touring Verdun and/or Ypres

ercoupepilot · 4 September 2006, 11:50 AM

Greetings,
My wife and I are thinking of flying to Paris later this fall and was curious if there are tours from Paris to Verdun or Ypres? Something like the tours that I've seen on the Holt website out of England. On the other hand, since they are in somewhat different directions, would renting a car be a better option? Also in the back of our minds is going out to Normandy as well, but I doubt we could do all of these in one trip. We may just have to pick one to visit. Are the museums in these areas open during the fall/winter months?
What kind of driving times should one allow to get to Verdun, and Ypres from Paris?
Thank you for any insight.
Ryan

baldeagle · 4 September 2006, 06:45 PM

Don't be afraid to rent a car, especially if you have somebody to help you navigate.
See Verdun if at all possible, it will probably be the most sobering place you ever go, especially the forts and the Ossuary.
Also, all Americans should go to Omaha Beach and look up at those bluffs, that and Gettysburg should be required visits at some point in our lives. Not to mention Pointe du Hoc, St. Mere-Eglise, the Commonwealth end of the battle with Pegasus Bridge and the batteries at Merville, and 1,000 other sites. How many weeks do you have??
Ypres is also a neat place with lots to see, but I'd go to the other two first.
And when in Paris don't forget the Musee des Arts et Metiers, with the cross-channel Bleriot and some other neat stuff. And of course the Musee de l'Air et de l'Espace at Le Bourget, where Lindbergh landed in 1927. One thing I haven't done yet is find Harry's New York Bar in Paris, on 5 rue Danoue, supposedly the WW1 pilots used to hang out there.
If you want to go to a nice park, the Heliport de Paris is on the site of the old flying field from 1908 or so at Issy-les Moulineaux, with a memorial to Henry Farman making the "first" circular flight, and there's a park right next to it. Also, you can rent bikes at the Bois du Boulougne (sp?) and find the place where Santos-Dumont did some of his early experiments. And eat at one of his favorite restaurants, "Les Cascades", although it looked too fancy for my tastes.
Lots to see.

spandau · 5 September 2006, 07:50 AM

ercoupepilot,

If you have time, Normandy is definitely a must do for any American who can get to France. The American Cemetery and shell pocked land and Atlantic Wall bunker at Pointe du Hoc are surreal

On the other hand, if you have a couple days and a car, there is plenty of WWI to see from Ypres down through the Somme (and Hindenburg Line) and on to Verdun. What you decide to see is entirely dependant on your interest. I have been to over 25 museums along the Western Front looking for both airplanes and WWI equipment and uniforms. In addition there are still plenty of bunkers, trenches and mine craters that are still accessible today.

My best advice to a first timer is to get a copy of Major & Mrs. Holt's Guide to the Somme and Ypres (two different books). They include a great map and description of more sites than you are likely to have time for.

Also, If you go to the Ossuary in Verdun, make sure to go around to the back and look in the basement level windows. I guarantee that you will never see a more unforgettable site.

Regards,
Spandau

Rick · 5 September 2006, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spandau

Also, If you go to the Ossuary in Verdun, make sure to go around to the back and look in the basement level windows. I guarantee that you will never see a more unforgettable site.
Regards,
Spandau

Amen to that. RIP brothers.

spandau · 5 September 2006, 11:01 AM

If your really short on time, there is always the Richthofen crash site. Just an hour or so outside of Paris. I've heard that a marker has recently been placed there, but I'm not sure.

Regards,
Spandau

stephenl · 5 September 2006, 12:40 PM

First of all let me say I am jealous. My wife and I have not traveled in over three years! But we were lucky enough to be able to previously (kids....Little kids)

While we were in Paris over 6 years ago I talked her into going on a day excursion to Chateau Thierry & to Belleau Wood. A great day indeed there is a lot to see and we had a guide. Look up Gilles Lagin on Google his name should come up. I do not know if he still does tours or not, he also has a museum at his house which is very nice although when I was there it was under construction. Because of that trip I started research on a pilot that was listed on the cemetery walls at the foot of Belleau Wood Needless to say it was published! So that trip for me was great! I wish I could make it back so I can visit the area he was shot down over and assuredly crashed and burned.

You can take the train it is only about an hour ride across beautiful country side. Of course the guide will cost you money. I paid him about a 120.00 dollars. He never specified a price but as we now know here; back then gas as it always had been is expensive in Europe. He spends the whole day driving you to all the locations. He has photos and stories that you will never see or read about in the history books. Basically it is a donation to his museum; it also covers the gas and his time. He is a very nice person whom speaks perfect English so you can relax and listen to him tell you about the areas you are visiting. I do recommend packing some food because he is non-stop during the tour. I even offered to buy him lunch, he declined and thanked me and continued on with the tour.

Well worth the time and money! If you need more info or want some more info let me know as of right now I am going off of memory.

Stephen Lucas

RobW · 10 September 2006, 06:29 PM

France is pretty easy to get around by car. It can be fun just to drive from one village to another with no specific destination. The Forts of the Maginot line are interesting... especially if you compare them to the Verdun fort.

As you drive through the villages near the WWI lines... look at the buildings. You will still see the bullet holes and pock marks from shell fragments.

Rob W

Pat Daily · 14 September 2006, 01:10 PM

Just came back from Paris in August. Driving there is easier than in the states--people know how to drive. You can easily get to Verdun--good museum there. lots of US and German and French cemeteries. Go to the US battle memorial commission to see the cemeteries. Look into staying in a fabulous chateau near Verdun for not much more than a hotel. Stop at Chateau Thierry on the way to Verdun--cemeteries and large US monument and also Bella Wood is nearby. And a church dedicated to the Americans in the town square hard by the Marne. Neat stuff. Driving to Omaha beach is easy too. Have fun. Go to jomoser.com to see chateau.

Pat Daily

Regulus · 28 September 2006, 08:45 AM

The english site of the Ypres town, there's also a part on tours :

http://www.ieper.be/ieper_en.aspx?SGREF=10587

The brandnew Passendale (Passchendale) website. For more pics of the museum just pay a visit to my site. The new museum is the best for the moment in the whole area.

www.passchendaele.be

Best from Johan

moritz55 · 15 October 2006, 02:11 AM

Hello,

I've read the thread about touring Verdun. I'm french and I live right there! So it would be a great honour for me to give advices or adress to all those who would come there.
I'm not a guide, I only have knowledge to share.
Lots of people speak about Verdun but there is also the "saillant de Saint-Mihiel" (about half an hour south Verdun), and the "Argonne" (half an hour east Verdun) where there is the biggest graveyard of american soldiers in EUROPE! It takes place exactly in Romagne sous Montfaucon where you can pay a visit to a very little and amazing museum made with all the things found all around Romagne, on the ground and in the ground. The owner speaks english.( http://www.worldwar1.nl/romagne/romagne.html).

I'm a pilot too, so I can manage to bring people in the air to see all the things.
Feel free to ask me any questions.
My aim is NOT to make monney.