French War tourism on the rise (1 Viewer)

[Rob]

Am going here next year and can't wait;

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/26/french-war-museum-foreign-tourists

 

[Obee]

Rob,

looks good, so thats on my next visit to Pairs too, and being close to the capital, looks like an easy day trip.

Here's the website http://museedelagrandeguerre.eu/en

By the way, if you have another day spare goto Compiègne, a hour out of Gare de Nord, and goto the Musée de la Figurine Historique (Toy Soldier Museum) where they have 100,000 toy soldiers on display. I took about 2 1/2 hours to view them, and that was at a resonable pace. http://www.musee-figurine.fr/

As well you can goto the site where the Amistice was signed in 1918 the carriage in the forest nearby, and so its well worth the trip. We stayed in Compiègne and left the hire car there, before training into Paris on the end of our holiday last year.

John

 

[Napoleon1er]

Ok, you guys just planned my next trip. My mom hates you for the destination, but is glad ya did the research for her{sm4}^&grin.

 

[Rob]

Thanks John , sounds great doesn't it. We are returning next year to do the city, Disneyland , the
Somme again and now we will add this. Really looking forward to seeing this new museum and with
this and the new galleries at the Imperial War museum for 2014 it's going to be a great anniversary.

Still On a museum subject but different War John, was it your good self who said your mum or
grandmother worked at Bentley Priory ? I have recently discovered my grandad worked there too
and built the operations table that the Battle was plotted on. He was a carpenter working for a
who were sent to bombed airfields to repair them and get them into action again as soon as possible.
On occasion he was there when the Luftwaffe returned to have another go so his work was not only
vital but could be hazardous .

Rob

Rob,

looks good, so thats on my next visit to Pairs too, and being close to the capital, looks like an easy day trip.

Here's the website http://museedelagrandeguerre.eu/en

By the way, if you have another day spare goto Compiègne, a hour out of Gare de Nord, and goto the Musée de la Figurine Historique (Toy Soldier Museum) where they have 100,000 toy soldiers on display. I took about 2 1/2 hours to view them, and that was at a resonable pace. http://www.musee-figurine.fr/

As well you can goto the site where the Amistice was signed in 1918 the carriage in the forest nearby, and so its well worth the trip. We stayed in Compiègne and left the hire car there, before training into Paris on the end of our holiday last year.

John

 

[Obee]

Rob,

thats correct, my Mum was a WAAF and attached the searchlights or barrage balloons but as a cook at Bently Priory.

I don't seem to have any photos of that time in her album, but it was very early on in the war, before she was posted to Gloucestershire and other stations.

Maybe she made your grandad's dinner ???

She was agood cook !!!

John

 

[Guy]

When you're in France ( Paris and Compiegne) and you have the time , make a trip to Ypres in Belgium; To the "In Flanders Fields"WWI Museum", being at the moment completely redone in preparation of the 2014 commemorations . It re-opens in June 2012.
Visit the website : www.inflandersfields.be
guy

 

[Rob]

Rob,

thats correct, my Mum was a WAAF and attached the searchlights or barrage balloons but as a cook at Bently Priory.

I don't seem to have any photos of that time in her album, but it was very early on in the war, before she was posted to Gloucestershire and other stations.

Maybe she made your grandad's dinner ???

She was agood cook !!!

John

I salute the War effort of your mum John, it was her and millions like her that helped win the war, and we all know an army marches on its stomach:wink2:

When you're in France ( Paris and Compiegne) and you have the time , make a trip to Ypres in Belgium; To the "In Flanders Fields"WWI Museum", being at the moment completely redone in preparation of the 2014 commemorations . It re-opens in June 2012.
Visit the website : www.inflandersfields.be
guy

Guy, we go every two or three years and I love the place, very much looking forward to returning in 2014.^&cool

Rob

 

[Obee]

When you're in France ( Paris and Compiegne) and you have the time , make a trip to Ypres in Belgium; To the "In Flanders Fields"WWI Museum", being at the moment completely redone in preparation of the 2014 commemorations . It re-opens in June 2012.
Visit the website : www.inflandersfields.be
guy

Yes, this one of the best museums for WW1.

Ypres is also a place not to be missed on any pilgimage to the WW1 Battlefields.

Being at the Menin Gate at 20:00 any night is THE MOST moving experience as the Last Post is played, and you reflect on the millions of lives that were lost in this war, and looking up under the gate and seeing the thousands who have no known resting place just compunds the absurdity of the war.

Lest we forget.

John

 

[Rob]

Couldn't agree more. We have spent many nights in Ypre and always walk to the Menin for the last post, on one occasion my wife's ancestor who fought and died in the Ypre Salient had his name read out as part of the rememberance ceremony. Anyone who visits the salient should really try and catch this, its so moving and a poignant reminder of the terrible loss of life suffered in that War.

2014 is shaping up to be THE year for battlefield/War related visits;

IWM London New WW1 galleries open in time for anniversay
Revamped museum opening in Ypre
New museum near Paris that is already attracting thousands
JUNE; 70TH Anniversary of D Day. Believed it will be the last major rememberance act that surviving veterans will be in attendance.

On top of this, of course many countries will be having their own services, ceremonies and events to mark 100 years since the outbreak of WW1. And I think its safe to say there will be many many films, docus and books to mark this huge anniversary. I said to my missus the other night, ' looks like we will be spending plenty of time in France/Belgium summer 2014 darling ' to which she replied ' Now how did I already know that ' She really is the best!!!^&grin

Rob