Check out photographs
of the places we will visit on this tour.
THE 1999 NAPOLEONIC TOUR
Coming Soon: May 31st Deadline For Best
Price! (see Registration Form below)
Join us on a tour to the battlefields of the glorious campaign of
Waterloo.
The routes have been carefully crafted to combine history with scenic
appeal. The great deeds of the past are almost palpable, there is a memory
lingering in the air of these places that makes a visit unforgettable. We
will follow in the footsteps of the armies, through towns filled with
reminders of a bygone age, past forests and streams, old inns and churches
standing just as they were in 1815. We will travel at a comfortable pace,
taking time to explore along the way. We will meet local historians and
enthusiasts who are familiar with the terrain and conversant with details
concerning their locality which are often not recorded in the history
books. We will lodge in period inns and enjoy home-cooked specialties of
the region.
We will visit * Paris, the Invalides, military archive and site of
Napoleon's tomb. While in Paris we will visit the sites of fighting during
1814, as well as museums and the best military bookshops. * Nearby: the
Napoleonic residences of Malmaison and Fontainebleau. * We travel the route
Napoleon took on June 13, 1815, on his way to join the army for the
Waterloo campaign. * Battlefields of Craonne and Laon (1814). * The sites
of the French crossing over the Sambre, and the action of Charleroi. * The
heart of our tour, the battlefields of Ligny, Quatre-Bras, Wavre and
Waterloo itself. * And follow Napoleon's escape route back to Paris.
To help you follow the action you will receive a Tour Guidebook, containing
battlefield maps and a day-by-day account of events.
PRIOR TOURS
This is the fifth Napoleonic Tour conducted by Kevin Zucker. Prior tours
included this exact itinerary for the Waterloo campaign in 1991, the
Italian campaign, the 1805 and 1809 campaigns on the Danube, and in 1998,
the 1807 Campaign in Poland. In addition Mr. Zucker has organized a tour
of Stonewall's Valley campaign.
PARTICIPANTS
Over the years we have built-up a small coterie of dedicated battlefield
travelers! They are a great bunch, and never grumble even when we announce
"wheels up at 0800." That means we are on the road punctually, no time for
that last cup of coffee.
The history is exciting, but the best part is meeting people. All the
localities have put us in touch with local historians in their area. They
are enthusiastic to share their knowledge about their past. A number of
Napoleonic enthusiasts from Paris and Belgium will accompany us and provide
translation.
SHORT ITINERARY
Aug 21, Saturday: Paris
Aug 22, Sunday: Compiegne
Aug 23, Monday: Wavre
Aug 24, Tuesday: Bruxelles
Aug 25, Wednesday: Laon
Aug 26, Thursday: Paris
Aug 27, Friday: Paris
EXPANDED ITINERARY: THE TRAIL OF THE EAGLE
We will follow Napoleon's route from the moment he departed Paris to join
the army, at 3:30 AM on June 12, 1815, through the battles of June 16 and
18 and his retreat back to Paris. Along the way we will stop to visit some
battlefields of 1814 and other famous sites. In some places it will require
all our knowledge and imagination to fully realize events of 1815 in the
midst of the 20th century. But in other places, the countryside remains the
way it was in 1815. Travelling backward in time, we are about to follow
the Emperor to join the army in Beaumont. One can hear the roar of distant
guns, even above the racket of our carriage wheels on the cobbled pavement.
We are on the road from 8 am to 6 pm. Our itinerary is planned down to the
quarter-hour, though we leave the window open to unexpected opportunities.
August 21st Day 1 Home City/Paris
A representative of the tour will meet you at the airport or the train
station and escort you to our hotel in Paris. (Just let us know your
arrival time and place as your plans become finalized.) We will visit Les
Invalides, where Napoleon's tomb was placed. From there we will go to our
Hotel. Balance of the day at leisure.
August 22nd Day 2 Paris to Compiegne
08.15 Departure
09.00 La Cour de France
09.45 Fontainebleau
11.30 Lunch
13.00 Departure
16.00 Compiegne
August 23rd Day 3 Compiegne to Wavre
08.30 Departure
09.00 Soissons
10.30 Laon
12.00 Chimay
14.00 Beaumont
14.30 Thuin
15.00 Charleroi
15.30 Frasnes
16.00 Quatre Bras
17.30 Ligny
20.15 Gembloux
20.45 Walhain
August 24th Day 4 Wavre to Bruxelles
08.30 Wavre
10.15 Plancenoit
12.00 La Belle Alliance
14.00 Lion Mound
16.00 Waterloo
18.00 Hougoumont
20.00 Bruxelles
August 25th Day 5 Bruxelles to Laon
07.00 Departure
07.30 Mont-St. Jean
08.30 La Haye Sainte
09.30 Papelotte
10.15 Genappe
10.30 Charleroi
11.00 Philippeville
13.00 Laon
16.00 Craonne
18.00 Chemin des Dames
19.00 Chavignon
20.00 Laon
August 26th Day 6 Laon to Paris
08.00 Departure
08.30 Soissons
10.00 Villers Cotterets
12.00 Le Bourget
14.30 Malmaison, Paris
August 27th Day 7 Paris, departures from
hotel
The Tour fee INCLUDES
* Ground Transportation
* Lodging
* Continental breakfast
* Guidebook
The Tour fee DOES NOT include side trips and entertainment, evening meals,
tips, airfare to Paris or return airfare. You will be responsible for
providing your own transportation into Paris. Contact your travel agent, or
we will help you make travel arrangements if you wish.
Lodging
All inns on our route maintain a high standard; though not luxurious, many
are historic. Reservations are booked two to a room. You can book a private
room for an extra charge. We recommend you arrive a day or two early for
general sightseeing, and we will help you make arrangements for the extra
days of your stay in Paris if you wish.
Ground Transportation
We will travel in a professionally-driven touring coach.
Guidebook
Given to all participants, bound galleys of The Trail of the Eagle, a 120
page history of the campaign plus information about Paris, notes on what to
bring, etc.
Deposits
Participation is limited. A Deposit of $295 will reserve your space. Early
deposits allow us to make accurate hotel reservations.
Cancellation
There will be a $100 service charge for refunds prior to May 31, 1999; $300
prior to June 30. No refunds thereafter.
Ages
The minimum age for participation in this tour is 18 years of age.
For More Information
Send email to kzucker@charm.net or call Kevin Zucker at (410) 367-4004.
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REGISTRATION FORM / NAPOLEONIC TOUR '99
Print off this form and mail with your check payable to
Operational Studies Group
PO Box 50207 Baltimore, MD 21211
To pay by credit card, mail or fax the form to (610) 935-7622.
Name(s)_________________________________
Address_________________________________
City, State, Zip___________________________
Country_________________________________
[] I enclose check
(or) Bill my [] Visa [] Mastercard
Card No. ____________________ Exp.______
[] Deposit of $295
On deposits received by: The total fee is:
[] 30 May 99: $1195
[] 30 June 99: $1295
per person to reserve __ space(s) in Napoleonic Tour '99.
If I cancel, payments refunded are less service charge.
Payment of Balance must be postmarked by 30 June, 1999. Please make checks
payable to Operational Studies Group. Wire transfers and postal money
orders are accepted, along with Visa and Mastercard.
I agree not to hold Operational Studies Group or the guides responsible for
any injury, loss or inconvenience sustained in connection with the tour.
Signature____________________________________