next may i am going to france for my photography class, 3 nights in paris, 7 nights in a roman villa in ners southwestern france (well, from paris, to avignon, to ners) and 3 days in an 18th century home 80km outside paris (which i am told was occupied by germans during both the world wars.) i might even be able to squeeze in the paris army museum the day the trip officialy starts if i travel to venice and ride the train to paris. either way its going to be one hell of a trip, but i want to fit in some WWI history while im there, ive been exposed to plenty of WWII history, i mean i live in the town that built most of the bombers used in WWII (the b-24 plant at carswell AFB used by convair from the mid 40s to the 60s, which reminds me, i may write something later about this, as the church i attend was originaly the barracks at camp bowie during WWI where an american garrison was stationed and then of course there is love feild where canadian and british pilots were trained) i can see plenty of that here, but WWI aside from a sopwith and handful of obscure british and german fighters in the air museums are isolated to europe, and, i have resolved that i HAVE to see the industrial model of the big bertha, nevermind that because this is for photography i will be taking an unimaginable ammount of photographs. so i basicly see it like this, if possible one half day at the paris war museum (the WWI section specificly, as i said the rest isnt as important to me and keep in mind that a half day is from opening time to maybe noon or 2 pm) one whole day at the louvre, and an extra day to do whatever i wish, probably buying souveneirs for the family and wandering. anyway, i dont realy know what there is to see in southwestern france aside from the villa of course, and the town (i believe that is the idea) but if anyone knows of any battle areas or any sites of intrest in those areas please let me know!
There is of course numerous sites of remembrance of different kind in France, but my personal number one priority should of course be Verdun, where you can still se the Battlefield with all its scars. Otherwise, check out this excellent site for great tips:
you must go to the Musée des Blindés in Saumur, which is southwest of Paris on the Loire. They have the surviving CA1 and St. Chamond there, aside from a number of other things. Search online, they have an excellent website with directions and stuff, but it's better in French.
unfortunately because it is with school i do not have free reign, otherwise i would be going to saumur, verdun, and maybe even see leige in belgum. but, fortinately it appears that the manor house in question we are staying at which was occupied during WWI is inbetween chateu therry (sp?) and rheims! meaning its right on the front near the end of the war. and im certain some locals would know something of any relics lying nearby
