This tour offers a moving experience through the historical scenes of the First World War, providing a deep understanding of the events that marked this conflict. The day begins with a brief stop in Bruges before heading to a German cemetery, where tribute is paid to fallen soldiers. From there, the tour continues to a section of the trenches used during the war, providing a tangible insight into the difficult conditions in which the soldiers fought.
Throughout the tour, the expert guide provides detailed explanations of the events leading up to the conflict and its devastating unfolding. A visit is made to the Bereaved Soldiers' Monument, a symbol of Canadian resistance during the first German gas attack in 1915. This moving site allows you to reflect on the sacrifice of thousands of soldiers. Next stop is Essex Farm, the site of a British field hospital and where Canadian physician John McCrae wrote the famous poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ after witnessing the loss of a comrade.
After a short lunch break, the route continues to Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest cemetery in the Commonwealth, where British, Australian, Canadian and Irish soldiers lie in state. The immensity of this site reflects the scale of the war and the number of lives lost on the battlefields of Flanders. Next, the Passchendaele area is explored, the scene of one of the bloodiest battles of the conflict, and hills 60 and 62, where British troops used tunnels to mine German positions.
The visit also includes the Flanders Fields Museum, a space that recounts the years of trench warfare with testimonies, images and historical artefacts. This museum provides an essential context for understanding the fighting in this region. At the end of the day, the group arrives in Ypres, a city deeply marked by the war. There, time is allowed for refreshments before attending the Last Knock Ceremony at the Menin Gate, a daily tribute to soldiers missing in action. This moving ceremony, which takes place every evening at 8pm, is an opportunity to remember and honour those who gave their lives in the fighting.