1 day

Private

Full Day

About this activity

You’ll be picked-up by your guide at your central Paris Hotel in the morning and get taken on a 1.5-hour drive north to Belleau, a village in France’s Picardy area that, together with Marne, made up one of the major (and now most famous) parts of the western front during World War I. Many important battles took place in this region, including the First Battle of the Marne and the Second Battle of the Marne, which developed into a significant Allied victory.

Start with a visit to the 42-acre (17-hectare) Aisne-Marne American Cemetery to pay tribute to the American troops who fought in the Aisne and Marne area. Wander around the cemetery and visit the Memorial Chapel – built on top of front-line battle trenches, here you can see the names of 1,060 missing American soldiers.

Continue up the hill to Belleau Wood (Bois Belleau), where one of the deadliest battles for the US Marines took place in 1918. This important battlefield is where American soldiers fought valiantly to stop German soldiers from reaching Paris. Take time to walk through the woods to see the traces of the battle, like the trenches, shell holes and ruined buildings that resulted from the heavy fighting.

Your next stop is the Cote 204 Monument at Château-Thierry, which represents the friendship between France and the US and commemorates the achievements of US forces in this region during WWI. This monument stands high above the beautiful Marne Valley and Champagne vineyards, offering beautiful views for you to enjoy.

Take a break for lunch on your own before continuing to Meaux to learn more about WWI history. Your guide will take you to the Museum of the Great War to show you fascinating remnants from the war. See 50,000 war-related objects from many of the countries involved in WWI, giving you a deeper understanding of the worldwide dimensions of the conflict.

After your time in the Museum of the Great War, board your private (minibus or car) for a calm, reflective ride back to Paris, arriving at your hotel around 5:30pm.

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Included

Private tour
Transport by Air-Conditioned Vehicle
Professional guide
Entry/Admission - Musee de la Grande Guerre
Entry/Admission - Oise-Aisne American Cemetery and Memorial
Entry/Admission - Chateau-Thierry Monument

Not included

Food and drinks, unless specified
Gratuities

Additional

Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 3 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities.
Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
The duration is approximate, the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions

Features

Tourism

95%

Cultural

75%

Reviews

4.8

23

D

Deborah

5 | 2019-08-01

Our tour leader was Max and he was very interesting. It was a very relaxed day as we visited war sites, cemeteries and museums with United States relevance. Max made the battle fields come alive with his vast knowledge of history. I highly recommend this tour if you can have the expert knowledge of Max.

K

Kelly Y

5 | 2019-07-03

Nicola was an absolutely amazing guide. She was so knowledgeable and friendly. She gave us great information and history and offered suggestions for stops that we hadn’t been aware of. She also recommended a spot for lunch that was fantasic food, (my husband is still trying to find a Croque Madame he likes as much). This is a nice/quiet/peaceful tour. It has great information and museums, under appreciated areas and just an overall great day to be spent in the area. If you appreciate history, I recommend this one.

R

Roberts M

5 | 2018-08-10

On August 1, 2018 my sister and I booked a tour of the 2nd Marne World War I battlefields with Nicola. Our goal was to follow in our grandfather's footsteps, an American soldier with the U.S. 4th Division, who was wounded twice during the 2nd Battle of the Marne. This was a private centennial tour and I cannot say enough good things about our tour guide Nicola. She was friendly and very knowledgeable about the military affairs of the First World War. She provided background and explained the causes of the conflict on the drive east from Paris. We visited Belleau Wood and walked through the lines of the U.S. Marines, paid our respects at a small British cemetery and the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, grabbed a quick lunch at Chateau Thierry, and stopped at several war memorials and monuments. Nicola was well versed in the interpretations and answered all our questions. What was most important to us was to locate the positions where our grandfather fought and was wounded. Nicola was very flexible and joined our quest to go off the beaten track a bit and we were successful in finding the two areas where he was wounded. This meant so much to us. We finished the tour at the Museum of the Great War in Meaux. It was a very full and emotionally satisfying day and we have Nicola to thank. We give her our highest recommendation.

J

Joyce M

5 | 2017-09-27

Excellent guide and transportation!

E

Edward P

5 | 2016-09-23

Excellent tour by Bertrand, a very knowledgeable and helpful guide. May need to return to see other WW I sites in the future. Time well spent!

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