Belgium in 1914
Belgium in 1914
Belgium in 1914
5 Days Starting and ending in Belgium
Visiting: Avenue des Artisans, Liège, Charleroi, Mons, Dinant Citadel, Namur
Tour operator:
Tour code:
5bbwv
Age range:
0-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
2024 is the110th Anniversary Year of the outbreak of the First World War, travel with us to some of the forgotten battlefields in Belgium from the opening year of the conflict – 1914. We’ll explore Fort Loncin and Fort de Barchon with two fascinating guided tours, take an in-depth look at the fighting beyond Liege and the darker chapters of 1914, and uncover more about the ’Battle of the Frontiers’.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive In Belgium
Location: Avenue des Artisans
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Horizon Ath-Lessines
Local departure by coach, then to our hotel in Belgium for a four-night stay.
Day 2 : Liege 1914: Battle Of The Forts
Location: Liège
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 4-star Hotel Horizon Ath-Lessines
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
As the Germans launched the Schlieffen Plan in August 1914, their forces crossed the border into Belgium. This was an area close to the city of Liege, protected by a ring of mighty forts. German ‘Big Bertha’ guns and other heavy artillery smashed the Belgian defences, and today we visit two of the forts involved. At Fort Loncin, we see how the fort was besieged and bombarded, and its central magazine destroyed, leading to the loss of more than 350 Belgian soldiers defending it. Here, we get an included guided tour of the fort, see the museum and evidence of the battle in August 1914. In the afternoon we visit Fort de Barchon, the first of the Liege Forts to surrender. Here, we also get an included guided tour, seeing the gun positions, memorials and damage done to the fort by the German guns.
Day 3 : Charleroi And Mons 1914
Location: Charleroi, Mons
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 4-star Hotel Horizon Ath-Lessines
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today, we look at the fighting in the area beyond Liege as the German forces pushed hard against Belgian, French and then British forces in August 1914. Near Charleroi, we look at the battlefields where the fighting took place, seeing memorials and graves of the fallen from France, and then study one of the darker chapters of 1914 when German troops massacred Belgian civilians, visiting the Massacre Memorial at Tamines. After lunch, we travel to Mons and see where the British Expeditionary Force made their stand at Nimy Bridge and Jemappes, as well as the unique St. Symphorien Cemetery where British and German soldiers lay side by side, as well as the ‘first and last’ British casualties. We have free time in central Mons for an evening meal before returning to our hotel.
Day 4 : Battle Of The Frontiers 1914
Location: Dinant Citadel, Namur
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 4-star Hotel Horizon Ath-Lessines
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
We travel down towards the Belgian-French border, where the Battle of the Frontiers was fought in 1914. On one day alone in August 1914, the French Army lost more than 27,000 men killed in a single day. Here, we have an included visit to the Citadelle of Dinant which played a key role in the fighting, and visit the French Military Cemetery. We then follow the fighting up towards Namur, seeing the battlefields of August 1914, memorials and looking at the story of Fort Marchovelette which defended Namur, visiting the graves of those who died in its defence.
Day 5 : Return Home
Location: Avenue des Artisans
Meals Included: Breakfast
Return home.
What's Included
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Accommodation
As detailed in the itinerary
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Additional Services
Travel from a wide range of convenient joining points across the UK is included within your coach holiday price; some carry a supplement. Please contact us for our full list of joining points.
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Airport Transfers at Destination
This trip includes coach travel from/to a local UK joining point
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Fully Guided
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International Travel
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Meals
As detailed in the itinerary
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Transport
Comfortable, air-conditioned motorcoach
What's Not Included
Accommodation
You will stay for four nights at the 4-star Hotel Horizon Ath-Lessines, near Ghislenghien.
Check out our Q&As
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Is the tour coach air conditioned?
Yes
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What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
Low
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No
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What type of coach will be used?
You will travel on either our Luxuria Coach or our Silver Service Coach
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Fully escorted by our experienced drivers/crews. And in most towns and cities we either include or offer optional sightseeing tours with expert local guides to help you get the most from your visits.
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Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?
On Leger Coach Holidays, your allowance is one medium sized suitcase per person, which should weigh no more than 20kg when full.
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
Some tours carry a supplement for solo travellers, please ask for details if the Single price is not shown
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
As detailed in the itinerary
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How long has the tour company been trading?
40 years
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Sole use of your own room on all Single Traveller holidays: means you still get your privacy and time out from the group.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Battlefield Tours - Will it be possible to visit a particular cemetery whilst on the tour?
Please contact us and we will check to see whether you can visit a particular cemetery on any of our Battlefield Tours, if we are not able to fit it into our itinerary then you could take some time out of the tour and do this independently by taxi or public transport.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies
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Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Leger Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of leger holidays charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 21 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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