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Emperor Napoleon’s Decline & Fall

From the German War of Liberation of 1813, to the Campaign in France 1814 and the Hundred Days’ 1815, our new tour is designed to give an appreciation of some of Napoleon’s victories and defeats in the aftermath of the 1812 retreat, from Moscow to Waterloo. Join us as we travel through Holland, Belgium and France as we study Napoleon-fought battles, locations and events leading up to, and including, his defeat at Waterloo.

Tour Includes

  • 11 nights hotel with continental breakfast
  • Specialist Historical Guide
  • Historical visits as described
  • Free local joining points
Travel Options
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Inbound Travel
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Inbound
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  • By Air By Air
On-Tour
Experiences
  • Coach Excursions

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Itinerary

Local departure by coach or Door-to-Door service, then to Holland for an overnight stay.

We head east today, as we learn about the resounding 1806 Prussian defeats at Jena and Auerstaedt. These defeats led to Prussia becoming a French ‘client state’ until the advent of the German Liberation War 1813.

We stay in Jena overnight.

Includes Breakfast

Included Highlights

Battle of Jena

We leave Jena and head towards Lutzen, which is considered to be one of Napoleon’s masterly fought victories, though he conceded that the Prussian’s ‘were no longer the wooden toys of Frederick the Great’.

Although victorious at Batzaun, a lack of French cavalry, failures by subordinates, including the Emperor himself, plus a lengthy armistice (much to Napoleon’s later great regret), permitted the Coalition forces to regroup and fight another day.

We move on to Dresden where we stay for two nights.

Includes Breakfast

Included Highlights

Battle of Lutzen

A hard-fought victory for Napoleon, Dresden ‘appeared’ to see of off substantial Coalition forces for the time being, enabling the Emperor to concentrate on threats elsewhere.

Kulm was an unexpected reverse for Napoleon following his success at Dresden, when General Vandamme’s French pursuit turned into a debacle, passing the advantage to the Coalition. From here on in, the fortunes of war began slowly to turn in favour the allies.

Often referred to as Florence on the Elbe, there will be free time to explore Dresden.

Includes Breakfast

Today we head to Leipizig. Comprising several cheek by jowl actions, overall Leipzig is believed to be the biggest battle ever fought until WW1.

You will study how Napoleon planned a defensive battle that a missed opportunity saw turn into an eventual Coalition victory.

After seeing the gigantic battlefield memorial, we will visit further actions associated with the Grande Armee’s subsequent withdrawal.

We continue east to the Hanau/Frankfurt area.

Includes Breakfast

Included Highlights

Battle of the Nations, Leipzig

Considered by some to be the Emperor’s last ‘great’ victory, Hanau saw an ammunition-depleted Bavarian army attempt to block the French withdrawal to no real avail.

Following time at Hanau, we continue into France, and to Reims for three nights.

Includes Breakfast

Included Highlights

Hanau

Pouncing on the Prussian army at Brienne – coincidently the scene of Napoleon’s education – and though nearly captured by Cossacks, we see how the Emperor beat Marshal Blucher’s Coalition troops. Whilst in Brienne, there will be time to visit the Brienne Napoleon Museum (entrance fee extra).

Falling back on reinforcements, Blucher turned with overwhelming force at La Rothiere. However Napoleon skillfully disengaged to fight another day. Defeated at Arcis-sur-Aube, this was the Emperor’s last battle prior to his abdication at Fontainebleau and before the Waterloo Campaign the following year.

Includes Breakfast

Today, we study the battles of the actions of the ‘Six Day Campaign’. We will also visit the Battle of Craonne, one of the most sanguine of the Campaign in France and very much a Russian victory.

The nearby Battle of Laon was also a Campaign Coalition victory. Here it is said that the French cavalry in abandoning the field discarded sufficient cuirasses to equip a whole Prussian regiment.

Includes Breakfast

Included Highlights

laon

Today we head into Belgium where Napoleon’s concentration of the Armee d’Nord was a masterful accomplishment.

Our guide will tell you how the subsequent invasion proceeded, what went wrong, what Napoleon did en route, and about the betrayal and the delays.

At Charleroi you will stand where the Emperor dozed while reviewing his troops and where Marshal Ney ‘in haste’ received his initial orders.

At Gilly you will see where Napoleon spurred his men into action. At Fleurus you will stand by the windmill where he surveyed what was to be his last victory, the Battle of Ligny.

At Ligny you can visit the impressive General Gerard Museum (entrance fee extra). After seeing the scenes of fighting at Ligny, the axis of the route of Napoleon’s pursuit of Wellington’s army will be followed, including a tour of the inconclusive battle of Quatre Bras.

We stay for three nights in Waterloo.

Includes Breakfast

Today we study how the Prussians re-grouped, following their defeat at Ligny and how, at Warve, they prevented Marshal Grouchy’s 30,000 men from re-joining the Emperor at Waterloo, as well as how they contributed to the Allied victory at Waterloo by persistence at Plancenoit.

Afterwards, you can visit Napoleon’s overnight GHQ at Le Caillou.

Includes Breakfast

The year 2015 saw the opening of the new, and now acclaimed, Hougoumont Visitors’ Centre, which includes access to the refurbished Panorama and the Lion Mound.

Following thoughtful renovation, – incorporating an audio-visual presentation – what happened there during the battle can also be visited.

From the French Wounded Eagle Memorial your guide will describe what happened at the battle's end.

The memorable tour ends with a visit to the Waterloo Museum where Wellington wrote his Waterloo Despatch.

Includes Breakfast

Return home.

Includes Breakfast

Accommodation

You will stay for one night at the NH Koningshof, near Eindhoven, followed by one night at the Best Western Hotel in Jena. You will then spend two nights at the Achat Premium Dresden and one night in the Frankfurt/Hanua area. You will also stay for three nights at the Ibis Reims Tinqueux and three nights at Ibis Waterloo.

Travel Options

When it comes to getting you to your destination, Leger Holidays makes it easy with a selection of travel options to choose from.

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