Private Argonne Battlefields Tour from Paris: A Historic Journey through World War I Sites

Embark on a private Argonne Battlefields tour from Paris and explore the historic sites of World War I. Walk through trenches, visit monuments, and pay homage to fallen soldiers.

Duration: 14 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • La Main de Massiges - The Germans retreated in early September 1914, entrenched on this natural height, each finger of which forms a bastion of this natural fortress. It was on this obstacle that the soldiers of the 4th French Army came up against on September 13, 1914, who participated in the counter-offensive succeeding the first battle of the Marne.

A hotbed of fighting, this strategic position was the scene of fierce fighting that took place here in the Massiges sector between 1914 and 1918.
The number of French soldiers killed, wounded or missing is estimated at 25,000, and certainly as many German soldiers.

  • Montfaucon Monument - The monument faces the front line of the 1st American army on the morning of September 26, 1918, when the attack began, the victory of which commemorates it, the Meuse-Argonne offensive. This lasted until November 11, 1918 and forced the enemy to retreat from its front.

It consists of a Doric column in solid granite, surmounted by a statue symbolizing Liberty, which dominates the ruins of the old village by more than 60 meters.

On the walls of the foyer is an engraved map of operations, with a story and a special tribute to the American troops who served here. The observation platform of the memorial can be reached at certain times by a staircase of 234 steps, from where visitors enjoy a view of almost all of the land conquered during this offensive.

  • Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery - If there is one essential site in the Land of Argonne, it is this cemetery which allows us to understand what the Americans mean by “Duty to remember”.

Located in Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, the 52-hectare Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery is the largest American necropolis in Europe. Inaugurated in 1937, this necropolis has 14,246 graves of American soldiers who perished during the Meuse Argonne Offensive from September 26 to November 11, 1918.

The Romanesque memorial and its chapel overlook the cemetery.
A map explaining the Meuse-Argonne offensive is engraved on a wall of the loggia. On another wall are engraved the names of 954 American soldiers who disappeared during the Meuse-Argonne offensive.

Inside the chapel, the badges of the American divisions and higher army units are represented on the stained glass windows.
On the front wall of the chapel are engraved the names of the villages and places where the American army fought.

  • Romagne 14-18 - Explore thousands of objects from the Great War at Jean Paul’s informal museum, which will show you the soldier’s daily life.
    Behind each object on display hides a personal and moving story.
    Helmets, weapons, combs, coins, cutlery, pocket watches go back even today …

Jean-Paul de Vries has been looking for and finding these objects since 1976.
In his museum, he exhibits finds that bear witness to this life in the trenches. Each object was found within a radius of 4 kilometers around Romagne sous Montfaucon. By showing the lives of soldiers, Jean-Paul de Vries hopes to make people understand the atrocity of war.

  • Varennes-en-Argonne - The village is known to have been the site of the arrest of Louis XVI and the royal family who tried to join troops remained loyal to the monarchy based in Montmédy,

Varennes was occupied by German troops at the start of the First World War. The village was on or near the front line during most of the conflict.

Varennes-en-Argonne was the first city to be liberated by American troops during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive launched on September 26, 1918.

The Pennsylvania Monument in Varennes-en-Argonne:

Located on the heights of Varennes-en-Argonne, this impressive monument was erected and funded in 1928 by the State of Pennsylvania (United States), in memory of the soldiers who died during the battles of 1918 to liberate this area. Its terrace offers a magnificent panorama overlooking the Aire valley.

  • Butte de Vauquois - Built at the top of a hill that overlooked the surrounding plain at an altitude of 290 m, which made it an observatory and a landmark for the regulation of artillery fire during the First World War. In the autumn of 1914, the Germans transformed the village into a veritable fortress.

The French and the Germans buried themselves in trenches at the top of the hill which was transformed by more than 500 explosions, the village of Vauquois was totally destroyed.

From February to March 1915, the ruins of the village were hotly contested.
Kilometers of galleries (about 23) were dug, spanning several levels, up to 100 meters deep, in order to penetrate under the enemy camp, causing it as much loss as possible by the explosion of mines.

In May 1916 a huge funnel was created by the explosion of a 60-ton mine that killed 108 French soldiers. In September 1918 the Americans took possession of the position definitively.

What's Included
  • Private transportation
  • Admission tickets to the ‘Romagne 14-18’ Museum
  • Driver / guide
  • Travel aboard a comfortable, air-conditioned Minivan (Maximum 6 travelers)
  • Support for customers at their place of residence in Paris and the Paris region
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Embark on a journey with your exclusive party (up to 6 travelers) accompanied by your driver and guide, ‘Régis’, in a comfortable, air-conditioned Minivan.

Your guide Régis will elucidate the pivotal events of World War I and the battles fought in the Argonne forest from 1914 to 1918.

At ‘Main de Massiges’, you will traverse the heart of the trenches enclosed by hundreds of shell holes resembling a desolate, lunar landscape.

Explore the enormous mine craters at the pinnacle of Vauquois hill and the remnants of the trenches.

Ascend the 200 steps of the marble pillar of the American monument at Montfaucon, and from the top, gaze upon the valley that witnessed the American onslaught in September 1918.

Tour the village of Varennes en Argonne, where the French King Louis XVI was detained.

Honor the fallen heroes by strolling through the largest American military cemetery in France, located at Romagne, home to 14,246 graves.

Location
La Main de Massiges
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
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Debra-brad-9142023
Nov 1, 2023
Outstanding tour guide!!! - We thank Regis our tour guide for the most memorable tour of the Meuse Argonne Region on September 14th. His personal tour provided such detailed information about the battle, the various monuments, and other interesting events that occurred in that area. My husband was elated to visit the town of Dombasle where his grandfather arrived when he served during the war. Walking the cemetery and visiting the church was sobering. Seeing the demolished church and German bunkers on top of the hill really put things into perspective. And then the finale was walking in the forest and seeing the trenches and craters where the shelling occurred. We spent 3 weeks in Europe touring many cities but we both concluded that your tour was one of the highlights of our trip. Thank you again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sandvigenmt
Oct 31, 2023
A Tour Like No Other - This tour was a hybrid of Verdun, the Argonne and all things AEF. Regis was fabulous and extremely flexible, we corresponded for a couple of months to ensure that I would be walking in the footsteps of my grandfather. The tour took us all over the American and Franco/American Battlefields. I learned early on that if it was recommended by Regis - it was worth seeing and exploring. An accomplished English/French speaker, he was able to open doors that, for most, would remain locked. Regis also ensured that the history of France's Ancien Regime, Napoleonic era, and the Franco-Prussian War were liberally sprinkled throughout the tour to ensure that timelines leading up to the Grand Gurre remained intact. One of the highlights was to be taken to the Haute Chevauchée (High Road) where his uncle had fought and was wounded. For the AEF student, this was a rare treat as it, and its monument, are buried deep in the Argonne Forest. After walking the battlefields, the WWI American Monuments and Cemeteries were not to be missed, they are some or the most beautiful in the ABMC inventory. On a lighter note, the tour became uproarious when we found out that Regis was a bread, pastry, and dessert fan. Every gas stop contained at least two of the three. Last, he is a generous host, tremendously well informed, and fun. When you leave his tour, you are leaving behind a friend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lee_w
Oct 15, 2023
Just book it!!! - This is a must do when visiting Paris if you have an interest in WW1! Our guide helped us find my husband’s great grandfather’s grave at the Meuse Argonne Cemetery. He also took us to so many great places that weren’t even listed. We had a very full day and learned so much from our guide, Regis! He was very knowledgeable and very pleasant to spend the day with. Make sure to book with Adrian-roads.com. He also does Normandy tours. Next time we are in France we will take his tour. We did the Viking tour and his is just more personalized!
Review provided by Viator
Kathy_d
Feb 18, 2023
A High Quality Real, WW 1 Battlefield Tour! - I did not know that a Pigeon Signal Corp existed! Regis, the Docent, is very very knowledgeable and is passionate about telling our military history. Let is not forget about World War 1. We cannot understand World War 2 without it! .
Review provided by Viator
Bigapplevisitor
Oct 27, 2023
Viator in France gone wrong, in a bad way - Pictures are stunning, not! Because we didn’t get the opportunity to take any! We booked this tour in Nov 2022, that’s almost an entire year ago. My husband has a relative buried in the WWI American Cemetery and much of our visit to France centered around this one tour. None of his family can afford to visit the grave site, so we are making this pilgrimage to his grave after being there for 105 years. Our guide called at 10:38pm before a 6am pick up to tell us he couldn’t come, because his car broke down. He stated he could not make alternative arrangements, had to take the car to the shop the day of our tour and we could go in a week or so. When you are leaving in two days that is not helpful. We then called the Viator help line in the Philippines, at first hesitant to refund our $848, there was no offer to make right on a less than 8 hour cancellation by the driver/guide. The very least they could have offered would be a reduction on the price of the two tours we had booked with them in Belgium, right? Then after almost an hour on the phone, and repeatedly asking to talk to a supervisor, the call center person hung up on us! Think real hard about using Viator, and if the tour in France goes through Adrian Roads - cancel now!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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September 2024
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