Historical Trips - 2018 Brochure

THE HISTORY THAT SHAPED US 2018 TOUR PROGRAMME

WELCOME TO HISTORICAL TRIPS

CONTENTS

REASONS TO TRAVEL

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2018 Programme

JOINING US ON TOUR

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CONQUERING SICILY

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LANGUEDOC

MICHAEL IVEY DIRECTOR, HISTORICAL TRIPS

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Dear Traveller,

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ANDALUS: MOORISH SPAIN

Welcome to a new year of Historical Trips to tempt and tantalise. As the British ‘summer’ finally makes an appearance — although for how long, who can say? — it might seem odd to begin daydreaming about where else we might be jetting off to in the months to come. But when you take a look at our selection of tours for 2018, it suddenly doesn’t seem quite so odd...

CHÂTEAUX OF THE LOIRE

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IRAN: MIRRORS OF THE UNSEEN

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JORDAN

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Take, for instance, our brand new tour charting the rapid rise and catastrophic fall of Italian Fascism (p.16), on which we invite you to explore both the dark deeds of this country’s senior figures during World War II, and the breathtakingly picturesque scenery which belies them. Or Churchill & Champagne, which takes us in the formidable footsteps of the former Prime Minister, charting a course from the Garden of England to the City of Lights.

GLORIANA: ELIZABETH I

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HISTORIC HOUSES & GARDENS

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THE GREAT WAR

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Then there are the newcomers which make the most of the fascinating history of these British Isles. Gloriana (p.12), following the progress routes of Queen Elizabeth I; our joint tour with our good friends Brightwater Holidays, exploring the Historic Houses and Gardens of the North of England (p.13); and Ireland 1916–1998 (p.11), tracing the tales of a century of strife across the Irish Sea.

IRELAND: 1916 – 1998

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DUCE!

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THE FACE OF EVIL

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But perhaps the best news of all is our guarantee, new for 2018, that each and every tour will depart — whatever travel dreams these pages inspire, you can rest assured they’ll become a reality. No matter what you’re looking for in a Historical Trip, we hope that you’ll find it here. But as always, this is just a glance at what each tour has to offer, so be sure to visit historicaltrips.com for more information.

CHURCHILL & CHAMPAGNE page................................................................18

OPERATION SEA LION

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THE FINAL SOLUTION

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We’re looking forward to seeing you on tour!

STUDY DAYS / CALENDAR page................................................................21

BOOKING INFORMATION

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FAQS & GET IN TOUCH

page.................................................................23 Front Cover: Mosque of Sheikh Lotfollah, Isfahan, Iran / Inside Front Cover: Petra, Jordan

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Call: 01722 713820

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Email: info@historicaltrips.com

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www.historicaltrips.com

REASONS TO TRAVEL WITH HISTORICAL TRIPS

Historical Advisory Board

Here at Historical Trips, history is at the heart of everything we do as we put our passion for the past into exploring thousands of years’ (and thousands of miles’) worth of world-changing events.

The role of our Historical Advisory Board is to guide us in the creation of our tour programme and advise us on all matters historical. Whether that be the latest trends in historical thinking or the accuracy of our tour itineraries, our board of distinguished historians, with decades of experience between them, are on hand to point us in the right direction.

NEW FOR 2018! — GUARANTEED DEPARTURE We understand the frustration of booking your place on the history tour of your dreams, only for it to be cancelled. That’s why each and every one of our 2018 tours is guaranteed to go, no matter the number.

ALL INCLUSIVE No need to worry about tips, tipple, or travel — just leave it to us. The price of travel, all meals — the vast majority with wine at lunch and dinner — site and museum entry, gratuities, and hotels are all included in the price of your tour unless otherwise stated.

Prof. Gary Sheffield is one of the leading authorities on the First World War. He has been at the forefront of the debate about the legacy of the Great War and frequently appears on television and radio.

DOOR-TO-DOOR SERVICE Start your holiday the moment you step off the stoop with our brand new Club Class chauffeur service from your home to the airport. Door to destination, just like that. Get in touch for full details of how we can help make your holiday as cared-for and carefree as possible, right from the word go.

Dr Sophie Thérèse Ambler is Lecturer in Later Medieval History at Lancaster University.

She has appeared on radio and television, written for BBC History Magazine and the Historian, and is currently writing two books for Macmillan.

EXPERT GUIDE LECTURERS It’s quite possible that our roster of expert guides have every conceivable pocket of history covered between them, and our guests can benefit from their expertise at every step, from planning to execution. Whether you’re led by a familiar face or newcomer on your next Historical Trip, you’re in for a treat.

SPECIAL ACCESS Many of our tours present the opportunity for exclusive experiences, allowing you to go further into the history of people and places than you ever thought possible.

Go underground at Gesundbrunnen air raid shelter, hidden beneath the streets of Berlin, or dine as invited guests of historic houses in Champagne.

Paul Lay is the editor of History Today. He has written for the Guardian and the Telegraph, and was founder of BBC History Magazine.

Paul is also a judge of the Longman-History Today book prize.

PEACE OF MIND We’re ATOL-protected and a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators, which means that we can guarantee the utmost quality — not just when it comes to organising and conducting yout tour, but also when it comes to the total protection of your booking.

DON’T FORGET: THERE’S MUCH MORE ONLINE Getting millennia-worth of crusader castles, Tudor towers, and cathedrals from all of Christendom into just 24 pages is no mean feat. We’ve filled our brochure with all of the relevant info, so that you know exactly what, when, and where when it comes to the tour of your choice, but you can always find more information online. Our website historicaltrips.com features detailed day-by-day itineraries, enticing introductions, and many more wanderlustinducing photographs, so be sure to pay a visit.

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JOINING US ON TOUR

Historians, broadcasters, writers, and experts on just about every possible corner of history. Our Guide Lecturers include best-selling authors, history professors, regular television presenters, and filmmakers alike.

These are the people who conceive, plan, and lead our journeys, and are at the very heart of what we do.

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Dr Sophie Thérèse Ambler is Lecturer in Later Medieval History at Lancaster University. She is a leading expert on the Montfort crusader dynasty, and her research ranges widely across medieval Christendom. She has appeared on radio and television for the BBC and Channel 4, and has written for BBC History Magazine and The Historian. Sophie’s first book was published by Oxford University Press in early 2017, and she is currently in the process of writing two books for Macmillan.

Dr Neil Faulkner is a leading military historian and research fellow of Bristol University.

Alongside academic papers, he has published ten books, including Lawrence of Arabia’s War and A People’s History of the Russian Revolution, described by Times Higher Education as a “valuable perspective on a world-shaking event”. As editor of Military History Magazine and features editor of Current Archaeology Neil has published on topics from Roman Britain to Zeppelin warfare.

Paul Beaver is a leading military-political historian, a member of the British Commission on Military History, and a former television war reporter and Editor-in-Chief of Jane’s Defence Weekly. He now researches, writes, broadcasts, and lectures on the events leading to the Second World War and the conflict itself. He has a special interest in the life and times of Winston Churchill, following in his footsteps across France to research the places the great man visited.

Conal Gregory MW has been a Master of Wine since 1979, and is, as yet, the only one to be elected to parliament. Formerly the chief wine buyer for a major group, he is Panel Chairman of the International Wine Challenge and was Chairman of the International Wine & Spirit Competition. His books include the authoritative guide to Cognac, The Cognac Companion. He was the wine presenter on ITV’s The Food Programme, and has advised major airlines on their blends.

Jason Elliot is a celebrated travel writer and author, deeply familiar with Iran and fluent in Farsi. His second book, Mirrors of the Unseen, won the 2007 Chatwin Prize and, as The Daily Mail wrote, “establishes Jason Elliot as one of the great travel writers of our time”. His debut, An Unexpected Light, which told the story of his journey, aged 19, into an Afghanistan engaged in war with Soviet Forces, won the Thomas Cook Travel Award. His first novel, The Network, was published in 2010.

Lys Hall is a renowned wine educator and an established lecturer on the wines of Europe.

Thanks in part to a degree in art history, Lys has a passion for the past, as well as a good allround knowledge of and love for the countries in which she finds her favourite wines. She has been wine guiding for over a decade, running her own ‘Grape Escapes’ as well as joining Historical Trips and our sister company Arblaster & Clarke on tour. She also lectures to diploma students and wine trade newcomers.

Trevor Edwards has some forty years of experience in horticulture, in which time he has served as a television gardening presenter for the BBC, RTE and UKGold, and been a frequent contributor to Saturday morning BBC NI radio programme Gardeners’ Corner.

Today, Trevor specialises in garden design, consultancy and project management, garden tours, writing, and television and radio broadcasting. He is also an enthusiastic member of horticultural societies nationwide.

Dr Michael Jones is a respected military historian, author, and presenter with specialist interests in battle psychology and French history. He has held academic positions at the Universities of Bristol and Glasgow, and is a member of several distinguished societies in both the UK and France, including the Royal Historical Society. Michael has worked extensively with veterans of the Second World War and has acted as a historical adviser for The History Channel.

Call: 01722 713820

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Nigel Jones is a historian, journalist, broadcaster, and Historical Trips co-founder who has published widely on topics ranging from the Tower of London to the Valkyrie Plot to assassinate Hitler. After beginning his journalistic career in the UK, he spent almost two years living in Germany, learning the language and studying the country’s history.

A specialist in 20th century history, he has written for publications including The Sunday Telegraph, The Guardian, and The Spectator.

Elizabeth Norton is a historian, academic, trained archaeologist, and meticulous researcher of the Tudor period. With thirteen books to her name, from The Temptation of Elizabeth Tudor to her most recent, The Lives of Tudor Women, she has developed a strong reputation as an expert on the queens of England. She is a frequent contributor to publications such as BBC History Magazine and is regularly called up for television and radio appearances.

Carys Lowry-Carter is a singer-songwriter with an interest in the music of medieval Europe. Her debut EP, Between the Forest and the Sea, was released on Saint November Records in 2013, and she is currently writing her first full-length album. She will join us in France for a one-night performance on our Languedoc: Cathars & Crusaders tour, where she will take us back to the Middle Ages with an evening of troubadour music from the Languedoc region.

Prof. Gary Sheffield is one of the leading authorities on the First World War and British history, and teaches both subjects at the University of Wolverhampton. He also holds many other distinguished roles, including Vice-President of the Western Front Association, President of the International Guild of Battlefield Guides, and Chair of War Studies at Buckingham University. Sir Max Hastings has described him as “one of Britain’s foremost historians of the First World War”.

Dr Alex Metcalfe is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of History at Lancaster University, where his research spans the wider Mediterranean basin and the Middle East, with a particular focus on Sicily, al-Andalus, the Maghrib, and southern Italy under the Byzantines. He graduated in Literæ Humaniores from Exeter College, Oxford, and is an advanced speaker of Arabic, Latin, Greek, and Italian. Alex has presented at history and Classics seminars all over the world.

Jason Webster is a highly acclaimed author and authority on Spain, whose work ranges from biography to travel through crime fiction and history. His historical works cover the period from the Moorish conquest through to the Spanish Civil War, and he has been favourably compared with writers such as Bruce Chatwin, Gerald Brenan and Ernest Hemingway. Jason has also written extensively for publications including The Guardian, The Independent, The New Statesman, and The Sunday Times.

Roger Moorhouse is a co-founder of Historical Trips and one of the world’s leading experts on Nazi Germany and wartime Poland. A regular public speaker and commentator for the press and television, he is also author of a number of books including Killing Hitler and The Devil’s Alliance. Roger, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, also lectures on the subject of Totalitarianism as Visiting Professor at the College of Europe in Warsaw, and has given many talks on the subject of the Final Solution.

Dr Emma J. Wells is an award-winning academic, author, and all-round ‘buildings detective’. Her research ranges widely across the social and cultural history of Western Europe through the lens of art and architecture, and, having published in several prestigious journals, she is now transforming her doctoral thesis into a book, to be published

by Bloomsbury. Emma has also appeared and consulted on radio and television programmes for the BBC and Channels 4 and 5.

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CONQUERING SICILY

A joint tour with Andante Travels

Palermo

Beyond 1066 (and all that) the Normans carved out their lands in southern Italy

Segesta

Cefalù

Cefala Diana

Enna

• Follow the path of Norman conquest across the island, gaining insight into the people, power, art, and faith at play at the time

SICILY

• See the influence of multiple cultures on Sicily: Norman, Greek, Roman, and Arabic alike

• Travel with Dr Alex Metcalfe, expert on medieval Sicily and the Mediterranean Basin

ITINERARY Days 1 & 2 | Introduction On arrival in Catania, we drive to our hotel and a pre-dinner introductory lecture. On Day 2, we first visit Agira and its Norman church, before moving on to Troina, which served as the base for Norman conquest. Finally, we visit Nicosia and Sperlinga for cathedrals and castles before returning to Enna.

Day 3 | Exploring Enna We spend our morning exploring Enna, including visits to its castle and cathedral, before an afternoon drive to Palermo.

Day 4 | Ancient Remnants Today, we have a full day of visits in

GUIDE LECTURERS DR ALEX METCALFE

New to Historical Trips, Dr Alex Metcalfe is a Senior Lecturer in History at Lancaster University, where his research spans the Mediterranean Basin and Middle East.

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Palermo: the Zisa Palace, built by Arabic craftsmen; the Catacombs; the remains of the court monastery of San Giovanni degli Eremiti, and the incomparable, incredible Cappella Palatina.

our return to Palermo, where we enjoy an afternoon walking tour of the city, taking in its market and cathedral, and the Martorana church, with its blaze of Byzantine-style iconography.

Day 5 | Solemn Vows Today, we discover two great surviving examples of medieval Christendom, the cathedrals of Cefalù and Monreale, the former founded by King Roger II after he — allegedly — vowed to do so after escaping a storm on the city’s beach.

Day 7 | Rubbing Shoulders We make our way to Segesta this morning. Here, excavations have unearthed a Muslim necropolis and a 12th century mosque next to a Norman castle. Finally, we visit San Giuseppe Jato, the last Muslim stronghold in Sicily.

Day 6 | Palermo on Foot This morning, we visit the Arab baths and castle at Cefala Diana before making

Day 8 | Conclusion This morning, we transfer to the airport in Palermo for our return home.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS

Tour Manager

£2,295 incl. flights £1,995 excl. flights £175 single supp.

Return flights London to Catania; Palermo to London All meals included with wine at lunch and dinner 7 nights in 3/4* hotels in Enna and Palermo •

Email: info@historicaltrips.com

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8 Days 24th September – 1st October Tour Code: QSI18A

www.historicaltrips.com

LANGUEDOC

Cathars, Templars & Crusaders A joint tour with Andante Travels

Enjoy the musical stylings of Carys Lowry-Carter during our tour.

The talented singersongwriter will join us for a one-night only trobairitz — or female troubadour — performance, showcasing the music of the Languedoc.

FRANCE Albi Cordes-sur-Ciel

Knights, saints, and sinners in a battle for Medieval hearts and minds...

• Explore the Languedoc’s turbulent past, from crusaderbesieged castles to Cathar havens

Toulouse

Lastours

Minerve Beziers Carcassonne Narbonne Couiza Château Fontfroide de Foix Arques Termes Peyrepertuse

• Enjoy a special performance from a trobairitz, and be immersed in medieval troubadour culture

• Travel with Middle Ages expert and de Montfort family expert Dr Sophie Thérèse Ambler

ITINERARY Day 1 | Introduction On arrival in Toulouse, we enjoy dinner and an introductory lecture at our hotel.

Comtal before a final stop at the grand basilica of St Nazaire.

Day 2 | Colossal Cathedrals We travel to the Cathar refuge of Cordes-sur-Ciel and explore its gothic townhouses. On to Albi to see its redbrick cathedral and the Berbie Palace, a fortified residence for the town’s bishops.

Day 4 | The Heretics of Minerve Today, we visit Minerve, the town where citizens were burnt as heretics in a 1210 siege, and Béziers, site of an October 1167 revolt. On to the Gothic Cathédrale St-Nazaire, then Narbonne. This evening, we enjoy a performance by a trobairitz.

Day 3 | Carcassonne et Comtal We explore Lastours, the Cathar stronghold besieged by Simon de Montfort, before departing for Carcassonne. Here, we discover the culture of the troubadours at Château

Day 5 | The Power of the Crusaders We visit unspoilt Lagrasse’s Benedictine abbey, and the Cistercian abbey of Fontfroide, whose self-produced wines we taste over lunch. Continue to Villerouge-Termenès.

Day 6 | Cathar Resistance We visit Rennes-le-Château, associated in legend with the Holy Grail. Then, it’s on to Arques, and the castle at Peyrepertuse.

Day 7 | Troubadour Culture We visit Puivert, centre of Troubadour culture, and Vals’ rock-carved church, thought to pre-date Roman occupation.

Our final visit of the day is to Château de Foix, a counts’ stronghold.

Day 8 | Conclusion On our final day, we explore Toulouse’s basilica and Jacobin church, former seat of the Dominican order, before returning home this afternoon.

GUIDE LECTURERS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS

DR SOPHIE THÉRÈSE AMBLER

Tour Manager

£2,595 incl. flights £2,395 excl. flights £450 single supp.

Return flights London to Toulouse

“I enjoyed everything about this tour, but above all I think what made it special was Sophie’s enthusiasm and passion.

She was able to weave neatly together the stories of the main characters.”

Call: 01722 713820

All meals included with wine at lunch and dinner 7 nights in 4* hotels in Toulouse, Carcassonne, and Couiza •

Email: info@historicaltrips.com

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8 Days 10th – 17th September 17th – 24th September Tour Code: LCR18A

www.historicaltrips.com

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ANDALUS

Moorish Spain

SPAIN

Discover five hundred years of history at the heart of al-Andalus • Visit the most beautiful cities at the heart of Moorish Spain:

Cordoba Granada

Seville Ronda

Ronda, Córdoba, Seville, and Granada

Malaga

• Wend your way through five centuries of Spanish history through its palaces, fortresses, literature, and cuisine

• Led by Jason Webster, writer and historian, and author of Andalus: Unlocking the Secrets of Moorish Spain

ITINERARY Day 1 | Introduction We fly to Málaga and transfer to our hotel in Ronda, where we enjoy an introductory lecture this evening.

Day 2 | Rambling in Ronda This morning is dedicated to exploring Moorish Ronda — with its city walls, Bath House and the Casa del Rey Moro — before an afternoon drive to Córdoba.

Day 3 | Mosques & Museums We enjoy a morning stroll through the old city, taking in the Convivencia Museum, bridge, and remains of the Moorish water wheel, before an afternoon tour of the Great Mosque.

JASON WEBSTER “One of the best guide lecturers I’ve come across — if not the best.”

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Generalife Palace, playground of the Nasrid Kings.

Day 5 | Seville’s Sights, Sounds & Steps We begin our day with a visit to the Alcázar, before moving on to the Torre del Oro and Seville’s Cathedral, where we climb the dizzying Giralda. This evening we enjoy a spectacular flamenco show.

Day 6 | ‘A Pearl Set in Emeralds’ After a morning drive to Granada, we pay a visit to the Alhambra and the adjoining

GUIDE LECTURER

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Day 4 | The Jewish Quarter Today, we take a morning walk to the Jewish Quarter, where we visit the old synagogue and Jewish House. This afternoon we visit the ruins of Madinat al-Zahra before travelling to Seville.

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Day 7 | The Battle for Granada After a morning visit to the Cathedral, we visit the Corral del CarbÓn, the oldest Moorish monument in Granada. We then visit the Carmen de los Mártires, where Christian captives were held. We enjoy a Moorish dinner this evening.

Day 8 | Conclusion On our final morning, we take a stroll around the old Moorish quarter of Albaicín, walking up to the Mirador de San Nicolás and looking towards the Alhambra, before our flights home.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS

Tour Manager Return flights London to Málaga

£2,395 incl. flights £2,195 excl. flights £235 single supp.

All meals included with wine at lunch and dinner

8 Days 2nd – 9th May

7 nights in 3/4* hotels in Ronda, Córdoba, Seville, and Granada

Tour Code: QMS18A

Email: info@historicaltrips.com

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CHÂTEAUX OF THE LOIRE History & Wine

LYS HALL “Lys was extremely knowledgeable and patient with the many questions she had to answer. She was welcoming and friendly throughout.”

Enjoy a feast of stories, sites, and sumptuous wines in the lush Loire Valley

Honfleur

FRANCE

• Enjoy an enticing combination of visits to historic sites and prestigious producers

Angers Saumur

• Benefit from the joint experience of historian Dr Michael Jones and expert wine guide Lys Hall

Tours Chenonceau Chinon

Abbey of Fontevraud

• Enjoy a Michelin-starred meal in the historic town of Saumur

ITINERARY Day 1 | Introduction Departing London, we enjoy a picnic lunch aboard our luxury coach, before alighting in Tours.

river. We stop at a Bourgeuil winery for lunch before continuing to Saumur for this evening’s Michelin-starred dinner.

Day 2 | Our Tour of Tours We take the morning to explore the atmospheric city of Tours before continuing to Marc Bredif in the Vouvray appellation for a cellar visit and tasting.

We stop in Chenonceau this afternoon.

Day 3 | Islands in the Stream Our first visit of the day is to the Château d’Azay-le-Rideau, a superb example of French renaissance architecture enjoying its situation in the middle of the Indre

Day 4 | Heavenly Voices, Heavenly Wine This morning we visit Château de Chinon, where Joan of Arc appealed to Charles VII. After lunch, we have some free time to explore Chinon, before a visit and tasting at Domaine CoulyDutheil. We finish with dinner and a tasting at our hotel.

Day 5 | The Créme de la Crémant Our first visit of the day is to the Abbey of Fontevraud, final resting place of Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard

GUIDE LECTURERS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

DR MICHAEL JONES

Tour Manager

“A very interesting and engaging speaker with a wide knowledge who prepared us perfectly for each visit.”

the Lionheart. Take our optional tour of Château de Saumur this afternoon, or just relax before rejoining us for dinner at Langlois-Château, producers of superb Crémant de Loire and Crémant Rosé.

Day 6 | Apocalypse in Angers Our day begins with a viewing of Angers’ incredible Apocalypse tapestry, before moving on to Honfleur, the charming Normandy port town beloved by artists.

Day 7 | Conclusion This morning, our final visit is to the Benedictine Abbey of Fécamp to discover the origin of their Bénédictine spirit.

After a final lunch, we return home.

TOUR DETAILS £2,545 incl. coach travel £300 single supp.

Return coach from London via Channel Tunnel All meals included with wine at lunch and dinner; wine tastings

7 Days 2nd – 8th September Tour Code: QAL18A

6 nights in 3/4* hotels in Tours, Saumur, and Honfleur

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IRAN

Mirrors of the Unseen

Tehran

Neither East nor West — an off-the-beatentrack adventure

Kashan Isfahan

IRAN Na’in Yazd

• Visit the ‘City of the Persians’, the unforgettable Persepolis • Get a taste of Qajar-era grandeur at the exquisite Golestan Palace in Tehran

Shiraz

• Led by Jason Elliot, award-winning author of Mirrors of the

Persepolis Firuzabad

Unseen: Journeys in Iran

ITINERARY Days 1 & 2 | Introduction We arrive in Shiraz late on Day 1, ready to pay a visit to the tomb of Hafez, the city’s most famous son, on Day 2.

Days 6 & 7 | Desert Dwellings The city of Yazd, a centre of Zoroastrian tradition, is the site of our visit on Day 6. The next day, we marvel at the ancient Rigareh water mill before making our way to the leafy town of Na’in.

Day 3 | Shiraz to Persepolis We explore the magnificent Persepolis, move on to the Naqsh-i Rustam reliefs, and end the day at Shah tent village.

Days 4 & 5 | The Circular City We admire the unique architecture of Firuzabad, built to a precise circular plan in the Achaemenid era. On Day 5, we explore more of Shiraz, and pay a visit to the tomb of Cyrus the Great.

GUIDE LECTURER JASON ELLIOT “Jason was a superb lecturer and absolutely charming on a one-to-one basis. He went to endless trouble to discuss and explain particular points of interest.”

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Days 8 & 9 | Spacious Squares In Isfahan, we visit the Mosque of Sheikh Lotfollah and the vast Naqsh-e Jahan square, seven times the size of St Mark’s.

On Day 9, we visit Ali Qapu Palace and the cavernous Friday Mosque.

Day 10 | Merchants’ Mansions On to the oasis town of Kashan, where we

Day 11 | A Capital Idea Today, we explore all that Tehran, Iran’s capital, has to offer, including its museums, bazaar, and gigantesque parks.

The highlight is undoubtedly a visit to the opulent Golestan Palace.

Days 12 & 13 | Conclusion Our final visit is to the Niavaran Palace, an impressive complex including a former Shah’s residence, before enjoying some free time in Tehran this afternoon.

We return home on Day 13.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS

Tour Manager

£4,195 incl. flights £3,495 excl. flights £600 single supp.

Return flights London to Shiraz; Tehran to London All meals included 12 nights in 4* hotels in Tehran, Isfahan,Yazd, and Shiraz

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visit the homes of Qajar-era merchants and the idyllic Bagh-e Fin garden.

Email: info@historicaltrips.com

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13 Days 3rd – 15th March Tour Code: QIR18A

www.historicaltrips.com

JORDAN

Romans, Crusaders & Lawrence of Arabia

Amman

Conflict under the empires, during the Crusades, and in the time of the Great War

Dead Sea

• A unique tour charting the history of Jordan from the time of

Wadi Musa

the Romans to the campaigns of T.E. Lawrence

JORDAN

Al Qatrana

• Join Dr Neil Faulkner, Director of the Great Arab Revolt Project, for exclusive access to Lawrence’s excavated camps

Wadi Rum

• See iconic sites in local style — cross the jaw-dropping desert

Aqaba

landscape in off-road vehicles and even on camel-back!

ITINERARY Days 1 & 2 | Introduction We arrive in Amman on Day 1, ready to see the sights — the Amman Railway Museum, Azraq Castle, and the ancient town of Umm al-Jimaal — on Day 2.

Lissan to Guweira, Kithara, Khadra, and Aqaba, and getting our very own taste of the camel-mounted desert movement!

Day 3 | Heading South We visit Jordan Museum, before riding the Desert Highway to a 16th century Hajj pilgrimage fort and 20th century station. The site of this afternoon’s visit is a 12th century frontier castle.

Day 4 | Back to Aqaba Our focus today is the Aqaba Campaign of May–June 1917, following the route of the victorious Arab forces from Abu al-

Day 5 | Petra We devote Day 5 to exploring the incredible Petra, the ‘rose-red city’ of the ancient Nabataeans, with its acres of rock-cut ‘cities of the dead’.

Day 6 | The Role of the Railways Today’s theme is the railway war — we take off-road vehicles on the guerrilla route from Wadi Rum to the Hijaz Railway, before visiting Ottoman counterinsurgency sites, among others.

Day 7 | Guerrilla Warfare Today, we gain further insight — again travelling by 4x4 — into the railway war at Tooth Hill Camp, Tell Shahm Fort, and Muadawwara Redoubts.

Days 8 & 9 | Conclusion Our final full day bids farewell to the 20th century as we learn, instead, of Roman and Crusader archaeology. After visits to Kerak Crusader Castle and Machaerus Fortified Palace and Zealot Stronghold, we descend the spectacular escarpment to the Dead Sea, where we spend the night. We return home on Day 9.

GUIDE LECTURER

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS

DR NEIL FAULKNER

Tour Manager

£2,995 incl. flights £2,395 excl. flights £450 single supp.

“Neil was excellent.

He is an expert in his field. He is enthusiastic and has a natural ability to communicate information and knowledge in an engaging way.”

Call: 01722 713820

Return flights London to Amman All meals included 8 nights in 4* hotels in Amman, Wadi Musa, and the Dead Sea

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Email: info@historicaltrips.com

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9 Days 22nd – 30th October Tour Code: QLA18A

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GLORIANA The Reign of Elizabeth I

From unwanted daughter of an heir-obsessed king to England’s ‘Gloriana’ • Visit the evocative sites associated with this most famous of monarchs, from the well-known to the little-known

• Spend two nights in the Elvetham Hotel, where the queen herself stayed for four nights during her 1591 progress

• Travel alongside expert guide Elizabeth Norton: historian, academic, trained archaeologist, and acclaimed writer

ITINERARY Day 1 | Introduction After meeting at Victoria, we make our way to Hatfield House, Elizabeth’s childhood home. We visit both the remains of the Old Palace, and the Jacobean mansion now on the site.

Day 2 | A Tale of Two Besses We begin our day with a guided tour of Burghley House, the palatial home of Elizabeth’s chief minister William Cecil, before driving on to Hardwick Hall, home of the famous Bess of Hardwick.

Day 3 | Robert’s Request Our first visit of the day is to Kenilworth Castle, the residence once belonging to

GUIDE LECTURER ELIZABETH NORTON “I would give Ms Elizabeth Norton 11 out of 10 if I could. She is very knowledgeable, full of enthusiasm and willing to share her knowledge.”

12

Call: 01722 713820

Elizabeth’s suitor Robert Dudley, who used the queen’s visit there in 1575 as a last-ditch opportunity to persuade her to marry him.

Loseley Park, where the queen stayed during that summer, before moving on to the ruins of Cowdray Heritage House, another of her stops, in the afternoon.

Day 4 | A Right Royal Playwright Our morning is spent in Stratfordupon-Avon, visiting the house where Shakespeare was born, and the church where he was buried. This afternoon, we make our way to Worcester Cathedral, which Elizabeth visited in 1575.

Day 6 | The Queen’s Progress: Part II Our tracing of Elizabeth’s progress route continues today with a visit to the ruins of Titchfield Abbey, and a guided tour of fine Tudor manor house The Vyne.

Day 5 | The Queen’s Progress: Part I Today we set out for Surrey, Sussex, and Hampshire to follow the route of Elizabeth’s 1591 progress. We stop at

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS

Tour Manager

£2,195 incl. coach £275 single supp.

Return coach from London All meals included with wine at lunch and dinner 6 nights in 3/4* hotels in Peterborough, Stratford-uponAvon, and Hook •

Day 7 | Conclusion Our final day takes us to the Tower of London, in which Elizabeth was famously imprisoned in 1554, and then crowned in 1558. We enjoy a guided tour of the tower before finally parting ways.

Email: info@historicaltrips.com

•

7 Days 1st – 7th June Tour Code: QEI18A

www.historicaltrips.com

HISTORIC HOUSES & GARDENS Of the North of England

TREVOR EDWARDS has some forty years of experience in the field of horticulture, in which time he has been a television presenter, radio contributor, garden designer, consultant, project manager, and writer, as well as leading garden tours.

Exploring the historic spaces — indoor and outdoor alike — of the northern counties • Enjoy the expert company of heritage consultant Dr Emma

Wells and Brightwater Holidays garden expert Trevor Edwards

• Walk the halls once belonging to some of the country’s most distinguished clans, from the Curzons to the Sitwells

• Marvel at a mixture of architectural and landscaping styles from the 12th century all the way through to the 20th

ITINERARY Day 1 | Introduction Upon meeting in London, we drive to the neoclassical Kedleston Hall, based on a plan by Andrea Palladio and owned by the Curzon family since the 13th century.

Day 2 | A Duke’s Dwelling This morning, we have a guided tour of Chatsworth House — one of England’s finest country houses and the current seat of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire — and its gardens. After lunch, we visit Haddon Hall and Gardens, one of the finest examples of a fortified medieval manor house in existence today. Its 17th century character is particularly evident in its wonderful knot garden.

GUIDE LECTURERS DR EMMA J WELLS New to Historical Trips, Dr Emma J Wells is an award-winning academic, author, and all-round ‘buildings detective’ whose research ranges across the breadth of Western European history.

Call: 01722 713820

Day 3 | Hardwick Bound Our day begins with a tour of Renishaw Hall — the 400-year-old family home of the Sitwells — and its romantic Italianate gardens. This afternoon, we visit the dominating Hardwick Hall, remarkably unchanged since it was built by Bess of Hardwick in the 1500s.

Day 4 | Longitude -1.39 Our first visit of the day is to the 18th century Nostell Priory, home to a clock built by John Harrison, inventor of the maritime chronometer. Later, we visit Beningbrough Hall and Gardens. Their designer remains a mystery, although we’re sure you’ll agree that whomever

Day 5 | Harewood & Howard Today, we spend a morning at Harewood House and Gardens, home to one of the finest art collections in the country and more than 100 acres of gardens. This afternoon, we move on to Castle Howard, which famously served as the eponymous setting for Brideshead Revisited.

Day 6 | Conclusion Our final visit of the tour is to Newby Hall, a fine example of an ‘Adam House’, before we return to London.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS

Tour Manager

£1,895 incl. coach £275 single supp.

Return coach from London All meals included with wine at lunch and dinner 5 nights in a selection of 3/4* hotels around Derbyshire and south Yorkshire •

it was did a fine job. The mansion is currently home to 100 portraits on loan from the National Portrait Gallery.

Email: info@historicaltrips.com

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6 Days 10th – 15th May Tour Code: QHH18A

www.historicaltrips.com

13

THE GREAT WAR

An Introduction to the Western Front

BELGIUM

Calais

Walk the Western Front, “the world’s worst wound”, exactly a century after it fell silent

Ypres

Passchendaele Ploegsteert

FRANCE

• Chart the course of the Great War, examining both the bigger picture and the everyday realities of life in the trenches

Arras

• Visit the great battlefields of the Somme, Arras, Ypres, and

Cambrai

Ovilliers

Passchendaele, and hear the stories of those who fought there

Ors

• Led by historian and Great War expert Nigel Jones, whose father and uncle both served in the conflict

ITINERARY Day 1 | Introduction: The Last Post Upon meeting in London, we make our way to Dover and cross to Calais. After freshening up at our hotel, we walk to the Menin Gate, built in memory of the unknown soldiers who fell in the Salient. Every evening here, the Last Post is sounded — we witness the emotional ceremony before retiring for dinner.

Day 2 | In Flanders Fields Our morning begins with a visit to the ‘In Flanders Fields’ Museum, and continues at Essex Farm Cemetery, where John McRae, Canadian doctor and author of In Flanders Fields, treated the wounded. We pay our respects at the German Cemetery

NIGEL JONES

Day 4 | Miners and Mechanised Warfare Today, we visit the Battle of Arras site of Vimy Ridge and the Wellington Quarry Underground Tunnel Museum, where we descend into the tunnels built by New Zealand miners under the German front lines. We later drive to Flesquières to hear an account of the Battle of Cambrai, before paying a visit to British tank ‘Deborah’, who served in the conflict, and her dedicated restorer.

Day 5 | Conclusion: Last Days of War On our final day, we visit Ors, scene of the last battle of the war, and pay our respects to Wilfred Owen, who was killed there. Finally, we make our way home.

TOUR DETAILS £1,450 incl. ferry crossings £150 single supp.

Tour Manager

“So good, so patient, extremely knowledgeable and a lovely chap to boot! I’m on a mission now to read all his publications relating to WW1.”

Call: 01722 713820

Day 3 | The Battle of the Somme Today is devoted to the haunting Somme battlefield, starting with its front line trenches and memorials to the Pals battalions, before lunch in the village of Auchonvillers. Later, we see Newfoundland Memorial Park, Thiepval Museum and Sir Edwin Lutyens’ Memorial Arch. Finally, we visit the Lochnagar mine crater at Ovilliers, and take a walk in the sinister Mametz Wood.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

GUIDE LECTURER

14

at Langemarck, Tyne Cot Cemetery and the ‘Pool of Peace’ at Spanbroekmolen.

Finally, we head to Ploegsteert Wood, site of the brief ‘Christmas Truce’ of 1914.

Return Club Class ferry travel Dover to Calais All meals included with wine at lunch and dinner

5 Days 10th – 14th July Tour Code: QGW18A

4 nights in 3/4* hotels in Ypres and Cambrai •

Email: info@historicaltrips.com

•

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IRELAND: 1916–1998 A Century of Troubles

Derry

Belfast

Guerrilla insurgency, civil war, and urban insurrection in the British Isles Dublin

• Take in the cities which served as centres of conflict: Cork,

IRELAND

Dublin, Derry, and Belfast

• Travel with Dr Neil Faulkner, expert military historian • Explore a whole century of conflict in Ireland, from the War of Independence to Civil War

Cork

ITINERARY Day 1 | Introduction On arrival in Cork we explore the city, including a visit to the Public Museum.

Later, we have an introductory lecture on the background to the Troubles.

Day 4 | Power Centres We visit Dublin Castle, centre of British rule in Ireland, this morning. After a visit to Glasnevin Cemetery, burial place of Michael Collins, we drive to Derry.

Day 2 | Cork Country This morning, we explore the countryside around Cork, including the sites of the Kilmichael ambush, Michael Collins’ assassination, and the Battle of Crossbarry. On to Dublin this afternoon.

Day 5 | Walls & Towers We spend the day seeing the sights of Derry — the Walls of Londonderry, the Tower Museum, the Loyalist Fountain and Brandywell district, the Cathedral and the Diamond.

Day 3 | Sites of Strife Today we explore Dublin, including visits to the General Post Office, the Irish Parliament House, and Kilmainham Jail.

Day 6 | Sunday Bloody Sunday During the day, we visit the Nationalist Bogside and Creggan districts, Rossville Street — site of the Bloody Sunday

massacre — and the Free Derry Museum.

This afternoon, we drive to Belfast.

Day 7 | Loyalist Locations Over the course of the day, we explore areas of Belfast including the Loyalist Shankill Road, the Republican Falls Road, and the Ulster Museum.

Day 8 | Conclusion In the morning, we continue our exploration of Belfast, including visits to the Crumlin Road Jail and former RUC and British Army bases, as we learn about the street battles fought between the opposing sides. In the afternoon, we drive to Belfast for our return home.

GUIDE LECTURER

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS

DR NEIL FAULKNER

Tour Manager

£2,195 incl. flights £1,995 excl. flights £215 single supp.

“Neil Faulkner did an outstanding job of keeping the tour organised. But more than that, he was able to convey a sense of what life was like in that time.”

Call: 01722 713820

Return flights London to Cork; Belfast to London All meals included 7 nights in 3/4* hotels in Cork, Dublin, Derry, and Belfast

•

Email: info@historicaltrips.com

8 Days 15th – 22nd September Tour Code: QIL18A

•

www.historicaltrips.com

15

DUCE!

The Rise and Fall of Italian Fascism

Lake Como Lake Garda Milan Verona

Following the course of Fascism, in the tracks of the dictator who brought it into being

ITALY

• Get to the roots of Fascism on this groundbreaking tour

Forlì Predappio

Apennine mountains

taking us from remote hideaways to ostentatious city sites

• Obtain a fascinating insight into the life, regime and doctrine of Italy’s unchallenged dictator, Benito Mussolini

Rome

• Led by Nigel Jones, expert on the history of Fascism — the perfect follow-up to his successful ‘Face of Evil’ tour

ITINERARY Days 1 & 2 | Introduction On arrival in Rome, we enjoy an introductory lecture and drinks at our hotel. On Day 2, we tour the modernist EUR district; see the balcony of Piazza Venezia, a favourite speech-giving spot of Duce’s; and his residence, Villa Torlonia.

Day 3 | Parallels & Pretensions We begin our day at the faux-Classical Foro Italico sports complex, before moving on to the sombre Ardeantine caves, site of a 1944 massacre. Later, we head into the mountains to check in to the hotel where German paratroops rescued Mussolini by glider, and have a viewing of his intact bedroom.

Day 6 | Grand Designs Today, we visit the Mussolini Museum and enjoy a lakeside lunch. After seeing the eccentric Vittoriale, home of Duce’s rival Gabriele d’Annunzio, we refresh at the Villa Feltrinelli Grand Hotel, the dictator’s home during the Salo republic.

GUIDE LECTURER NIGEL JONES “He gave us a lot of factual information, which made good sense of the sites we visited. He was also approachable, good humoured, and felt like ‘one of us’ throughout the tour” 16

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Days 4 & 5 | Predappio: Past & Present On to Mussolini’s hometown of Predappio — we see the ‘Casa Natale’ and have the opportunity to explore.

We return on Day 5 to visit the Casa del Fascio, before moving on to Verona, scene of the execution of Duce’s son-inlaw, and finally to the Lake Garda, where we enjoy dinner at the Villa Flordaliso.

Day 8 | Conclusion On our final day, we travel to Milan and visit the city squares where Italian Fascism began and ended — in one, the party was founded; in another, the executed bodies of Mussolini, his mistress, and his closest collaborators were displayed. After lunch, we head to the airport for flights home.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS

Tour Manager

£2,795 incl. flights £2,545 excl. flights £300 single supp.

Return flights London to Rome; Milan to London All meals included with wine at lunch and dinner 7 nights in 3/4* hotels in Rome, Forlì, Lake Garda, and Lake Como, and at the Hotel Campo Imperatore •

Day 7 | Last Movements This morning, we drive to the beautiful Lake Como where we we replay Duce’s final hours, spent heading for Switzerland before his capture and execution at the nearby Villa Belmonte. This evening is free to spend on Lake Como.

Email: info@historicaltrips.com

•

8 Days 24th September - 1st October 2nd – 9th October Tour Code: QRF18A

www.historicaltrips.com

THE FACE OF EVIL The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

Berlin

GERMANY

Far from the world into which the Nazis were elected, their rise seems unimaginable

Bayreuth Nuremberg

• Join us on this unique, comprehensive tour, with our highest rate of customer satisfaction

• Travel with Historical Trips co-founders Nigel Jones and Roger

Dachau

Moorhouse, both Second World War experts

Munich

• Contrast the ostentatious sites connected with the Nazi

AUSTRIA

Berchtesgaden

leadership with the bleak horrors of Dachau

ITINERARY Day 1 | Introduction On arrival in Munich, cradle of the Nazi movement, we drive to our hotel for an introductory lecture, drinks, and dinner.

Day 2 | Nazi Bavaria This morning, we visit Dachau, the first Nazi concentration camp, before returning to Munich for a visit to the Documentation Centre and a walk in the footsteps of the Beer Hall Putschists, ending with dinner at the Hofbräuhaus.

Day 4 | Subterranean Secrets This morning, we visit the site of Hitler’s home, and the Documentation Centre detailing his links with the area. We then head below ground to tunnels built by the SS before moving on to Nuremberg.

Day 5 | Justice & Propaganda Today, we visit the Nuremberg Rally grounds and their accompanying museum, and Courtroom 600, where the Nazi regime was subject to its final interrogation at the Nuremberg Trials.

Day 3 | Into the Alps We leave Munich for Berchtesgaden today, travelling to the summit of the Kehlstein mountain where a former

GUIDE LECTURERS NIGEL JONES & ROGER MOORHOUSE

Day 8 | Resistance Our first stop this morning is the hidden Gesundbrunnen air raid shelter, followed by the Humboldthain Flak Tower, and the Museum of the German Resistance.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS

Tour Manager

£2,595 incl. flights £2,355 excl. flights £250 single supp.

All meals included with wine at lunch and dinner 8 nights in 3/4* hotels in Munich, Berlin, Berchtesgaden, and Nuremberg •

Days 6 & 7 | War Crimes in Wannsee We stop en-route to Berlin in Wagner’s hometown, Bayreuth. On Day 7, we travel to Wannsee, where the ‘Final Solution’ was discussed, before visiting Berlin’s Topography of Terror Museum.

Day 9 | Conclusion We conclude a walking tour of Berlin at the site of the bunker where Hitler spent his last days, before flying home.

Return flights London to Munich; Berlin to London

“First rate.

Passionate and very knowledgeable on his subject.

An engaging and expert guide by any standard.”

Call: 01722 713820

Third Reich edifice, the lofty ‘Eagle’s Nest’, serves as a restaurant with a view. Back at our hotel, we round off with a lecture.

Email: info@historicaltrips.com

•

9 Days 9th – 17th June Tour Code: QFE18A

www.historicaltrips.com

17

CHURCHILL & CHAMPAGNE The Fight for France

Conal Gregory MW Conal’s interests include the classic French regions of Champagne, Bordeaux and Burgundy. He has served as wine compère on ITV’s The Food Programme, and is the author of The Cognac Companion.

London

Tenterden

Ashford

A channel-hopping exploration of wine, war, and the battle for Europe • Visit the places Churchill loved, while hearing some lesser-

FRANCE

known stories about the great man from lecturer Paul Beaver

• Taste while you travel aboard a fully kitted-out double-decker

Reims

bus and wine bar; recreate a special 1944 dinner held at the British Embassy in Paris, and marvel at a sabrage demonstration

Paris

• Enjoy dinner at Maxim's and a tasting at Pol Roger

Taittinger

ITINERARY Day 1 | Churchill, Chartwell, Chapel Beginning in central London, we journey through Kent to the Churchill family home of Chartwell, where we explore the gardens, wine cellar and study. Our day continues with lunch and a tasting at the Chapel Down winery, and winds down with a pre-dinner lecture.

with a tasting session aboard a private double-decker bus, actually a touring bar and restaurant. This afternoon, we travel to Châtillon-sur-Marne for breathtaking vistas over the Champagne lands.

Day 2 | Les Invalides et la Libération Whisked away to Paris by Eurostar, we visit Les Invalides and the Liberation Museum, and dine at Maxim’s, perhaps the world’s most famous restaurant.

Day 4 | Taittinger's Grapes of Wrath On to the Musée de la Reddition, home to the table where Eisenhower signed the German surrender document.

This afternoon, we visit Champagne Taittinger, where we learn the epic tale of how Pierre Taittinger used Champagne to stop the Germans from destroying Paris.

Day 3 | All Aboard!

Post-breakfast, our morning begins

Day 5 | Back to the Embassy Today, we learn about the Champagne-

WHAT’S INCLUDED

GUIDE LECTURERS PAUL BEAVER

18

Call: 01722 713820

Days 6 & 7 | Conclusion Today at the Automobile Museum, we learn of Churchill’s visits to the front line.

After lunch at Le Fôret Joli on the Route de la Libération, our afternoon is spent with Canard-Duchene, who give us a dramatic demonstration of sabrage. We return home on Day 7.

TOUR DETAILS

Tour Manager

New to Historical Trips, Paul Beaver is a leading military and political historian and a member of the British Commission on Military History. He has a special interest in the life and times of Winston Churchill.

making process with a visit to the Castelnau Co-operative. On to Epernay for a visit to the Grande Maison of Pol Roger, with which Churchill had a lifelong love affair. We have something very special planned this evening: a recreation of a dinner held at Paris’ British Embassy in 1944, which included Pol Roger.

Return Eurostar travel, London to Paris All meals included with wine at lunch and dinner

£2,495 incl. Eurostar £215 single supp.

7 Days 18th – 24th May Tour Code: QCC18A

6 nights in 3/4* hotels in Kent, Paris, and Reims •

Email: info@historicaltrips.com

•

www.historicaltrips.com

OPERATION SEA LION The Nazi Invasion of Britain

London

It is 1940: Europe is in the grip of war and German forces breach England’s south coast • Join us for a unique ‘what if?’ history tour, taking a look at what could have been in an alternative 1940

Dover

• Learn from Professor Gary Sheffield, renowned military historian and expert on Operation Sea Lion

ENGLAND

Hythe

Folkestone

• Based in Kent, ‘England’s Garden’ and the epicentre of the proposed Nazi invasion

ITINERARY Day 1 | First Landing We depart from central London and head for Hythe. At the Imperial Hotel — which in 1940 would have been the aiming point for the German transport aircraft carrying paratroopers — Gary Sheffield will give an initial brief on Operation Sea Lion. After lunch, we examine the initial German amphibious landing on the beach at Hythe on 22nd September 1940.

Then, from the Royal Military Canal, we discuss the initial British response to the invasion. Moving a short distance inland, we then look at the operations of German parachutists.

Day 2 | British Resistance Our second day begins at the site of RAF Lympne, where a German Division was flown in on 23rd September. At Saltwood Castle, we look at the British counterattack, then, from a secret location, at the clandestine war: the role of the stay-behind sabotage parties forming the nucleus of the British Resistance.

From Folkestone, we consider German attempts to bring in reinforcements.

In our last visit of the day, looking out across the Channel at Dover, we examine the war at sea, focusing on the role of the Royal Navy in ensuring the failure of Operation Sea Lion.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

GUIDE LECTURER PROF. GARY SHEFFIELD

TOUR DETAILS £895 incl. coach travel £150 single supp.

Tour Manager

“It was a rare and unexpected privilege to have Gary as our guide. He is supremely good.”

Return coach from London All meals included with wine at lunch and dinner 2 nights in a 3/4* hotel in Hythe

Call: 01722 713820

•

Email: info@historicaltrips.com

Day 3 | Conclusion We begin our final day with a visit to RAF Hawkinge — which played a critical role both in our fictitious campaign and the ‘real’ Battle of Britain — to consider the role of air power. We are then given the opportunity to explore the Battle of Britain Museum, followed by an examination of civilian life in the war zone and under long-term Nazi occupation. We enjoy a session at a country pub, where we review, followed by lunch. This afternoon, our final visit is to Churchill’s home, Chartwell, where we hear about his role in the events of 1940, before making our way back to London.

•

3 Days 13th – 15th April Tour Code: QSE18A

www.historicaltrips.com

19

THE FINAL SOLUTION The Holocaust in Poland

Gdańsk

Kętrzyn

POLAND

A journey to the epicentre of the Second World War, from subjugation to liberation

Treblinka Warsaw

• Follow the entire course of events, from the opening shots of the war at Gdańsk to the liberation of the death camps

• Discover some of the greatest acts of heroism and most heinous crimes the world has ever seen

Auschwitz

• Led by leading Holocaust historian Roger Moorhouse

Kraków

ITINERARY Days 1 & 2 | First Shots Fired We arrive in Gdańsk on Day 1, and enjoy introductory drinks and a lecture on the September Campaign at our hotel.

On Day 2, We explore the ancient heart of Gdańsk, site of the first battles of the Second World War. Notable stops include the harbour channel of Westerplatte, and the Cathedral, heavily damaged when the city was stormed by the Red Army.

Day 3 | Base of Operations We visit the site of Hitler’s wartime HQ in Kętrzyn, where von Stauffenberg’s ill-fated attempt on the dictator’s life was made in 1944, before continuing to the death camp of Treblinka.

GUIDE LECTURER ROGER MOORHOUSE “I would take any trip that Roger manages or lectures. His input truly made the trip.

This is my second with him, and I look forward to Poland!”

20

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Day 4 | Resistance in Warsaw Slated to be destroyed, the city of Warsaw resisted occupation and paid a terrible price — by 1945, most of the city was reduced to rubble and 200,000 civilians killed. We tour the Old Town, which has been beautifully restored.

Day 5 | The Pianist Today we visit a veritable Who’s Who of Polish heroes, including the famous pianist Władysław Szpilman, at the beautiful Powazki Cemetery, followed by a visit to the National Military Museum.

Day 6 | City of Culture We spend the day in beautiful Krakόw,

Day 7 | Auschwitz-Birkenau This morning, we embark on a full challenging day at Auschwitz-Biekenau, site of the Nazis’ most infamous concentration and death camp.

Day 8 | Schindler’s Ark Our final morning focuses on one of the country’s more uplifting sites: Oskar Schindler’s former factory in Krakόw.

After lunch, we transfer to the airport for our return home.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TOUR DETAILS

Tour Manager

£2,195 incl. flights £1,945 excl. flights £250 single supp.

Return flights London to Gdańsk; Kraków to London All meals included with wine at lunch and dinner 7 nights in 4* hotels in Gdańsk, Kętrzyn, Warsaw, and Kraków •

Poland’s cutural heart and former capital.

We take in the many sights including St Mary’s Cathedral, the Cloth Hall, and the historic Jewish district of Kazimierz.

Email: info@historicaltrips.com

•

8 Days 25th June – 2nd July Tour Code: QPO18A

www.historicaltrips.com

POPULAR 2018 TOUR CALENDAR STUDY DAY A full list of all our tours MARCH

JULY

IRAN

FRANCE & BELGIUM

MIRRORS OF THE UNSEEN Neither East nor West — an off-thebeaten-track adventure with Jason Elliot 3rd – 15th March p.10

THE GREAT WAR An Introduction to the Western Front with Nigel Jones 10th – 14th July p.14

SEPTEMBER

APRIL

Henry VIII

UK

Hampton Court Palace with Dr Suzannah Lipscomb

FRANCE

OPERATION SEA LION The Nazi Invasion of Britain with Prof. Gary Sheffield 13th – 15th April p.19

Spend a day exploring Henry VIII’s palace of pleasure: the extraordinary Hampton Court. Once there, we trace the stories of Henry’s last four wives through their association with the palace: the birth of a long-awaited heir with Jane Seymour, Katherine Howard’s infidelity, and Katheryn Parr’s marriage to Henry in 1543.

CHÂTEAUX OF THE LOIRE History & Wine with Dr Michael Jones 2nd – 8th September p.9

FRANCE

MAY

LANGUEDOC Cathars, Templars & Crusaders with Dr Sophie Thérèse Ambler 10th – 17th September 17th – 24th September p.7

SPAIN

ANDALUS Moorish Spain with Jason Webster 2nd – 9th May p.8

GUIDE LECTURER Dr Suzannah Lipscomb is a highlyregarded specialist on the Tudor period with five titles to her name, including 1536: The Year That Changed Henry VIII. Suzannah is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and has presented numerous television documentaries.

IRELAND

IRELAND: 1916–1998 A Century of Troubles with Dr Neil Faulkner 15th – 22nd September p.15

UK

HISTORIC HOUSES & GARDENS Of the North of England with Dr Emma J Wells 10th – 15th May p.13

ITALY

DUCE! The Rise and Fall of Italian Fascism with Nigel Jones 24th September - 1st October p.16

FRANCE & UK

CHURCHILL & CHAMPAGNE The Fight for France with Paul Beaver 18th – 24th May p.18

HIGHLIGHTS

SICILY

CONQUERING SICILY A Joint Tour with Andante Travels with Dr Alex Metcalfe 24th September – 1st October p.6

• Join Dr Suzannah Lipscomb, former curator of Hampton Court Palace associated with Henry VIII

JUNE

included

UK

• Visit the key parts of the palace

• Entry and lunch at Hampton Court

OCTOBER

GLORIANA The Reign of Elizabeth 1 with Elizabeth Norton 1st – 7th June p.12

ITALY

DUCE! The Rise and Fall of Italian Fascism with Nigel Jones 2nd – 9th October p.16

GERMANY

THE FACE OF EVIL The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich with Nigel Jones & Roger Moorhouse 9th – 17th June p.17

JORDAN

JORDAN Romans, Crusaders & Lawrence of Arabia with Dr Neil Faulkner 22nd – 30th October p.11

POLAND

THE FINAL SOLUTION The Holocaust in Poland with Roger Moorhouse 25th June – 2nd July p.20

17th May 2018 | £150 See our website for more information

Call: 01722 713820

•

Email: info@historicaltrips.com

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21

2018 PRICED TOURS

Booking information

The following general information refers to bookings made with Andante Travels Ltd, trading as Andante Travels and Historical Trips. Andante Travels Ltd, of The Clock Tower, Unit 4 Oakridge Office Park, Southampton Road, Whaddon, Salisbury, SP5 3HT, is registered as a limited company no. 1969761. Please note that bookings with Historical Trips are accepted only in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in our full booking conditions, which can be found on our website or are available on request.

INSURANCE

We strongly recommend that all travellers are covered by comprehensive travel insurance and don’t travel against medical advice. You should organise it immediately when you book, to ensure you have cover against possible cancellation charges, medical treatment, and repatriation. We will need to know details of your policy four weeks before departure at the latest.

DEPOSITS AND FINAL PAYMENT

A £300 deposit is required to reserve your place on any tour. Balance payments will be requested two months before you depart, and we will then send you practical information regarding the tour, travel, hotel, and joining instructions.

CANCELLATION BY YOU

Cancellation charges payable to Historical Trips are calculated on time prior to departure as follows: Up to 56 days: Deposit* | 55 - 41 days: 35% of tour cost 40 - 29 days: 55% of tour cost | 28 - 8 days: 75% of tour cost 7 days to date of departure: 100% of tour cost *plus any invoiced flight costs.

CANCELLATION BY US

If we have to cancel your holiday before the date of departure, you will have the choice of taking an alternative holiday (and paying or receiving a refund/credit in respect of any price difference) or accepting a full refund of monies paid.

FINANCIAL PROTECTION

Flight inclusive tours: we hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence issued by the CAA (ATOL No. 3552) which provides for our protection in the event of Andante Travels’ insolvency.

The price of your air holiday packages includes the ATOL Protection Contribution (APC) we pay to the CAA. This charge is included in our advertised prices. When you buy an ATOL protected flight or flight inclusive holiday from us you will receive an ATOL Certificate. This lists what is financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you and who to contact if things go wrong. Not all holiday or travel services offered and sold by us will be protected by the ATOL scheme as explained below.

you may claim a refund, or if you have already travelled, you may claim repatriation to the starting point of your nonflight package.

AITO QUALITY CHARTER

We are a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. The Association represents Britain’s leading independent tour operators and encourages high standards of quality and service. We abide by the Association’s Code of Conduct and adhere to the AITO Quality Charter which can be viewed on www.aito.com. Visit the website to find out more about the Association or call 020 8744 9280.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

We include as much as possible in the tour price: Expert Guide Lecturer Tour Manager (may not be included on tours with 10 participants or fewer) Scheduled group travel unless otherwise stated Accommodation Meals with water, and wine where stated Tips and entrance to all sites in the programme

HOW TO BOOK

Booking with Historical Trips is a secure and simple process.

You can book by phone or email, or at historicaltrips.com.

Once you have notified us of which tour (or tours) you would like to book, we will require a £300 deposit, payable by debit or credit card to secure your place (there is a 2.5% surcharge for credit cards).

We also take some personal details in order to confirm your place on the tour. We request balance payments 2 months before you depart and we then send you practical information regarding your tour, flights, hotel and joining instructions.

To book, or if you have any questions about any of our tours Phone - 01722 713820 Email - info@historicaltrips.com Website - www.historicaltrips.com

Tours without flights arranged by us: as a member of the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT), Andante Travels has provided a bond to meet the requirements of the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992. In the event of insolvency, protection is provided for non-flight packages commencing in and returning to the UK and other non-flight packages excluding pre-arranged travel to and from your destination.

Please note that packages booked outside the UK are only protected when purchased directly with Andante Travels.

In the above circumstances, if you have not yet travelled

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Call: 01722 713820

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Email: info@historicaltrips.com

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www.historicaltrips.com

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What level of knowledge will I need?

Does it matter if I’m not an expert?

It doesn’t matter if you’re an amateur historian, well on your way to your PhD, or just a little bit curious: there’s a place for everyone on a Historical Trips tour.

Do I have to do everything listed in the tour’s itinerary?

Not unless you want to. Nothing is compulsory, and if you would rather spend a day relaxing, that’s fine with us.

Do you welcome single travellers?

Of course! There’s usually an even mix of single travellers and couples on our tours. Historical Trips are convivial experiences, so you don’t have to be alone (unless you want to be).

What’s included in the price of the trip?

Our trips are all-inclusive, so you don’t need to pay extra for any meals, drinks (including wine with lunch and dinner), accommodation, entry fees, or tips. Depending on the trip you choose, the flights can be included too.

Can I make my own way to our destination?

All of our tours also have ‘without flights’ prices, so you can make your way to us however you wish. Just let us know well in advance if you’re electing to do so.

GET IN TOUCH

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As our groups are small, more often than not we can create the time to do this. All we ask is that you let us know in advance if there’s somewhere you’d like included.

Are meals included in the tour price?

They are fully included, and often with wine at lunch and dinner. Wherever we can, we also arrange special dinners or stop for drinks in sites connected to our tour.

Are any cultural elements included in your tours?

Yes! We think the right cultural elements can turn great tours into amazing ones. Our 2016 tours include visits to vineyards, art galleries, and game reserves. You could even enjoy a camel trek through the desert.

What sort of hotels will we be staying in?

We mostly stay in 4* hotels, with some superb 3* or 5* hotels mixed in too — where possible, we even spend the night in historic sites.

Can I design my own tour?

Yes! We’ve provided bespoke tours for private groups and societies — including a commemorative tour for the Accrington Pals — in the past, and we’d be happy to do so for you. See ‘Get in Touch’, below, for details.

GIVE US A CALL If you’re interested in coming on tour, but still have some questions about the whole process, we’re here to help. Our customer care team — made up of Rachael, Natalie, Sarah, and Debbie — are on hand to help you with any queries, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

nyone who’s travelled with us will know that the Historical Trips team is comprised of well-travelled historians, linguists, travel professionals, wine guides, and garden experts. But perhaps most important of all are those behind the scenes, making sure it all runs smoothly: our customer care team.

Call: 01722 713820

Can visits to places of personal significance be included in your tours?

You can also get in touch for a quote on your very own bespoke tour, just give us a call or send us an email with your idea, and we’ll work with you to bring it into being.

Phone - 01722 713820 Email - info@historicaltrips.com Website - www.historicaltrips.com We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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Email: info@historicaltrips.com

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www.historicaltrips.com

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The Clock Tower, Unit 4 Oakridge Office Park, Southampton Road, Whaddon, Salisbury, SP5 3HT

Call: 01722 713820 • Email: info@historicaltrips.com • www.historicaltrips.com

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