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Post by Mark Thompson on Aug 26, 2009 7:33:45 GMT -8
My family and I will be traveling to Europe this spring (no one place in particular) and I have placed in charge of the itenerary. I would like to stay in Germany, France, Belgium, and possibly Poland, for Auschwitz. I have never been to Europe before, and I am asking from those who have, WHERE?
Where are the interesting musuems, in-tact trenches, neat stores, etc? Basically, anything cool related to WW1 (or WW2) that I just shouldn't miss.
Thanks
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Post by Larry Dunn on Aug 26, 2009 9:18:11 GMT -8
Must-see Museums, in no particular order:
The Heeresgeschichtliches Museum in Vienna
Les Invalides, Paris
The Imperial War Museum, London
How long will you be there?
You should post on the International WWI forum, you will get many great suggestions and probably several offers to show you around. There is no substitute for a local guide.
-Larry
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Post by Mark Thompson on Aug 26, 2009 9:36:06 GMT -8
We will be there for about 2 weeks. We are going during Spring Break and taking the next following week off (lets face it, I'm not learning any history in school). I'll scout around on the International forum.
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Post by rsm2ndbtnlf on Aug 26, 2009 10:45:39 GMT -8
Do you have an itinerary of where you will be at a certain point? I can let you what is where!
Seph
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Post by Mark Thompson on Aug 26, 2009 11:49:40 GMT -8
As of now it is open. We are getting a general idea of where the hot spots are then we will narrow it down. I am going to group varoius battle sites based on their proximity to eachother and jump from group to group. I'll take any information that anybody has on any place.
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Post by Larry Dunn on Aug 26, 2009 14:05:47 GMT -8
I would suggest not getting too ambitious with your itinerary--you don't want to spend all your time packing and unpacking and running to your next destination. Pick a few locations where you can stay for several days at a time and make day trips from there. Perhaps you can start in Berlin and finish in Paris (let your right sleeve brush the North Sea). Will you be renting a car or traveling by train?
-Larry
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Post by Wolfgang on Aug 26, 2009 20:34:03 GMT -8
One person to talk to is James Minnich, who organized our tour of the battlefields in 2001. I'm sure he still have a lot of information from the trip.
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Post by flagpiper on Aug 27, 2009 7:27:44 GMT -8
Hello!
Some ramdom thoughts:
I just returned from Europe and did some traveling in Flanders. Distances are not great by US standards but I was surprised that it took so long to go from, say Waterloo to Ypres, or from there to Bastonge - I ate up lots of time traveling. Keep it in mind when you plan.
Also, mix up your schedule with indoor activities like museums, and being outside at cemetaries and battle sites. I was surprised at how many and how concentrated some great sites were but again, travel between Flanders and the Somme eats daylight. I never made it to the Somme area and headed to Bastonge. I regret that in some ways.
Tyne Cot cemetary was a mind melter and I believe it is a must. Choose local museums carefully since so many are much like the last one you visited. Care for objects and places are sometimes very shoddy and that made me sad to see.
Best of luck and have a great time!
Cheers,
Mike Stuckey
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Post by soldat on Dec 17, 2009 22:18:13 GMT -8
Gruess Gott,
If you are in Munich, the Deutsches Museum is worthwhile. They have a variety of everything, but also some WWI and WWII aircraft and part of a U-boat in the basement. The Berchtesgaden area is not only beautiful, but has all the Nazi haunts. The only remnant left of Hitler's house is a portion of the garage. The Eagle's Nest is intact and open to the public. Last time I was there was 1987-1991 when I lived in Germany.
Vernon Weisman
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Post by oskar2ndchev on Dec 17, 2009 22:31:55 GMT -8
Not much to add but the Menin Gate is definately something to see.
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qms
Full Member
Posts: 100
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Post by qms on Dec 23, 2009 7:43:38 GMT -8
If you hit London, The Imperial War Museum (in Lambeth) will cover both the Great War and the Second World War for you (not to mention most wars since), and not too far away (in Chelsea) is the National Army Museum which covers the British Army nominally from its inception to WW1, but it now covers up to -at least - BAOR in the '80s, and that is right next to the famous "Royal Hospital, Chelsea" home of the 'Chelsea Pensioners'.
If you are interested in WW2, there are also the Cabinet War Rooms (Churchill's headquarters) and, if you're interested in matters naval, there is HMS Belfast (Cruiser) on the Thames near Tower Bridge.
Any help?
Tom
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