10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Ardennes That You Shouldn't Miss

Maginot Line Tours / Tuckertours are sightseeing tours arranged with my visitors typically weeks or months in advance. My visitors come from all around the English speaking world (USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, UK). In general they come to Sedan,(France) specifically for my tour as part of their ‘European tour’. The tours last a complete day and are usually based on the German attack at Sedan in May 1940 and the French Maginot Line defences in the area. The tour includes a private underground visit of a Maginot Line ouvrage( Fort). We visit the battlefield that is the area around Sedan, in the conflicts of 1640 (leading to Sedan being annexed by France), the 1870 Franco-Prussian War (the battle of Sedan was militarily the defining battle in the Franco-Prussian War), WWI (the German attack through Sedan in 1914 and in 1918 the furthest point of advance reached by the US Army), and of course the 1940 Blitzkrieg attack at Sedan through the Ardennes, and the French Maginot Line defenses in the area). We see and visit sites of Historical (military) and Heritage interest. From the medieval castle at Sedan, the old town of Sedan, fortified churches, the Maginot Line and the beautiful Ardennes countryside. All of this in the area where these battles took place. Usually the tour is based on the events in 1940, however we take in elements from the previous battles (1870 and WWI) because it is all in the same area, and the preceding battles help explain in part what happened here in 1940. Occasionally I do day tours based only on the 1870 Franco-Prussian battle at Sedan. My visitors are usually interested in military history, quite frequently they are very knowledgeable on such matters. Occasionally I have groups of serving military in larger groups coming to see the area as part of their military training. Consequently I am amending the Trip Advisor categories for my listing to be as follows: Sightseeing Tours: Evidently this is the general description of what I do. Historical and Heritage Tours: The tours are based on the historical (military) events that took place here. Private Tours: The tours are by prior arrangement and are private. Battlefields: The tours take place over the area around Sedan that was a battlefield in 1870, WWI and WWII.

Ouvrage La Ferté is open every day from 19 May to 14 November 2021. Guided tours at 10:15 am (from Tuesday to Saturday), 2pm and 4pm (every day). Tours are in French. Due to Covid-19, advance booking and face covering required. Prices: 7€ per adult; 4€ per child (7-14 yo); free (-7 yo). Private tour on booking: 40€ (contact us).

Au cœur de la ville, découvrez le Géant de Sedan, une forteresse de 35 000 m² construite il y a près de six siècles. En groupe ou en famille, arpentez les remparts sur les traces des Princes de la Marck et de la Tour d'Auvergne. Revivez l'époque du Moyen Âge à travers notre circuit de visite 1000 ans d'histoire! Ouvert tous les jours de 10h à 17h. (18h en juillet-août)