14 day Western Front Battlefield cruise + ANZAC

A 14 day World War I remembrance tour to the Western Front, combined with some art, culture and relaxed cruising.

Cruising from Bruges (BE) to Reims (FR) with special interest on April 25 for ANZAC ceremony at Villers Bretonneux.

Retrace the footsteps of your father, grandfather, uncle or other relative that fought in the Great War in Belgium and France. Discover the places that are engraved in our memories: Ypres, Passchendaele, Fromelles, Bullecourt, Villers-Bretonneux and many, many others. Memorials stand as silent witnesses to past battles where now are  meadows and cornfields. There are graveyards with rows and rows of white stones, engraved with the names of thousands of young men that gave their lives on foreign ground.

On this special WW1 cruise from Bruges to Reims, you get plenty of opportunities to visit the Western Front but also to discover local specialties, interesting places, some art, or just enjoy the view of the passing landscape. We adapt our excursions to your interests whenever possible.

Day 1: Bruges

Welcome on board Johanna, moored near the ramparts of this historic city.

Day 2: Bruges – Deinze

After the morning sailing, our minivan will be waiting for you to visit the city of Ghent. On request, we make a first tour to Flanders Fields with the Trenches of Death in Diksmuide and other memorials.

Day 3: Deinze – Wervik

Sailing on the river Lys, passing our first locks. Afternoon visit of Flanders Fields with Hill 60, Polygon Wood, 5th Div. memorial, Tyne Cot Cemetery, Ypres, and the Last Post at the Menin Gate.

Day 4: Wervik – Lille

We are leaving Belgium, entering France. Visit Fromelles with VC Corner and Memorial Park. Or discover the bustling city of Lille.

Day 5: Lille – Douai

Today we can see the work of the New Zealand diggers at the Wellington Quarry in Arras. Nearby is Vimy Ridge with the Canadian National Memorial and the remains of Mont St. Eloi Abbey.

Day 6: Douai – Ruyaulcourt

Sailing on the Canal du Nord, we go from the Scheldt to the Somme valley. First visit to the Somme area: Bullecourt, Pozieres, Mouquet Farm, Thiepval, etc.

Day 7: Ruyaulcourt – Péronne

Afternoon visit to the Hindenburg Line, Mont Saint Quentin, Bellenglise, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Division memorials.

Day 8: Péronne & Villers-Bretonneux (April 25)

On April 25, at sunrise, ANZAC ceremony at Villers-Bretonneux. Don’t forget to register your free tickets!
Afternoon tour of Somme battlefield: Le Hamel, Sailly-le-Sec, Lochnagar crater, Victoria school…

Day 9: Péronne – Noyon

Excursion to the hill city of Laon.

Day 10: Noyon – Guny

Visit the platform of the” Parizer Kanon” that could fire shells to Paris, 100km away, and the medieval fortifications of Coucy-le-Chateau-Aufrique.

Day 11: Guny – Braye en Laonnois

Visit of Soissons and Compiegne armistice wagon.

Day 12: Braye en Laonnois – Berry au Bac

Visit of the Dragon’s cave on the famous “Chemin des Dames”, California Plateau, Tank memorial of the first tank battel on April .

Day 13: Berry au Bac – Reims

Reims city, cathedral, basilica, Art nouveau Villa Demoiselle, champagne wine cellar visit, or optional Fort de la Pompelle. Too much to do it all in 1 day...

Day 14: Reims

Farewell after breakfast.

Option:

Add a few days in B&B on board Johanna in Bruges or Reims at the start or end of your cruise. In autumn (early October), we offer the cruise in the opposite direction.
Other dates on request, based on availability.