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The Maginot Line
With the exception of the Great Wall of China, the Maginot Line was the greatest system of permanent fortifications ever built. Constructed in the 1930s just before World War 2, it came under attack in 1940. We see heavily fought over bunker systems like Villy la Ferté and Hackenberg, as well as looking at the German glider attack on Fort Eben Emael. These sites combine bunkers and museums, and you get a chance to travel on an ammunition train at two locations. A fascinating insight into the early stages of the Second World War.
Tour Includes
- 4 nights hotel with continental breakfast
- Specialist Battlefield Guide
- Convenient local joining points
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Itinerary
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Local departure by coach, then to the Liège area and our overnight hotel.
We begin this fortifications tour in Belgium and see the 1930s Liege forts used to defend Belgium against the Blitzkrieg. We start at Eben Emael, assaulted by German Airborne troops in gliders; we have a full tour of the site here. After lunch we see the heavily fought over Fort d’Aubin-Neufchâteau, completely surrounded in May 1940; here we take a guided tour of the fort, seeing the extensive damage caused in 1940. We then travel through the Belgian Ardennes, scene of the Blitzkrieg in May 1940, and into France to our hotel were we stay for the next three nights.
Includes Breakfast
Key Visits
Today we start our look at the Maginot Line at Ouvrage Fermont. This massive system of bunkers and tunnels came under attack in May 1940 and proved how strong the Maginot Line could be. We descend in the original lifts, travel on an old ammunition train and see the fighting bunkers during our morning’s guided tour of the site. In the afternoon we see Villy la Ferté, a smaller Maginot Line complex that saw heavy fighting in May 1940. The site has been left as it was, with anti-tank rails, barbed wire and bunkers showing wartime damage. We have a fully guided tour around one of the few Maginot sites that saw heavy fighting.
Includes Breakfast
Key Visits
We continue with our look at the classic Maginot Line locations with a visit to Ouvrage Immerhof. Sited in the Thionville sector, it was built in the early 1930s with an extensive system of infantry and combat bunkers. In an excellent state of preservation we spend the morning visiting the whole site, with 90 minute guided tour and also seeing the museum. In the afternoon we travel to Ouvrage Hackenberg. Set on high ground, this is the largest fortification on the whole Maginot Line and was one part of the line actually held by British troops in 1939/40. We spend two hours underground here seeing what a remarkable state of preservation the site is in, and seeing the many objects connected with the defence of this area. We continue our look at British troops in this area with a visit to the cemetery at Luttange, where the first British soldier killed in WW2 is buried.
Includes Breakfast
Key Visits
Return home.
Includes Breakfast
Please Note: The Maginot forts we visit on this tour are deep underground, can be cold and there are numerous steps, therefore this tour does involve some walking. Due to the large size of these forts visits typically take 90-120 minutes and are fully guided.
Accommodation
You will stay for three-nights at the 3-star Ibis Thionville Porte de Luxembourg in Yutz, near Thionville.
Your overnight stay in Liège will be in a city-style hotel.
Reviews
4.7 Out of 5 ( 3 Reviews )
Reviews
Quality
4.7 / 5
Value for Money
4.7 / 5
Andrew Burnham, 1 year ago
The Maginot Line was a very good trip. As Russ and I have been on a few of Leger trips I was very disappointed to find that staff had left Russ bag out in the pouring rain while transferring coaches at stop 24. When arriving at our destination we retrieved our luggage to find all of Russ clothes soaking wet. We informed the Driver David. This is not the first time we have reported incidents with our cases, on a previous trip they melted Russ suit case.
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Adrian Barnes, 1 year ago
Guide dave was great explained the history so you could understand it easy long may he keep doing it
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Mr king, 1 year ago
just amazeing
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