Museo de Guerra, Belleau woods y Chateau Thierry

Informaci�n

Among all battlefields, the Aisne and more specifically, The Marne is part of the most famous of the western front. Important battles took place in this part of France such as the First Battle of the Marne which brings to an end the war of movement and the Second Battle of the Marne which "developed into a significant Allied victory."

The tour will start with the visit of the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery to pay tribute to the American Troops who fought in The Aisne & Marne area. Here lays the graves of 2289 soldiers and most of them fought in the vicinity as well as in the Marne Valley in the summer of 1918. You will also have the opportunity to go inside the Memorial Chapel with its 1060 names of the missing.

Then the tour continues at Bois Belleau - Belleau Wood where in June 1918, took place the deadliest battle for The Marines, "creating the Marines' reputation in modern history". It was an important battlefield site where a lot of American soldiers lost their lives. Their mission was to stop German soldiers from reaching Paris. Even if they succeeded in their duty, the human cost was horrendous. Take time to walk through the woods to see the traces of the "battle such as traces of trenches and the shell holes and ruined buildings that resulted from the heavy fighting".

The next stop will be the Cote 204 Monument at Chateau-Thierry. It represents the friendship between France and the United States of America and commemorates the achievements of United States forces that fought in the region during World War I. This monument stands high above the Marne Valley and Champagne vineyards and was inaugurated in 1937 in the presence of General Pershing who had been Commander in Chief of the American Expeditionary Force.

After lunch (not included) we will head to Meaux to learn more about WWI history, visiting the Museum of the Great War. It opened on November 11 2011, a symbolic date to commemorate the armistice. The Museum outlines all the aspects of the war, displaying 50 000 objects, allowing you to understand the worldwide dimensions of the conflict.

Meeting/pick-up point: 25 rue des Pyramides 75001 Paris.
Duration: Ten hours approx.
Start/opening time: From April 2nd 2014 to November 2nd, on Wednesday and Sunday at 7.15am.
End/closing time: Tour ends at the Opera Garnier.
Languages: English.