Paris at War - ww1 nATIONAL mUSEUM tOUR

Tour Dates: 7th – 12th September 2026

Hotel: 5 Nights 4* Hotel, Central Paris

The tour starts and ends at Paris Airport

Visit https://www.theworldwar.org/battlefield-tours to secure your space

In the summer of 1914 Paris found itself a hive of activity as Europe went to war.

Within weeks of mobilisation, it became the arrival point for thousands of refugees fleeing the path of a conflict that edged ever closer to the capital. It was soon subjected to aerial attack, and, with the sound of the guns closing to within 20 miles of the city, it prepared itself for a siege last witnessed a generation earlier during the Franco-Prussian War.

By 1918 Paris had not fallen, yet throughout the 1914-18 war it remained an administrative and logistical hub for the French Military, and when the guns finally fell silent in November 1918, it was in a railway carriage close by at Compiegne that the armistice was signed, whilst the eventual Peace Conference the following year took place in nearby Versailles.

This new tour, in conjunction with the ‘Paris at War‘ exhibition at the National World War One Memorial and Museum, seeks to study the First World War through Parisian Eyes.

From the Taxis to the Marne, through to the Palace of Versailles it will visit the memorials, museums and nearby battlefields that remember this momentous time in the long history of the French capital.

Key Information

Itinerary

Monday 7 September 2026

The group meets at Paris CdeG airport and travels to the city and our tour hotel.

The group, led by Clive Harris, Mike Sheil and museum staff, will visit a number of sites in the city connected to the opening days of the war, from the assassination of leading socialist and opponent to conflict Jean Jaures on 31 July 1914 to the general mobilisation the same day, we visit the Gare du Est, the Place du Trocadero and ending at the large Paul Landowski monument to the war Overnight Paris – Group Meal that evening included

Overnight Paris – Dinner and museum admissions included.

Tuesday 8 September 2026

A visit to the French Army Museum at the National Hotel of the Invalides. This
museum that was in existence in 1914, charts the long history of the French Army with large galleries covering World War One, we end the day with a visit to the nearby Eifel Tower, utilised as an anti-aircraft position during the war.

Overnight Paris – Breakfast, with admissions to museums included.

Wednesday 9 September 2026

The morning is spent with a visit to one of the 16 fortifications that formed a ring of defence around Paris in 1914, Fort Mont Valerien. Dating from the 19th Century it has a visitors centre that explains the history of the fort through both world wars. The afternoon concludes with a visit to Suresnes American Cemetery, containing over 1500 burials, the majority victims of World War One.

Overnight Paris – Breakfast and museum admissions included.

Thursday 10 September 2026

We leave the city and head east to the French National WWI Museum at Meaux before visiting La Ferte Sous Jouarre, a vital river crossing in both 1914 and 1918 where several memorials commemorate the events in the area involving French, British and American Troops. We end the day with a visit to the railway carriage in Compiegne Forest where the Armistice was signed in
November 1918.

Overnight Paris – Breakfast included.

Friday 11 September 2026

Today we head to the Palace of Versailles, best known for the 1919 Peace conference held in its hall of mirrors, the Palace played many roles during the conflict, from providing shelter for the cities priceless works of art through to serving as a respite centre for wounded soldiers and venue for numerous wartime charity events to raise funds for serviceman. The day concludes a visit to the Arc de Triumph to reflect on how Paris commemorated the war.

A final nights drinks reception brings our tour to a close.

Overnight Paris – Breakfast included.

Saturday 12 September 2026

Transfer to Paris CdeG Airport for onward departures.

Day 1

Name: National World War One Museum 2025 – Battle of the Frontiers 1914
Start: 2025-09-08T00:00:00+01:00
End: 2025-09-13T23:59:59+01:00
Location: Battle Honours Limited

Scheduled flights from London to Istanbul. Transfer to Gallipoli by coach to the Hotel Grand Anzac in Canakkale.

This is a 4 hour transfer on a fully air-conditioned coach. We will stop off for a short snack/toilet break halfway through the journey.

All our transfer coaches have Wi-Fi and complimentary bottled water on board.

Monday 12 May 2025 – Anzac Day

The best way to study an amphibious landing is by boat. Our morning will be spent studying the Gaba Tepe from the sea before we come ashore to walk from Beach Cemetery, via Shrapnel Valley up to the heights of Plugges Plateau, the first ridge captured by the Anzac’s on 25 April 1915.

After lunch at a local restaurant, we will continue the Anzac advance from the Second Ridge at Lone Pine, to the furthest advance of the Australian and New Zealand troops on that first day of the landing. This walk will take us over Pine Ridge, down into Legge Valley and up onto the Third Ridge (Gun Ridge), the final objective of the covering force, ending the walk at Mustafa Kemal’s command post on the Scrubby Knoll.

Tuesday 13 May 2025 – Helles Day

Beginning the morning on the top of Achi Baba, where we will experience panoramic views of the Helles battlefield, we will descend down to the beaches. Next stop is Erturgal Fort, trenches and the Ottoman memorial to Sgt Yahya, all overlooking V Beach. We will visit V Beach CWGC Cemetery, the spit of rock where the River Clyde came shore, all under the shadow of Seddulbahir Fort. We will then advance up through the village to Doughty-Wylie’s Grave, and then the Helles Memorial.

After lunch at V Beach Café, we will walk from the French artillery battery onto Hunter-Weston Hill and then Lancashire Landing CWGC Cemetery. From there we will visit W Beach to recount the story of the 6 VC’s Before Breakfast before ascending onto Hill 114 to explore the old base-camp of the MEF.

We end the day with visit to the Bengodi/Asmadan Vinyard for a tasting flight (foot passage ferry option for non-winers).

Wednesday 14 May 2025 – Gully Ravine Day

We will spend the whole day exploring Gully Ravine, starting at the Ottoman Nuri Yamut Memorial we will walk across the seaward cliffs to Gurkha Bluff, just above Y Beach. We will continue along Gully Spur, visiting Geoghegan’s Bluff and the football field for lunch. We will then continue to follow the ravine to Gully Beach. Exiting the ravine we will walk along the West Krithia to finish the day at Pink Farm CWGC Cemetery.

Thursday 15 May 2025 – Suvla Day

We will begin the morning on the once hotly contested Scimitar Hill (Hill 70) before following the Ottoman trench lines on to the top of the W Hills where we will get excellent views of both the Suvla and North Anzac battlefield. Walking down to Hetman Chair and Dead Man’s Gully, we will finish at Chocolate and Green Hill.

After a packed lunch at the museum in Buyuk Anafarta, we will walk from the Jandarma Memorial to Kidney Hill, Caribou Hill and then to Azmak CWGC Cemetery, also visiting the new Ottoman cemetery site on Kiretch Tepe. We will finish the day at Suvla Point and General Stopford’s HQ.

Friday 16 May 2025

Return to Istanbul or, Optional extension to the island of Imbros to explore the sites of Sir Ian Hamilton’s GHQ, Kephalos ‘K’ Beach, the Australian Field Bakery site, RNAS airfields and the journalist camp to name but a few.

Saturday 17 May 2025

Return to Istanbul for those who stayed for the optional day to Imbros.

Booking

Deposits can be paid via BACS transfer (IBAN if overseas) both account details are on the bottom of the booking form.

If you wish to pay by credit card, drop us an email and we will send you the relevant link.

Cheques can be made payable to “Battle Honours Ltd”