The WW1 battlefields
If you are looking for a short break and are interested in history I would highly recommend France and Flanders. Base yourself in Lille, a vibrant and culture filled city for a huge choice of bars and restaurants to unwind in at the end of the day.
Places not to miss:
There are many different places to visit of historical interest in the area, which can all be arranged for you in advance.
My top places would be Vimy Ridge, the views are awe-inspiring on a sunny day, and if you are lucky enough to visit on a windy and rainy day you really experience what it must have felt like for the soldiers defending the ridge at the front line over 100 years ago. I also visited the Newfoundland memorial on the same day. This has the most intact trenches on both the Allied and German sides, its difficult to understand until you see your friends stood in one trench and you in the other how intense and close the fighting was at times. The land is still pockmarked with the scars of war.... be careful where you walk and stick to the footpaths!
The Last Post at the Menin Gate, Ypres is a moving experience never to be missed. The Last Post has been performed every evening since the end of WW1 and continues to draw crowds every night so a top tip would be to arrive early to ensure you have a good view.
Whilst in Ypres take a tour of the town, it was rebuilt brick by brick exactly how it was before it was flattened in WW1 and its inspiring how the local people recreated their home. The museum is an absolute must and is located next to the Menin Gate.
Visiting the battlefields is an incredibly moving experience that I will never forget. It led me to researching and commemorating all the relatives that I lost in WW1, great uncles who would never grow up to have their own families having given their lives so we can live ours as we do today. Humbling is the only word I can think of to encapsulate the experience.
