WW 1 cycling route?
01-16-20, 06:54 AM
#1
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WW 1 cycling route?
Has anyone done a tour of France that includes the battlefields of WW1? Would appreciate hearing about it!
01-16-20, 07:24 PM
#2
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Specific to WWI I have visited Ypres (Ieper) and the area around it. There's a museum in Ypres that is well worth a visit. I also came across a section of preserved trenches in Belgium that I found to be very impressive - sorry can't remember where, exactly, Google is your friend.
I have also visited many of the main sites and cemeteries of in WWI &W in Belgium & NL and what I will say is that they can be tough visits. I'd imagine a decent block of time visiting WWI sites could be tough mentally, so perhaps consider mixing it up a little bit - for example, there are some great breweries in Belgium!
If visiting Ypres, there is a campground in town but I liked Stal 't Bardehof - about 16km out of town. There's a fantastic bar serving great food down the road and the trip in or out is interesting passing cemeteries and other interesting places.
I have also visited many of the main sites and cemeteries of in WWI &W in Belgium & NL and what I will say is that they can be tough visits. I'd imagine a decent block of time visiting WWI sites could be tough mentally, so perhaps consider mixing it up a little bit - for example, there are some great breweries in Belgium!
If visiting Ypres, there is a campground in town but I liked Stal 't Bardehof - about 16km out of town. There's a fantastic bar serving great food down the road and the trip in or out is interesting passing cemeteries and other interesting places.
01-17-20, 01:40 AM
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We've also visited Ypres and the area around.
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01-17-20, 03:17 AM
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There's a great cycling guide called "Fietsen langs de frontlijn" (Cycling the front line), with detailed maps, history and accommodation tips etc by Dutch journalist/cyclist Kees Swart.
Don't know if a (partial) English translation exists, but Kees Swart is easely reachable, you should at least be able to get some GPS tracks.
https://www.recreatief-fietsen.nl/sh...frontlijn.html
Don't know if a (partial) English translation exists, but Kees Swart is easely reachable, you should at least be able to get some GPS tracks.
https://www.recreatief-fietsen.nl/sh...frontlijn.html
01-17-20, 07:39 AM
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The early stages of the 2014 Tour de France route were designed to commemorate WWI, passing through or near numerous sites, including Ypres. Here is some reading:
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/f...ing/index.html
Maybe try to find the route used for those stages.
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/f...ing/index.html
Maybe try to find the route used for those stages.
01-17-20, 08:02 AM
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There are some you tube videos of tourists doing tours like that.
01-22-20, 11:58 AM
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John.
*not that far from the sea.
01-24-20, 04:06 PM
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There are World War 1 memorials in many areas of France. While cycling through Alsace, I happened upon a cemetery for German soldiers who died during WW1.
