About Activity
• Walk along belleau wood and relive by yourself the fierce fightings who took place there, involving the US Marines against german soldiers
• Pay tribute to the fallen US soldiers in visiting the beautiful maintained Aisne-Marne American Cemetery
• Discover the monumental and impressive American Monument who stands above Hill 204 and overlooks the town on Château Thierry
• Browse thousands of war-related artifacts at the Museum of the Great War in Meaux
Includes
- Admission ticket to Museum of the Great War in Meaux
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Driver Guide
Excludes
- Lunch
- Hotel Pick-up and Drop-off
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
Stop At: Aisne-marne Memorial & Cemetery With your guide you will walk in the wood and you see the traces of the fighting (trenches, fox holes, bomb craters) wich are still visibles today.
Belleau Wood is located on the high ground to the rear of Aisne-Marne American Cemetery south of the village of Belleau (Aisne), France. In the center of the road leading through the woods is a flagpole and a monument commemorating the valor of the U.S. Marines who captured this area in 1918.
It commemorates the actions of the 4th Marine Brigade of the U.S. Army’s 2nd Division. The 2nd Division attacked German positions beginning on June 6, 1918. The 4th Marine Brigade liberated Bouresches that day. Its 5th and 6th Marine Regiments fought in Belleau Wood through most of June 1918.
Their gallant actions resulted in the Battle of Belleau Wood ending on June 26. On June 30, 1918, the Commanding General, French 6th Army, officially renamed Belleau Wood as “Wood of the Marine Brigade.”
Stop At: Aisne Marne American Cemetery With headstones lying in a sweeping curve, the 42.5-acre Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial in France, sits at the foot of Belleau Wood. The cemetery contains the graves of 2,289 war dead, most of whom fought in the vicinity and in the Marne Valley in the summer of 1918. The memorial chapel sits on a hillside, decorated with sculptured and stained-glass details of wartime personnel, equipment and insignia. Inscribed on its interior wall are 1,060 names of the missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. In 1940 during World War II the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery chapel was damaged due to heavy fighting in the vicinity. All damage was repaired except for one shell hole in the chapel, left as a reminder of what took place.
Stop At: Devil Dog Fountain Today, every veteran or marine, during his visit to France, must go to the site of Belleau. After wandering the remnants of the battlefield and going to the chapel, he had only one desire: to go to the «Bulldog Fountain» This fountain in the form of a bulldog head throne, in the courtyard of the former stables of the castle of Belleau completely destroyed during the First World War.
Stop At: Cimetiere Militaire Allemand De Belleau The German military cemetery of Belleau was created by France in March 1922, where the remains of soldiers from 123 different places located between the Chemin des Dames and the Marne are gathered.The cemetery was created to collect the remains of German soldiers who had fallen during the First World War. The remains of 8,625 German soldiers rest there, mainly in two ossuaries1.
The 4,308 individual graves are materialized by stone crosses. 22 soldiers have not been identified to date. Of the 4,322 bodies buried in the two ossuaries, only 487 were identified. Among the buried soldiers are German prisoners of war who died between the end of 1914 and the beginning of 1918.
Stop At: Chateau-thierry Monument The World War I Chateau-Thierry American Monument, designed by Paul Cret, is located on a hill two miles west of Chateau-Thierry, France, and commands a wide view of the valley of the Marne River. It commemorates the sacrifices and achievements of the Americans and French before and during the Aisne-Marne and Oise-Aisne offensives.
The monument, also known as the American Aisne-Marne Memorial or Le Monument américain à cote 204, consists of an impressive double colonnade rising above a long terrace. On its west facade are heroic sculptured figures representing the United States and France. On its east facade is a map showing American military operations in this region and an orientation table pointing out the significant battle sites.
German advances in late May 1918 led to the 3rd Division joining the fight. Its units assisted French troops in preventing the Germans from crossing the Marne River. The 3rd Division held the south bank of the Marne until the French American counteroffensive forced German withdrawal. It earned the nickname “Rock of the Marne.” At the nearby cemeteries rest those Americans who gave their lives in the service of their country.
A 2,000 square-foot visitor center opened at Chateau-Thierry American Monument in May 2018 to celebrate the centenary of the battle of Belleau Wood.
Stop At: Musee De La Grande Guerre Admission Ticket:
Tickets are included To end that very moving day, you will visit the «Museum of the Great War » in Meaux. That museum display a huge collection of artefacts (up to 50000) and is also the largest museum in europe who focus into the world war one conflict. Overthere you will learn more about the politicals reasons who led to the war, and discover a lot of materials, vehicles, uniforms and weapons designed and used by the soldiers during the conflict.
At the beginning of the museum, there was a man, Jean-Pierre Verney, a passionate historian, who, over a period of 50 years, collected objects and documents to tell the story of the First World War. In 2005, the town of Meaux bought the exceptional collection which consists of over 50 000 items and decided to build a museum in order to value their history !
Today, more than 65 000 items make up this collection !
The Great War museum holds a rich and diverse collection which tackles the conflict as well as the technical and military plans from a human and societal point of view. Discover full uniforms from the majority of the warring countries, weaponry and artillery, heavy machinery, objects from daily life on the front line and back home as well as many documents and a great range of artwork.
Public transportation options are available nearby Not recommended for pregnant travelers Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
WWI Belleau Wood tour. Ben_H
As a Marine, Belleau Wood is lole a pilgrimage. Our guide, Regis, fulfilled that pilgrimage and then some. He knew details of the site that most Marines probably do 't know, so it was a great learning experience as well.
Being on the battlefield was awe inspiring, moving, emotional, and nostalgic.
Marine or not, this tour will take you back to WWI and offer great history lessons and teachings that no regular school could imagine to offer. You will not be disappointed with this tour.
Regis gave us a great...Julia_R
Regis gave us a great experience today! He is so knowledgeable and friendly. My husband is a Marine, and it was really special for him to visit Belleau Woods and the monument. He also drank from the Devil Dog fountain.
Great tour of all the...Lisa_O
Great tour of all the Belleau Wood sites and features. Regis took extra care to give us a very memorable experience for our trip!
WWI Belleau Wood TourscottmI6023AI
We booked a private tour with Adrian Roads and our guide/owner was Regis. I read the reviews from previous customers and it was apparent that this is the right company to book with. We had to book a private tour as the group tours were booked solid during the time frame we were there. The cost of the tour was 800 Euros which may seem a little steep, but we were extremely happy with the tour and I would say it is worth it. regis is an absolute professional, friendly and very knowledgeable. He was very engaging and wanted to ensure that we were pleased with the tour. I would recommend this tour to all!
A Day Back in Time Carol_K
Jun 20, 2023, 11:59:47 AM Wonderful day spent with a knowledgeable historian on WW1. Regis brought the events of the battle at Belleau Wood to life as we stood in the forest, walked through the bunkers and trenches as he relayed the events of that day. The drive through the French villages and a great meal at a restaurant in Chateau-Thierry was great. We were at our leisure visiting the museums and cemeteries. Never felt rushed. My husband, a former Marine, had always wanted to visit Belleau Wood, where the Marines got their Devil Dog moniker. He was not disappointed and we would recommend this day to anyone interested in WWI history.
Everything we expected & more Faith_L
Our main objective for ending our 3 week holiday in Europe was this trip, and we weren’t disappointed. Regis has an extreme gift that is evident when he shares his knowledge of WW1, the amount of detail and accuracy was mind blowing.
I am a historian & my partner is a Marine & from both sides we agreed this tour and what he shared was perfect from start to finish.
First thing we did when friends asked about the trip was recommend it, saying it was a good experience doesn’t do it justice. Though emotionally heavy at times it was everything we expected and then some. Thank you so so much for sharing your knowledge and time with us.
Outstanding Experience and Tour GuideamybD5830VN
Tour guide was incredibly knowledgable about the area and the history of Belleau Wood; was passionate about sharing his knowledge and ensuring we had a great experience. Well prepared tour and a comfortable, clean ride. Would not have been able to see or learn as much if we tried to do this trip on our own.
Regis was an amazing tour guide. My husband and I booked a trip for 11/11 (Veterans Day/armistice Day) and it was everything we expected plus more! Regis has extensive knowledge of WW1. He taught me more about the battle of Belleau Woods than Marine Corps Boot Camp did. He also captured many photos of my husband and I and our trip. I HIGHLY recommend booking this tour to any veterans&their families while visiting France.
Chateau ThierryJoelRosalie
A little “dot” of a town in the Champagne region.Beautiful rolling hills and greenery, along with vineyards surround this town. We stopped by o. The way home from our vineyard tour in the village of Chigney Les Roses.
We found a bakery on the Main Street (name forgotten) that sold us some incredible pastries and a delicious baguette. We then stopped by a WWI cemetery with an interesting history, drove around the town for 20-25 minutes, got lost and found a medieval fortress with part of the town included within its walls.
Just a unique experience. Don’t worry about planning things here, just drive and wander to find little hidden gems of your own.
Joel & Rosalie…Delray Beach, FL. USA.
My eye opening tourJohn_S
Excellent guide who brought to life how U.S. soldiers, particularly the Marines helped stem Germany’s last effort to win WW I and brought allies victory. His name was Regis Piteux.
History comes alive716squd
Jun 18, 2022, 11:03:07 PM These woods are silent now. But if you look the scars of war are there 100+ years later. Regis was a most excellent and knowledgeable guide. The American cemetery and monuments were impressive. I hope to tour with this company again.
Marine honoring MarineBeckie M
Regis, our guide, was very knowledgeable. He did everything possible to make our trip enjoyable including accommodating my son’s wheelchair. This is not something he would normally have done
Acquiring a Full Account of the Battle of Belleau Wood.Donald_S
Sep 16, 2021, 11:25:31 PM Regis is highly knowledgeable & enthusiastic about the conduct of the battles occurring in Belleau Wood and Chateau-Thierry. He was also punctual, courteous and even was considerate enough to recommend the place where we had a delicious lunch.
Thank you, Regis!Robyn_Wilusz
We were lucky enough to return to Paris in July ,2019. We wanted to see WW1 battle sights. Our travel agent put us with the best company - Adrian Roads.
This company was great. If you go with them ( and you should) request Regis Piteaux as your guide. He was amazing!!! He made us feel very comfortable and no request or questions was too much. Our tour departed early so we did not get a chance to eat breakfast. Regis took us to a stop for breakfast and we sat together learning so much even before our trip. Once we arrived to the sites we were in awe. Regis knew so much, I could not believe the knowledge he possessed. The stops, the museums, the fields, everything was beautiful and made memorable by regis. By the end of the day I felt like a third wheel between my husband and regis. hahah But that is how I knew we had an amazing time.
We did go in July but since we are sooo late writing this review I had to choose August.
Great guide. Thank you Regis!LaQuigs
I scheduled this trip for my 85 yr old father and 60° husband. Pick up in the pouring rain at the meeting point. God bless Regis for being early and getting the men on their way in the dry comfort of the van. Both my Dad and father were moved and impressed by the memorials they were able to visit. Both had ancestors that were based and fought on these battlegrounds. Regis accommodated my fathers more limited endurance walking while still ensuring they could get to the places they both wanted to see. Highly recommended. So grateful for the support of this opportunity to honor the dead.
World War I Marne Area and Belleau Wood tourBurrell L
This was a truly outstanding tour that significantly exceeded our high expectations. Regis Piteux, our tour guide, was very knowledgeable, courteous, and patient. He picked us up on time in a very nice van, fully explained what we were about to see, and then took many pictures of our group as we viewed the sites he had lined up for us. Regis took us to an outstanding restaurant in Chateau Thierry for lunch, where we enjoyed the best meal of our time in France and Germany. Our group consisted of two American adults, two German adults, and one German 11 year old, all members of one family. Each of us was impressed with the high quality of the tour, including the 11 year old who commented on how "really cool" the day was. In fact, he thought it ranked right up there with his visit to the Eiffel Tower and Disneyland Paris! In addition, Regis handled the different sensitivities of Americans and Germans with respect to the battles of WWI with great sensitivity so that no one was in any way offended. To net it out, we would recommend this tour, and any other tour led by Regis Piteux and Adrian Roads to anyone from adults to families with children. It is our intention to request Regis as our guide when we return to tour the WWII battlefields of Normandy. Burrell & Sharon Landes, Littleton Colorado, USA.
Jul 28, 2019, 10:03:20 PM Best tour ever. Booked it now. You won't be disappointed. Adrian Roads and owner Regis Piteux are 5 star. Great value for the money. I cannot believe there is anyone better to show you the Battle Field at belleau Woods.
