From the flourishing days of the French empire, Paris shifted dramatically during World War I to uncertainty and hardship – brought on by hunger, air raids and the constant threat of German artillery.
Every corner of France’s capital, from bustling boulevards to quiet chapels, became a scene of survival but also of hope: even a global conflict could not dim the City of Lights. Immerse yourself in the lives of ordinary Parisians enduring extraordinary circumstances in this year’s battlefield tour, hosted in conjunction with the Museum and Memorial’s newest exhibition Paris at War (opening Nov. 6, 2025)
The group meets at the Citizen M Hotel, Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) before setting out to explore key locations from the early days of the war, including Gare du Est, Place du Trocadero and the Paul Landowski monument.
Overnight Paris | Group dinner and museum admissions included.
We tour the WWI galleries of Musée de l’Armée des Invalides before ending the day at the Tour Eiffel discussing anti-aircraft strategies.
Overnight Paris | Breakfast with admission to the Musée de l’Armée des Invalides and Tour Eiffel included.
Heading to Fort Mont Valérien, we study the defensive fortifications circling Paris in 1914 before continuing onward to Suresnes American Cemetery.
Overnight Paris | Breakfast with admissions to Fort Mont Valérien and Suresnes American Cemetery included.
Leaving eastward from Paris to Meaux, we visit the Musée de la Grande Guerre and conclude the day at the Compiègne Forest where the Armistice was signed.
Overnight Paris | Breakfast with admissions included.
Focusing on the war’s end and enduring impact, we will explore the Palace of Versailles and the Arc de Triomphe.
Overnight Paris | Breakfast, admission to Versailles and the Arc de Triomphe and final group dinner included.
Transfer to Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) for departures.
Questions? Check the FAQ. Frequently Asked Questions
Please note: Modifications may occur due to current global travel restrictions.
All participants should meet at the designated meeting place and time, provided with your tour information. It is recommended to arrive in the destination city the day before the tour, giving you ample time to meet at the gathering place.
Once you receive the green light to purchase your airfare, please forward your arrival time and flight number to the Museum and Memorial's Learning Coordinator at travel@theworldwar.org. This will assist guides in roll call before starting the tour.
Please see the itinerary sent by the guides. The itinerary is loose, allowing flexibility in visiting additional sites.
Please see the itinerary sent by the guides. Breakfast, WiFi and laundry services are generally available.
Breakfasts and at least one group dinner are covered under your registration. Lunches and other dinners are not included, unless otherwise specified. Please notify us immediately if you have any special dietary requirements. For most destinations, lunches will be approximately €15-€20 and dinners approximately €35.
Participants will travel by coach (bus) between cities and will walk around most sites.
The bus will have A/C and heating, a refrigerator, a restroom and complimentary water.
* Note on medicine: should be kept in its original packing, and kept in your carry-on along with a copy of any doctor's prescription. Please consult with State Department travel information to ensure that your prescriptions are not prohibited in the destination countries. Most over-the-counter medicines can be obtained abroad, though they may have different names than those in the U.S. One of the guides, where possible, will accompany you to a pharmacy (widely available) to assist with replacements, if needed.
Unfortunately, due to the size and schedule of the coach, you will not be able to be dropped off at your hotel by bus. If you need assistance returning to your hotel:
Battle Honours hosts nearly 60 tours yearly and has been in the battlefield touring business for 15 years—many of the guides are former military or police. They have thoroughly assessed any potential risks that may occur during the tour—you will not be visiting any areas that may compromise your safety. Security is both their specialty and priority—you will be in very capable hands. To secure your money and passport, we recommend investing in a wearable money belt/pouch.
We recommend bringing at least €200 in local currency, but how much you bring is truly a personal preference. Please make sure to notify your banks that you will be out of the country if you plan on taking your debit/credit/bank cards.
You will need to contact your service provider to arrange an international plan (plans vary by provider.) To avoid roaming charges, we recommend turning off apps needing WiFi data before departure. Set your phone to “Airplane Mode” before boarding your overseas flight.
Yes! The guides cater the tour itinerary to these requests. Send the name, rank, and any key military/occupational identification of your WWI ancestor to Clive Harris and Mike Sheil approximately two months before departure, to give ample time for research.
Yes, please do! These really help bring your ancestor’s story come to life on the battlefield. Please let the guides know what items you’ll be bringing before packing them.
Participants can expect to walk multiple miles each day across uneven, unpaved terrain. Please make sure you have comfortable, sturdy walking shoes. Battlefield maps will be provided by guides on-site and via email to the participants.
Generally, weather will be warm to mild, and potentially rainy. Feel free to pack a light jacket for the evening and a day pack that includes snacks as you travel off the beaten path.
Questions about mobility and accessibility, or any other questions? Contact travel@theworldwar.org or 816.888.8153.
2025: Belgium – Prelude (Instagram stories)
2023: The War in Champagne (Instagram stories)
2022: Verdun and Saint-Mihiel (YouTube playlist)
2018: Harry S. Truman and the A.E.F.
2018: A.E.F. Centennial Tour of France
2016: British, Italian and American sectors of the Italian battlefields
Raised in Hertfordshire, Clive developed a lifelong fascination with history. He spent seven years with the Royal Corps of Signals, serving operationally overseas with the 1st Armoured Division in BAOR — an Infantry attachment with the Royal Green Jackets, in Cyprus, Germany and France — and finally taking an instructor’s post in the Signals Wing of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. On leaving the army he joined his local Constabulary, serving 11 years in their Force Operations Room as a specialist communications officer and control room manager. In 1998, he began working as a speaker, writer, researcher and battlefield guide and since then has guided groups to the Somme, Ypres, Arras, Mons, Cambrai, The Hindenburg Line, Verdun, and Gallipoli for the Great War, as well as Normandy, Arnhem, The Italian Campaign, and of course the London Blitz for the Second World War. Clive is a Badged Member of the Guild of Battlefield Guides (No33) and also a member of the British Commission for Military History.
Mike is the award-winning curator of Fields of Battle, Lands of Peace 1914-1918. After studying Geography at Oxford, in the early 1970s Mike began his career as a photojournalist covering “the Troubles” in Northern Ireland. Here he became associated with the New York picture agency, Black Star, and over thirty years later he is still in the fortunate position of being paid to do what he loves doing — taking photographs. Mike has visited over 60 countries around the world, working for a wide range of clients such as ABC-TV, BBC, Anti-Slavery International, British Red Cross, European Commission, National Geographic, The New York Times, Shell, Time and Time Life.
Images courtesy of Mike St Maur Sheil / Fields of Battle 1418
