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Wartime Paris: Spies, Resistance and the Holocaust

With the Fall of France in 1940, the city of Paris sat at the heart of occupied France. Resistance began almost at once across the country, later assisted by the Special Operations Executive. Joined by Head Battlefield Guide Paul Reed and SOE researcher and writer Dr Victoria Humphreys, this new tour offers an insight into this fascinating subject. Key visits include the Gestapo Headquarters, Mont Valerian and the Drancy Holocaust Memorial.

Tour Includes

  • 3 nights hotel with continental breakfast
  • Two Specialist Battlefield Guides
  • Convenient local joining points

4 days from £519pp

Travel Options

Outbound &
Inbound Travel
Outbound
Travel
  • By Coach By Coach
Inbound
Travel
  • By Air By Air
On-Tour
Experiences
  • Coach Excursions
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Itinerary

Please choose your preferred 4 day itinerary

Local departure by coach, then to our hotel in the Paris area for a three-night stay.

Beginning at the site of former SOE Safe Houses in Paris, we look at the story of Noor Inayat-Khan GC – the ‘Princess Spy’, we then walk to the nearby Gestapo Headquarters in Avenue Foch, where we hear the details of how the occupation was underpinned by their sinister and often deadly hands. Continuing to the Arc de Triomphe, we look at France from Defeat in 1940 to Liberation in 1944. We then look at the French Resistance battle in central Paris at the Hotel de Ville in August 1944, and then examine the darker chapters of Paris’ occupation, discussing the French victims of the Holocaust, and seeing the Memorial to those who were Righteous Among the Nations, as well as those who were deported from France with a visit to the Deportation Memorial. We end the day with a visit to Mont Valerian, seeing the impressive National Resistance Memorial, and the Visitors’ Centre discussing the Resistance fighters who died for a Free France as well as examining the story of their leader, Jean Moulin. In the evening you have some free-time in central Paris close to the Eiffel Tower.

Includes Breakfast

Key Visits

Arc de Triomphe Eiffel Tower 84 Avenue Foch Noor Inayat-Khan Safe House Hotel de Ville, Paris Righteous Among the Nations Memorial Deportation Memorial Mont Valérien Memorial

This morning we travel to Drancy and continue our look at the Holocaust in France, seeing the memorials and the site of the Detention Camp here. We then see a new Holocaust Memorial site at Bobigny, where the trains took French Jews to the Concentration Camps. Later we visit Père Lachaise Cemetery for the Holocaust and Resistance Memorials, looking out how those who died were commemorated. We finish with a look at the Allied entry into Paris in 1944 seeing the excellent Paris Liberation Museum.

Includes Breakfast

Key Visits

Drancy : Memorial Wagon Drancy Holocaust Memorial Bobigny Railway Sidings Bobigny Railway Sidings Memorials Père Lachaise Cemetery Père Lachaise Cemetery, Holocaust Memorial Père Lachaise Cemetery Auschwitz Memorial Paris Liberation Museum Paris Liberation Museum: Liberty Way Marker

Return home.

Includes Breakfast

Got a question about
this holiday?

Don’t hesitate to get in touch – our friendly team are ready and waiting to help with any further information you need!

Accommodation

You will stay for three-nights at the Hotel Le Cardinal Rueil Centre.

The Originals City Le Cardinal Rueil Centre

The Originals City Le Cardinal Rueil Centre is situated in vibrant Rueil Malmaison on the western outskirts of Paris. It is within walking distance of the bustling town centre with its inviting bars, charming restaurants and shops. The hotel is comprised of two buildings, offering a total of 64 bedrooms. All bedrooms are themed in a style – Paris (rooftops, metro, taxi, famous sights) or Africa (giraffe, zebra, leopard design). There is also a breakfast room, small bar and lift.

Hotel Facilities

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General
  • 3 Star
  • English Speaking Staff
  • Guest Lounge
  • Bar
  • Lift
Room
  • TV
  • Hairdryer
  • Safe Box
  • Non-Smoking Rooms Available
  • Shower or Bath
  • Telephone
  • Free Wifi
Accessibility
  • Fridge Available for Medical Requirements
  • Disabled Rooms Available
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Ground Floor Rooms on Request
Service
  • 24 Hour Front Desk
  • Iron at Reception
  • Dog Friendly (selected rooms)
Transport
  • Bus Stop Nearby
Hotel
  • English Speaking Staff
  • Guest Lounge
  • Bar
  • Lift
  • WiFi Available

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.

Silver Service

From the attentive service to the carefully considered features, our Silver Service coaches create an atmosphere that is both friendly and memorable, bringing people together. Experience the difference – refined travel, shared moments, and lasting comfort.

  • Designed for Socialising A stylish and spacious rear lounge offers a sophisticated and private place to unwind, where conversation flows easily and friendships are made along the journey.
  • Privacy Board An innovative privacy screen creates a calm retreat away from the rest of the coach, giving you the choice to enjoy quiet seclusion while you socialise with fellow passengers.
  • Tables with Cup Holders Thoughtfully designed cabinets with secure cup holders mean refreshments are always within easy reach, adding both practicality and polish to your travel experience.

Silver Service Features

Deluxe design

Specially designed, luxurious seats enhanced with leather headrests deliver superior support, blending comfort with a premium finish.

Space to stretch out

Enjoy the luxury of generous legroom that goes far beyond standard coach travel, giving you the freedom to settle in with ease and stretch out fully.

Spacious rear lounge

Designed for socialising, the spacious rear lounge offers a stylish retreat with privacy screens, handy tables and cup holders – perfect for relaxing, chatting and enjoying the journey.

Thoughtful touches that make a difference

A carefully maintained interior climate and soft ambient lighting ensure the coach always feels comfortable, welcoming and perfectly suited for a relaxing journey.

Executive

All of our Executive coaches are modern and comfortable, and you can be assured of a high level of service and reliability from our expertly-trained coach crews. Features include:

  • Air conditioning, so you can stay cool throughout your journey
  • Reclining seats that let you sit back and enjoy the rolling views
  • Arm and footrests, designed for extra support
  • Servery of cold and hot drinks delivered to your seat (depending on your tour and duration)
  • An onboard toilet for peace of mind and convenience
  • Overhead lights, so you can read whenever you choose
  • Tinted windows and curtains that allow you to completely relax with privacy

Reviews

4.3 Out of 5 ( 20 Reviews )

Reviews

Excellent
60%
Great
25%
Average
5%
Poor
10%
Bad
0%

Quality

4.5 / 5

Value for Money

4.1 / 5

HELEN CULL, 11 months ago

The excursion itself was excellent and our guides (Paul and Victoria) fantastic. But the lower score is completely down to the terrible tour coach (no air conditioning, terrible smell from the toilets onboard, ran out of water in hot weather and little effort made to replenish in time, apparent lack of communication from Leger to our tour guide re last minute changes to our channel crossing, leading to us having to leave our hotel far too early on our departure day and missing our final hotel breakfast with a totally inadequate packed breakfast offering, then delays at the interchange and having to be moved from our (air conditioned!) homeward coach to accommodate passengers from a broken down coach to a much smaller, cramped vehicle which then suffered an extremely scary tyre blowout 15 minutes into our journey (thanks to our driver's skill, a bad accident was thankfully avoided) and further delays while we waited for 2 tyres to be repaired, finally arriving to our homeward destination almost 4 hours late!

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Paul Masters, 11 months ago

Great weekend and tour. Very informative and brilliant guides Victoria and Paul. Good content on the tour and even Plenty of time to see Paris landmarks as an extra. Would definitely recommend this tour.

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Mr Patrick Kennedy, 11 months ago

FAULTY A/C ON RENTED COACH

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Mrs J E APPERLY, 11 months ago

Excellent guides on this trip

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james cox, 11 months ago

interesting aspects covered on this subject despite using only 2 days.

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Satisfied customer in Cumbria, 11 months ago

Brilliant tour with expert guides. Problem with air conditioning on the bus with 30 centigrade heat outside which made it a bit uncomfortable. Otherwise top notch.

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Departure Dates

Got a question about
this holiday?

Don’t hesitate to get in touch – our friendly team are ready and waiting to help with any further information you need!

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