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USD $281.00
Vimy and Belgium Canadian Battlefield Tour from Lille
Lille, France
Explore Canadian World War I history in Vimy and Belgium on this 12-hour battlefield tour from Lille or Arras. Follow a guide through Vimy’s WW1 trenches and discover sites of interest including Hill 145, the Canadian Passchendaele Memorial, the St. Julien Memorial, and the Tyne Cot Military Cemetery. See where John McRae wrote his famous poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ and visit the Langemark German war cemetery. Then, finish your tour at the Last Post ceremony in Ypres. This tour of Canada’s WW1 sites includes round-trip travel from Lille or Arras.
Meet your guide during an 8:30am pickup at your hotel or accommodation in Lille or Arras, then take a seat in your air-conditioned minivan for the onward journey into the WW1 battlefields.
First, visit the tunnels in Vimy where the Canadian divisions stood just before the assault in April 1917. Follow the soldiers’ footsteps through the trenches with your guide and gain insight into the struggles faced in battle. Discover cemeteries where fallen Canadian soldiers lie, and perhaps pay your respects at the war memorial on the top of Hill 145.
After lunch, take in key sites of WWI interest including Hill 62 and the Tyne Cot Military Cemetery and Memorial — the largest Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Europe. See the walls bearing the 35,000 names of soldiers who have no known grave, then head onward to Passchendaele, the Crest Farm Memorial, and the Canadian St. Julien Memorial — commemorating the first poison gas attacks along the Western Front.
Visit the Langemark German war cemetery and Essex Farm — where John McRae wrote his famous poem In Flanders Fields — then enjoy free time in Ypres to explore at your leisure. Attend the daily Last Post ceremony, then depart Ypres at approximately 8:20pm for the return journey to your accommodation in Lille or Arras.
Personalized tour with a guide who could relate to the histyory of the battles. The guide also provided axtra detours of some of the Memorials which we wanted to see.
Review by: rwilbur50, June 2017
This was an excellent tour to learn about the Canadian experience in WWI. It is a tour in a small van 6/7 people max so very personal attention and we were very fortunate to be the only clients that day. Claude, our, guide was very knowledgeable about Canada's role in the battles and the impact. We visited the key sites including Vime, Passchendale , Ypres etc There was a good mix of cemeteries, battle sites and museums. Claude kept it interesting and paced things well. The day ended with the last post at the Menin Gate. A very memorable full day. Highly recommended. I should also mention the wonderful student guides at Vimy.
Review by: James F, September 2016
The guide was fabulous. Easy to understand and very knowledgeable. Probably our best tour. Thanks Claude!
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