the bright sun like a beacon. There are almost 580,000 names engraved in alphabetical order and without rank. These are the men and women of 40 different nationalities who died at Nord-Pas-de-Calais. I was stunned to discover 10 ‘Caswells’ including a great uncle on my father’s side. Between the sections visitors had left little mementos, a poppy or a note, as a physical act of remembrance.

The Ring is located in stunning rural countryside. The peace is broken only by birdsong which seems significant and wholly welcome.

Canadian War Memorial France

This incredible memorial stands out not only because of its size and raised location but also due to the light stone which can be seen for miles. As you walk towards it, the stones grow incrementally until you arrive at its base where it dominates the space.

The Canadian National Vimy Memorial pays tribute to the 11,285 Canadian soldiers reported missing in World War I. The panoramic landscape from high on the ridge, combined with the astounding beauty of the architecture, evokes a powerful emotional response.

At Vimy Ridge you will also find tunnels, preserved trenches and a new Visitor Centre telling the stories of how Canadian soldiers, united for the very first time, succeeded in taking and defending the position during the Battle of Arras. It also tells the heart-warming stories of some survivors and their lives since.

La Maison Blanche German Cemetery

In contrast to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission war graves, devoid of flowers and with plainly engraved stones La Maison Blanche German Cemetery has a more simplistic layout. Located at Neuville-Saint-Vaast it is the largest German war cemetery in France and the final resting place for 44,833 German soldiers of which 8,040 were never identified.

The mass graves are marked with huge plain crosses made of heavy black slate which make a striking statement. And yet, amongst the many varieties of trees there was a wild cherry tree, heavy with luscious red summer fruits.

Touring the battlefields of the Pas-De-Calais brings you up close and personal with the tragedy of war. As a result I left with a strong sense that in the face of this level of loss and sacrifice, how can you not live life to its fullest? What a legacy.

War Graves in France Photo Gallery

Eurostar to Lille

Possibly the best way to travel to Northern France from London is to take the Eurostar to Lille from London St Pancras. It takes just 90 minutes.

Hotels Arras

I stayed at Arras between Lille and Bethune. The town is famous for its two twin squares showcasing the stunning 18 th century houses. Here you will also find the magnificent Town Hall, home to the tourist centre, where you can climb the belfry. On the outside is an engraved plaque commemorating Resistance fighters from Arras in 1940.

The Mercure Arras Centre Gare Hotel furnished in contemporary style, is extremely comfortable and is located a short walk from the town squares.

If you are looking to book accommodation in the region, enter your dates in our flight and hotel comparison engine to search hundreds of sites for the best deals:

Restaurants Arras

Le Cave de Saveurs at Arras is popular for its steak and French fries and offers a fixed price menu.

Arras Artisan Beer

Arras is well known for its artisan beer making industry. Drink a local beer or two at Chez Marcel located in the main square where I tried a local biologique ‘Terroir Arras’ honey beer, which literally tasted like nectar.

At Page 24 Brewery enthusiastic brewer, Stéphane Bogaert, entertains visitors with the story of how he gave up his day job and learnt to brew. After a short tour you can try some of the great artisan beers in the rustic bar area.

Visiting War Graves in France

The Pas de Calais tourism eebsite is the place to start planning your war graves northern France trip .

A good way to explore Bethune is on a 4km walking tour. There is a free English guide available at the tourist office or to download from Remembrance Trails of Northern France .

For further information on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, visit: www.cwgc.org . Cover image: Anneau de la memoire © Y CADART and background photo by Andy Spencer. 

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Irene Caswell

Irene is a freelance writer with a special interest in destinations, arts and culture, food and wine. She believes a life well lived is about experiences and aims to provide readers with informative and evocative stories. Follow Irene on Instagram at @hashtagtravelin.

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0330 440 3999, monday - friday 9am to 5pm, ww1 & ww2 battlefield tours 2024.

• Battlefield Tours

• The Somme, 1916

Expertly Guided Battlefield Tours From £299

Tours to the Battlefields visit key locations of WW1 and WW2, featuring visits to famous battlefields , memorials and cemeteries among other significant war-time sights. In most cases you will be accompanied by an expert guide who will be able to bring the events and experiences to life, answering any questions you may have.  

The main focus of these Battlefield tours will of course be significant locations used by the Allies and their opponents during World War One and World War Two . Experience The Last Post at Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium . Go behind military lines and visit locations of The Great War which were off the beaten track. Discover the lost battlefields of Fromelles . Walk along the D-Day Landing Beaches of Normandy,  France . Learn about military executions of World War One. See the locations of where the first and last shots were fired of WW1. Follow the story of Anne Frank in Holland and Oscar Schindler and the rise and fall of the Third Reich. Visit Flanders Fields , see war re-enactments and broaden your knowledge of the American Civil War .

Our battlefield tours are available by coach and air throughout the year.

World War 1 Tours

2014-2018 marked a very special period for World War One Battlefields as it was the centenary of the First World War – known by many military enthusiasts as The Great War. There is a great selection of Battlefield tours available to pay homage to the fallen and honour those marvellous heroic acts of men and women who laid down their lives so we could live in peace today.

Between 1914 and 1918, Flanders Fields was the scene for some of the bloodiest battles of the First World War. It is thought that about a million soldiers were either wounded, missing or killed in action. Whilst thousands of ordinary people were left homeless, WW1 devastated entire cities and villages with some completely beyond recognition. Flanders Fields itself has become a region dedicated to the events of WW1 with hundreds of monuments and cemeteries that all have great historical significance to people from across the world. There are a variety of interactive museums as well, each explaining the different aspects of conflict and outlining the implications of war in general. Here are just a few of the sights you can see when you take a guided WW1 Battlefield tour:

Flanders Field Museum, Ypres: This has recently been renovated to mark the centenary of WW1 featuring stories from ordinary people who were affected by the tragedy of war. The museum itself has doubled in size and has a variety of objects and documents connected with WW1. Climb to the top of the Bell Tower where you can experience views of the region that was once destroyed by war.

Battlefields of Flanders, Belgium: This was the main WW1 battlefront for the British. More than 200,000 soldiers from the British and Commonwealth forces died here. See the trenches at Sanctuary Wood with its museum before visiting the Tyne Cot Cemetery. You will see the Messines Ridge sector and the Irish Peace Tower which is dedicated to the role of the Irish troops. Study the Christmas Truce at Ploegsteert and visit the memorial before observing 'The Last Post' at Menin Gate.

'The Last Post' at Menin Gate, Belgium: Every evening at 8pm, a moving ceremony takes place underneath the arch of the Menin Gate and this is a simple service dedicated to the 55,000 soldiers who fought but whose bodies were never found.

French Flanders and Artois, France: This region of Northern France was the most badly damaged by the WW1 battles particularly Arras, Bailleul and St Omer among others. Anyone who visits these battlefields, will find a variety of small museums, and over 300 cemeteries to visit with monuments dedicated to thousands of Allied and German war casualties.

The Somme, France Located in Picardy, the battlefields can be found in an area from St. Quentin in the east to the coast of Amiens. The Somme is a particularly haunting place to visit. You can see the Historical Museum at Péronne and the largest British Mine Crater at La Boisselle. There's the preserved trenches at Newfoundland Park, the memorial at Thiepval, the Ulster Tower and the Serre where Wilfred Owen fought and took inspiration for his war poems.

The Western Front, Belgium and France: This was a stretch of battlefields covering landscapes from south west Belgium through to north east and eastern France. The varied landscape of this area had a huge effect on the strategy and tactics used by both the Allies and the Germans.

Ypres Salient Battlefields, Belgium: It's hard to believe as you stand in the Main Square and observe ornate buildings that this area was completely flattened by the battles of WW1 but once the war was over, the area was rebuilt. There are a variety of museums and memorials dedicated to the war effort.

Arras, France Visit the Wellington Quarries, a complex of tunnels that were used by the British during WW1. Pay homage at the Arras Memorial. See the preserved trench system at Vimy Ridge that was captured from the Germans by the Canadians. The memorial on Hill 145 and its museum are impressive and must be visited.

Marne and Verdun, France: This was the turning point in WW1 which prevented the Germans from advancing in to Paris. Visit Fort La Pompelle which remained on the front line for four years. Visit the Russian Cemetery, the Champagne-Marne Museum, Sommepy Trenches, Navarin Farm and the American Memorial on Blanc Mont. Admire an outstanding collection of uniforms and equipment from WW1 on display at the Meaux Museum. Discover the story of the 'Doughboys', the American Memorial and the Dormans Memorial at Château-Thierry. Visit Meuse-Argonne at Verdun where you'll see the largest American Cemetery in Europe.

Mons, Belgium: This is where the very first shots of WW1 were fired by the British in August 1914. Start at Casteau where Corporal Thomas fired the first shots. Visit Nimy and walk along the front defended by 4 th Battalion Royal Fusiliers to Nimy Bridge where the first two Victoria Crosses were won. Cross over the border into Feignies to Fort Leveau, an excellent war museum. Follow the route of the attacks from Valenciennes to Nouvelles and visit the St Symphorien Military Cemetery.

World War 2 Tours

The Second World War was a global battle fought between 1939 and 1945, whereby more than 100 million people served in a variety of military units from over 30 different countries. World War II is remembered as being one of the deadliest conflicts with over 50 million fatalities and most of these were caused by the Holocaust and the use of nuclear weapons. There have been lots of debates as to when WW2 actually started but the majority believe it began on 1 st September 1939 when the Germans invaded Poland leading to the French and the British declaring war on Germany. Here is a selection of sights you can see when on WW2 Battlefield Tours:

D-Day Landing Beaches, Normandy: Start your Battlefield tour with the British Sector and visit Pegasus Bridge where you can see Café Gondré and the Pegasus Memorial Museum. Pay homage at the Ranville Commonwealth Cemetery and Bréville Ridge. Visit the Merville Gun Battery, Sword Beach, Juno Beach, Arromanches and the Mulberry Harbour Museum. The American Sector is known to be highly emotive especially the American Cemetery and tragic Omaha Beach. Visit the Airborne Museum at Ste. Mère Église, Utah Beach, the German Peace Garden Cemetery, the headland at Pointe du Hoc and the huge guns at the Battery at Longues-sur-Mer. Gold Beach is where the only Victoria Cross of D-Day was won and see the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Bayeux.

Operation Market Garden, Netherlands and Germany: General Montgomery attempted to shorten World War Two and this visit follows the ill-fated operations of his plan. Begin by visiting the German Cemetery at Ysselsteyn and travel through to Son, Veghel, Uden and Grave. See the National Liberation Museum and the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Groesbeek that lists the names of 1,103 servicemen who were killed, many of them at Arnhem, who have no known grave. Explore Heelsum and Wolfheze to the bridge at Arnhem. See St Elizabeth Hospital where some of the most bitter fighting took place and Acacialaan where the Victoria Cross was won by Sergeant Baskeyfield. Conclude your visit at the 1 st Airborne Museum in Oosterbeek which was once the headquarters for the Arnhem Division.

Battle of the Bulge, Belgium: Start your Battlefield tour in the north of 'The Bulge' visiting the American War Cemetery at Henri-Chappelle. Follow the route of the 'Kampfgruppe Peiper'  through Bullingen, Thirimont, Baugnez and Ligneuville. See the scene of the Malmedy massacre. Travel to La Gleize to explore the Battle of the Bulge Museum before visiting Stourmont, Werbomont and the American War Memorial. Visit the German Cemetery at Houffalize before entering the British Sector at Bure and Bande. See the location of the infamous roadside cellar massacre by the SS and pay homage to the fallen at the Commonwealth Graves Commission Cemetery in Hotton.

The Maginot Line, Belgium: This tour focuses upon the fortifications in Belgium such as the famous Eben Emael that came under assault by German Airborne troops. Take a guided tour of Fort d'Aubin-Neufchâteau which was extensively damaged in 1940. Explore the amazing system of bunkers and tunnels at Ouvrage Fermont where you descend in the original lifts and take a ride on an old ammunition train. Visit Villy la Ferte which also saw some heavy fighting in May 1940. You can also visit Ouvrage Immerhof and Ouvrage Hackenberg where you can see the cemetery at Luttange which is where the first soldier of WW2 is buried.

Additional Tours

In addition to guided Battlefield tours of World War One and World War Two, there is the option to broaden your knowledge of other military battles that have taken place across the world. Discover how the military campaigns of the Napoleonic War led to the downfall of Napoleon Bonaparte. Travel to Vietnam where the conflicts there lasted for almost 30 years or join a tour to Washington DC and Gettysburg where the American Civil War threatened to tear the nation apart. Here is just a selection of places you can visit:

The Peninsular War, Portugal and Spain: This was a series of military campaigns that took place during the Napoleonic Wars between 1808 and 1814. It resulted in victory for the Allies and led to the downfall of Napoleon Bonaparte. View Wellesley's positions along the Rio Alberche and Portina Brook. See the battlefield memorial on the slopes of Cerro de Medellin Hills. Travel to Badajoz, the scene of some of the bloodiest battles and where Viscount Wellington apparently wept at the sight of so many fallen. Also visit Fort San Cristobal where you can view Badajoz below, explore the ramparts and learn about the French and German garrison. Visit 'Bloody Albuera' commanded by General Beresford where you can view the 'Fatal Hill'. Travel to Salamanca and visit Cuidad Rodrigo, the Battlefield of Fuentes de Onoro and walk around selected battle routes in the hills surrounding Los Arapiles. You will also get to see the Mendoza Bridge, Tres Puentes Bridge, walk the riverbank of Bidassoua, the church at Arcangues, the Battle of St Pierre, the Palace of Fontainebleu and the Battle of Orthez.

Gallipoli Battlefields, Turkey: Arrive in Gallipoli Town that overlooks the Dardanelles where you'll visit Helles Memorial and the Turkish Gun Battery. See the location of the British Landings at Capes Helles, Krithia and visit the V Beach Cemetery and the X Beach. Visit ANZAC Beach which is where soldiers from the Australian and New Zealand forces landed, see the Lone Pine Memorial and Cemetery. See preserved Turkish trenches at Chunuk Bair and see where the first Australian won the Victoria Cross in WW1. Head to Suvla Bay where some of the first British troops came into action during August 1915. Look at the history of the 'Lost Battalion', visit the new Suvla Bay Museum in Anafarta, see the peaceful Shrapnel Valley Cemetery and walk up to Shell Green where Australians played a cricket game in full view of the Turks!

Battle of Waterloo, Belgium: Travel to Belgium where you can attend a variety of Battle Re-enactments marking the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. See what a British or French Battle Camp would have looked like back in 1815 where re-enactments will take place so you can witness drill, camp life and see equipment on display. Visit the Wellington Museum in Waterloo and the farms of La Haye Sainte and Hougoumont where you can walk in the footsteps of soldiers. Take a look inside the Lion Mount Visitors Centre followed by a climb to the top of Lion Mound which provides fabulous views of the battle locations below.

Vietnam, Asia Follow the story of a conflict that lasted for nearly 30 years which was escalated further by the landings of American Troops in Da Nang. There are a variety of sights to be seen when joining a guided battlefield tour of Vietnam such as Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, the B-52 Memorial Lake and the One Pillar Pagoda. Travel down Kham Thien Street which was completely destroyed by the Americans in 1972 and see the 'Hanoi Hilton' a prison where American pilots were kept. Take a walking tour of Hoi An. Transfer to Hue and visit China Beach and Red Beach where American pilots landed and where some of the bloodiest battles took place. In Dong Hoi, see the former US Marine Base at Khe Sanh and the Da Krong Bridge as well as the Vinh Moc Tunnels. You will also get to follow the famous Ho Chi Minh Trail, the Khe Gat runway, the Cu Chi Tunnels and meet a Vietnamese War Veteran.

The American Civil War, USA: This was one of the deadliest battles in the history of America and took place between 1861 and 1865. Start your guided battlefield tour in Washington DC to learn about the history of Civil War with a visit to the Museum of American History. Travel to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania where you can see the location of the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863 and where Abraham Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address. Visit the battlefield of Antietam and Harpers Ferry where the slave uprising led to the start of the Civil War. Travel to Lynchburg, Virginia for a tour of the town that was the scene for the Battle of Lynchburg in 1864. Appomattox is where General Lee surrendered to Lieutenant Ulysees S. Grant. This surrender led to the Southern States ending their attempt at creating a separate nation. It also brought about the end of the Civil War where the 13 th , 14 th  and 15 th  amendments were added to the Constitution.

Door2Tour.com Miniguide to Battlefield Tours

What do I wear? Make sure you dress according to the weather - a rain coat is always useful, just in case. Wear comfy shoes as there may be walking involved depending on your tour and the ground may not always be completely even.

What to take with you? Take a bag with you to carry a few essentials such as a bottle of water, camera, binoculars and anything else you may need. There are no shops around the cemeteries so it’s best to be prepared.

Will there be opportunities to explore? It depends on the tour as to whether you can explore in your own time as there are lots of different itineraries which will all have varied schedules. Some tours include knowledgeable tour guides which will tell you about the area and the battlefields.

What sort of tour would suit me best? Depending on what interests you most, there are a number of different tours available. World War 1 Battlefield tours tend to explore the sites, cemeteries and museums, with many including a visit to Ypres and the Menin Gate.

World War 2 Battlefield Tours all vary and can include visits to sites such as the D-Day Beaches, Pegasus Bridge and parts of Normandy, Arnhem Bridge from Operation Market Garden and Anne Frank’s House in Amsterdam.

For a more laid back option perhaps look at Battlefield cruise tours which visit Normandy and other Battlefield sites.

When is the best time to visit? It’s best to visit the Battlefields in Spring, Summer or early autumn. They tend to get very busy in November around Remembrance Day. The weather should hopefully be in your favour too, making it more pleasant to spend your time outside.

What if I am in a wheelchair? A Battlefield tour may not be suitable for people in wheelchairs as the Cemeteries may be grassy and hard to navigate. There can also be uneven ground under foot which isn’t always ideal and could turn muddy!

What is the etiquette? Be respectful. You can talk amongst yourselves, but please take notice of your surroundings and those around you.

Can I take photographs? You can take photographs at your discretion, but again check your surroundings. Many of the museums will not allow you to take photos inside, so be aware of this and look for signs when you enter 

Can I bring back a souvenir? No, unless you buy it from a gift shop or authorised trader. Please don’t take your own ‘souvenir’ from any of the historical sites as this is prohibited.

Are there toilets to use? There aren’t always toilets available near some Battlefield sites, so be aware of this when travelling, although there will be regular comfort breaks. Also, it’s worth noting that some toilets have a charge payable for usage so ensure you have some loose change with you!

In World War 1 65 millions troops were mobilised, 8 million troops died and 21 million troops were wounded. "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori".