Belgium in 1914

Belgium in 1914

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Belgium in 1914

5 Days Starting and ending in Belgium

Visiting: Avenue des Artisans, Liège, Charleroi, Mons, Dinant Citadel, Namur

Tour operator:

Leger Holidays

Tour code:

5bbwv

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

0-99

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians

Tour operated in:

English

Activities:

Sightseeing, Walking

This tour is no longer available

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

  • 2024 is the 110th 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

  • 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’

Itinerary

Expand All

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

  • Accommodation

    As detailed in the itinerary

  • 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.

  • Airport Transfers at Destination

    This trip includes coach travel from/to a local UK joining point

  • Fully Guided

  • International Travel

  • Meals

    As detailed in the itinerary

  • 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

  • Is the tour coach air conditioned?

    Yes

  • What is the fitness level required to do this tour?

    Low

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?

    No

  • What type of coach will be used?

    You will travel on either our Luxuria Coach or our Silver Service Coach

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

  • Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?

    Yes

  • Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?

    As detailed in the itinerary

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    40 years

  • 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.

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • 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.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies

Reviews of this operator

Gary White (Google Reviewer)  

Just got back from a...

27-May-2024

Just got back from a holiday with leger holidays to callea spain which my wife done as a surprise for my 60th and wedding anniversary together my wife and i had a great time the coach journey there was excellent regular stops for toilet breaks and a stretch. Our two drivers Geoff and katrina were brilliant serving regular drinks and making the trip pleasant all the people on the coach were pleasant the hotel in spain was so nice the best we've stayed in lovely staff lovely bar the guy at the bar was great really friendly nice room. Overall our journey there and our return journey was brill the only thing that was not good at all was the ibis hotel on the return journey the room was horrible not a nice breakfast not polite French staff. Not really interested in trying to speak some english if i was leger should try and use a different hotel. Once again a big thank you to Geoff and katrina well done guys for making our holiday lovely. Hope to see you on another holiday soon

Will (Google Reviewer)  

I went on the 4...

05-Jan-2024

I went on the 4 countries trip and swiss glacier express and overall it was a great trip. The coach I was on was silver service, it was tidy had nice seats and other accessories such as charging points and headsets which was very handy. The drivers Alex and Dave were fantastic, very kind, funny and respectful throughout the whole trip and a pleasure to talk to. The excursions were very pleasant and all ran very smoothly. The hotels were decent and offered a good service. I overall very much recommend leger holidays.

Sally Matson  

Excellent customer service

10-Jan-2023

Booked our ‘Christmas in Austria & Scenic Trains of the Tyrol’ through George on the customer Helpline. Nothing was too much trouble, everything clearly & patiently explained. He even had permission to log in on his day off to finalise the sale! A charming and helpful young person and a credit to the company.

Euan Donald (Google Reviewer)  

Been on two tours now...

10-Oct-2023

Been on two tours now the “D Day beaches” and “ All Quiet on the Western Front” tour of the Somme and Ypres. Both four days in total, two travelling and two on the site of the various battles. This is outstanding value for money, picked up from Carlisle , Cumbria and literally looked after all the way through the tours. The coaches are great and the accommodation spot on . The guides are very knowledgeable ( Mark Hope brilliant guy)and the bus drivers professional . Absolutely fantastic .

Remon Wanis (Google Reviewer)  

We have been working with...

05-Aug-2024

We have been working with them for nearly a year now as Sussex Airports Taxis, and they offer the best customer service ever. All their customers are always happy when they return from their holidays. We look forward to continuing our partnership for many more years to come.

William Olley (Google Reviewer)  

I recently went on a...

21-Aug-2024

I recently went on a coach holiday with this company. Everything was on time but there can be traffic hold ups with jams and roadworks! The coach was comfortable and the driver stopped for rest periods. The hotel was a 3 star close to a spectacular beach and was adequate. The catering was excellent! I went on the excursions included in the package and visited some lovely places.

Gordon Price (Google Reviewer)  

just returned from Italian holiday....

21-Jul-2024

just returned from Italian holiday. It was great spoilt a little by the high temperature even Ledger can't control that. The only real thing to spoil the trip was one of the hotels. The Krystall hotel in Diano Marina was terrible the room was dire with cracks in shower bogged up shower fittings noe control for AC end so on. The food was very poor, limited choice luke warm food on cold plates. After 4 evening meals (3 or four courses) we were only able to remember 2 we enjoyed. Breakfast was poor no bread except for hard rolls. No fresh fruit if you liked cake for breakfast you were good. If this is a 3 star hotel Italian standards have fallen which I don't think they have. Ledger brochure states "some of Europes most fascinating unique hotels" for Luxuria trips. This hotel should be removed from your list at once. The holiday was other wise good I cannot praise your coach crew too to much they were excellent. A highlight of the trip was the return trip through the swiss alps. It was superb and deserves mention in your holiday iteniary description.

Hilary Jackson (Google Reviewer)  

I recently went on a...

12-Jun-2024

I recently went on a 4 night tour to Scarborough. Driver was great hotel superb. My criticism is too many destinations crammed into day excursion. Example visit to Flamborough head stop for 1 hour it was teeming nobody got off coach but even if fine pointless. Then on to Bridlington coach Park 1.5 ml from centre. Most people are hard pressed to get to center & back in 1.5 hours pointless. Incidentally if Leger paid a permit they could alight us in the resort. Very bad logistics. On to Whitby with a decent stop should have taken us there & bypassed the other stops. I will not go with them again. I will source a better holiday with excursions to one place only.

aled blackshaw (Google Reviewer)  

just returned from a solos...

25-Mar-2024

just returned from a solos break to valkenburg and rhine valley i enjoyed the break overall although both journeys were considerably longer than expected due to several picks ups. I could have done without the 3 countries meeting point excursion to be honest and the lunch on rhine cruise was very basic. The drivers/couriers were efficient and good humoured and provided free lunch vouchers on the ferry which were much appreciated. I probably would book another break with leger but to somewhere a lot closer to home.

laura young (Google Reviewer)  

We booked a holiday to...

09-Aug-2024

We booked a holiday to Edinburgh with some excursions. In the travel agents we booked the excursion to sterling which we didn’t do as they went to Loch Lomond instead. The drivers Mike and Heidi were not very polite at times. Moaning that they weren’t allowed to sell alcohol to passengers and then trying to on the sly. Mike quote “if I leave this and £3 appears then great” They read off Google for facts and read like they couldn’t be bothered. Which there was very little facts passed along. We did an excursion to glassglow which was 20 mins away from our hotel. We left at 13:00 meaning we only got around 3 hours there. The trip was lots of people in their 70s meaning they walk slow, some with mobility issues. So not a lot of time there. The Edinburgh tattoo was fantastic but again we left the hotel at 13:00 meaning less time there. When we asked about why we left late they just huffed and said because of legal hours for drivers. While I appreciate this and they need a break there were two drivers. Meaning one could drive the night before and the other the next day meaning we are not left sat around the hotel untill 13:00 each day with very little to do in this area of eaglesham. This was my first trip with ledger and I am very dissatisfied and disappointed at this mainly due to the drivers. The trip was far from cheap and there was no value for money I feel.

Book with Confidence

  • 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.

  • 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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