Emperor Napoleon’s Decline & Fall
About the tour: Emperor Napoleon’s Decline & Fall
Tour Introduction
From the German War of Liberation of 1813, to the Campaign in France 1814 and the Hundred Days’ 1815, our new tour is designed to give an appreciation of some of Napoleon’s victories and defeats in the aftermath of the 1812 retreat, from Moscow to Waterloo. Join us as we travel through Holland, Belgium and France as we study Napoleon fought battles, locations and events leading up to, and including, his defeat at Waterloo.
Tour Includes
- 11 nights hotel with continental breakfast
- Specialist Historical Guide
- Historical visits as described
- Free local joining points
We offer flexible payment options
Once you have booked your battlefield tour either online, or by telephone (), you have the flexibility of how you pay off the remainder of your balance. You can -
- Use our balance payment facility online to make and track your card payments. You can pay as much as you want up until your final due date or pay it all, the choice is yours.
- Send payments via online banking.
- Send payments via cheque.
- Call us and make a card payment, either a small amount or as lump sum until your final due date.
Our contact and online banking payment details will be on your confirmation invoice to remind you of your choices.
Tour Itinerary
For customers living outside of the UK, if you want to make a booking you will need to provide a UK postcode on our online booking system. If you are not able to provide a relevant UK postcode then you can enter the postcode for London Victoria Coach Station – SW1W 9TP. You should then be able to proceed to complete your booking.
If you do encounter a problem then you can speak to one of our friendly advisors who will be happy to help.
Please Note : After completing your booking, a member of our Customer Service team will be in touch to make sure everything is okay.
Either e-mail our Reservations Department or call on 01709 830 333 and they will check to see whether you can visit a particular cemetery on any of our Battlefield Tours, if we are not able to fit it into our itinerary then you could take some time out of the tour and do this independently by taxi or public transport.
Day 1
Local departure by coach or Door-to-Door service, then to Holland for an overnight stay.
Day 2 - The Prussian Fourth Coalition Battles of Jena/Auerstaedt 1806
We head east today, as we learn about the resounding 1806 Prussian defeats at Jena and Auerstaedt. These defeats led to Prussia becoming a French ‘client state’ until the advent of the German Liberation War 1813.
We stay in Jena overnight.
Included meals: Breakfast
Battle of Jena (2)
Key Visits
- Battle of Jena
Day 3 - 1813 Battles of Lutzen and Batzaun
We leave Jena and head towards Lutzen, which is considered to be one of Napoleon’s masterly fought victories, though he conceded that the Prussian’s ‘were no longer the wooden toys of Frederick the Great’.
Although victorious at Batzaun, a lack of French cavalry, failures by subordinates, including the Emperor himself, plus a lengthy armistice (much to Napoleon’s later great regret), permitted the Coalition forces to regroup and fight another day.
We move on to Dresden where we stay for two nights.
Included meals: Breakfast
Battle of Lutzen (2)
Key Visits
- Battle of Lutzen
Day 4 - Dresden and Kulm 1813
A hard-fought victory for Napoleon, Dresden ‘appeared’ to see of off substantial Coalition forces for the time being, enabling the Emperor to concentrate on threats elsewhere.
Kulm was an unexpected reverse for Napoleon following his success at Dresden, when General Vandamme’s French pursuit turned into a debacle, passing the advantage to the Coalition. From here on in, the fortunes of war began slowly to turn in favour the allies.
Often referred to as Florence on the Elbe, there will be free time to explore Dresden.
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 5 - Leipzig - the ‘Battle of the Nations’ 1813
Today we head to Leipizig. Comprising several cheek by jowl actions, overall Leipzig is believed to be the biggest battle ever fought until WW1.
You will study how Napoleon planned a defensive battle that a missed opportunity saw turn into an eventual Coalition victory.
After seeing the gigantic battlefield memorial, we will visit further actions associated with the Grande Armee’s subsequent withdrawal.
We continue east to the Hanau/Frankfurt area.
Included meals: Breakfast
Battle of the Nations, Leipzig (2)
Key Visits
- Battle of the Nations, Leipzig
Day 6 - The withdrawal of the Grande Armee - the Battle of Hanau
Considered by some to be the Emperor’s last ‘great’ victory, Hanau saw an ammunition-depleted Bavarian army attempt to block the French withdrawal to no real avail.
Following time at Hanau, we continue into France, and to Reims for three nights.
Included meals: Breakfast
Hanau (2)
Key Visits
- Hanau
Day 7 - 1814 Campaign in France
Pouncing on the Prussian army at Brienne – coincidently the scene of Napoleon’s education – and though nearly captured by Cossacks, we see how the Emperor beat Marshal Blucher’s Coalition troops. Whilst in Brienne, there will be time to visit the Brienne Napoleon Museum (entrance fee extra).
Falling back on reinforcements, Blucher turned with overwhelming force at La Rothiere. However Napoleon skillfully disengaged to fight another day. Defeated at Arcis-sur-Aube, this was the Emperor’s last battle prior to his abdication at Fontainebleau and before the Waterloo Campaign the following year.
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 8 - Six Day Campaign
Today, we study the battles of the actions of the ‘Six Day Campaign’. We will also visit the Battle of Craonne, one of the most sanguine of the Campaign in France and very much a Russian victory.
The nearby Battle of Laon was also a Campaign Coalition victory. Here it is said that the French cavalry in abandoning the field discarded sufficient cuirasses to equip a whole Prussian regiment.
Included meals: Breakfast
laon (2)
Key Visits
- laon
Day 9 - Waterloo Campaign Opens – 15th -17th June 1815
Today we head into Belgium where Napoleon’s concentration of the Armee d’Nord was a masterful accomplishment.
Our guide will tell you how the subsequent invasion proceeded, what went wrong, what Napoleon did en route, and about the betrayal and the delays.
At Charleroi you will stand where the Emperor dozed while reviewing his troops and where Marshal Ney ‘in haste’ received his initial orders.
At Gilly you will see where Napoleon spurred his men into action. At Fleurus you will stand by the windmill where he surveyed what was to be his last victory, the Battle of Ligny.
At Ligny you can visit the impressive General Gerard Museum (entrance fee extra). After seeing the scenes of fighting at Ligny, the axis of the route of Napoleon’s pursuit of Wellington’s army will be followed, including a tour of the inconclusive battle of Quatre Bras.
We stay for three nights in Waterloo.
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 10 - Battles of Wavre and Plancenoit 1815
Today we study how the Prussians re-grouped, following their defeat at Ligny and how, at Warve, they prevented Marshal Grouchy’s 30,000 men from re-joining the Emperor at Waterloo, as well as how they contributed to the Allied victory at Waterloo by persistence at Plancenoit.
Afterwards, you can visit Napoleon’s overnight GHQ at Le Caillou.
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 11 - The Waterloo Battlefield and Wellington’s Headquarters
The year 2015 saw the opening of the new, and now acclaimed, Hougoumont Visitors’ Centre, which includes access to the refurbished Panorama and the Lion Mound.
Following thoughtful renovation, – incorporating an audio-visual presentation – what happened there during the battle can also be visited.
From the French Wounded Eagle Memorial your guide will describe what happened at the battle's end.
The memorable tour ends with a visit to the Waterloo Museum where Wellington wrote his Waterloo Despatch.
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 12
Return home.
Included meals: Breakfast
Specialist Battlefield Guides
All of Leger’s battlefield tours are accompanied by specialist guides. Their individual in-depth knowledge of warfare will be informative, as well as enhance your overall experience, as they recreate a fascinating perception of the history and factual events of each battle. Discover the actual catalysts for war, the strategies employed and the final, inevitable outcomes, as well as experiencing the emotional human side of the front line.
Please note: On certain tours, you may get tour guides other that the ones listed below.
Hotel
If you prefer, then you can join the tour at the hotel. To do this, we will require a copy of your passport for identification purposes and you must advise us at the time of booking.
No reduction will be given if you should choose to do this.
All hotel rooms benefit from private bathroom facilities.
Some hotels have tea and coffee making facilities. Please check the tour pages for more information or call our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333
Most hotels have a lift, please call our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333 for more information.
Some hotels have ground floor rooms. Please email for information on individual hotels or call our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333.
Your hotels will supply towels in your room.
We are unable to guarantee that the hotel will be able to meet your dietary requirements. We find that the majority of European countries do not generally cater for vegetarians and that the meal supplied may well be what everyone else is having minus the meat.
We will of course endeavour to arrange for a vegetarian meal at the hotel. We do however suggest that you advise us of your dietary requests at the time of booking and recommend that you speak to the receptionist on arrival with regard to your request.
Travel Options
Departure times given for each region are approximate. Please check your travel documents to confirm the actual timings.
Front row seats can be reserved for £14pp (up to 6 days duration), £22pp (7 & 8 days duration) and £25pp (9 days duration and over) on all European tours. In addition to this seats on the second row can be reserved for £7pp (up to 6 days duration), £14pp (7 & 8 days duration) and £15pp (9 days duration and over). This offer is only available for bookings of two or four persons on the front row and is subject to availability. Guaranteed front/second row seats cannot be reserved on feeder journeys to/from the U.K. port. Children under 15 years cannot occupy a front row seat due to French Law. Central view seats are free.
Please note: On some coaches the legroom on front seats may be slightly less than that available on other seats due to the presence of a modesty board in front.
If your tour is cancelled for any reason and front/second row seats are not available on your new tour you will be refunded the supplement. No other compensation will be payable.
Alternatively, we can take seating requests on your booking. However, requests are not guaranteed. All seat numbers are confirmed on travel documents approximately 7-10 days prior to departure.
We guarantee that all passengers on the same booking will be seated together on the main tour coach. Seats on the transfer coaches to and from the U.K. port are not allocated.
Hot and cold drinks are served on the main tour coaches. Prices are approximately £1 or 1.25 Euro per drink. Prices will be confirmed by the driver. Drinks may also be served on the transfer coaches but this is not guaranteed.
Transfer vehicles are routed approximately 2-3 weeks before departure and will depend on where passengers are booked to travel from on any particular date as to which route is taken. If you require further detailed information regarding the route to the port you can contact our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333 two weeks before you are due to travel.
With regard to the route taken by the main tour coach, this is determined by the driver.
All main tour coaches have on-board toilets. Transfer vehicles to and from the U.K. port may not have on-board toilets. When non-British coaches are used on transfers and tours (air holidays only) an on-board toilet may not be available. However, comfort stops will be made during long journeys.
All coaches feature air-conditioning. Should the air-conditioning system break down for a period exceeding 12 hours, compensation will be awarded up to a maximum of £10 per fare-paying passenger per tour.
Depending on the location of your pickup point, you may be picked up by coach (not necessarily the on you are touring on), minibus, taxi, National Express or Megabus service. You may then be taken to another centralised pickup location or service station. We operate a passenger interchange at Stop 24 Services, where you will meet the tour coach you are holidaying on and then continue on with your outbound journey. Similarly, on the way home, you may also change transfer vehicles at another location, to take you to your final drop off point.
One medium sized suitcase per person, which should weigh no more than 20kg when full. We may refuse to carry larger or heavier cases. Hand luggage can be stored in the overhead racks aboard the coach.
It could be either - This will be confirmed in your travel documents.
When it comes to getting to the Battlefields, Leger Holidays make it easy, with a selection of travel options for you choose from.
Travel Extras
With an overnight stay, a Door-to-Door pick up or the option to meet us at the interchange, our travel extras allow you to create a travel experience to suit your needs...
Join coach at Interchange
+ Find out moreJoin your tour coach at the interchange.
On most tours if you’d prefer to join your tour coach at Stop 24 services, you can park your car in the car park which is accredited by the Park Mark safer parking scheme and is monitored 24 hours a day by CCTV. Payment for the parking is made on arrival using the self-service machines.
Excludes tours to Ireland and the U.K. and tours travelling via Brittany Ferries.
Door-to-Door service
+ Find out moreOn Battlefield tours of 7 days’ duration or more, you don’t even have to think about getting to your local joining point. Our Door-to-Door Service collects you from your home and takes you to meet your transfer vehicile, then brings you back at the end of the holiday. Door-to-Door Service is available within a 20-mile radius of one of our free joining points and is from £90 per car, return (up to 4 passengers per vehicle).
If you live a little further afield, you can also take advantage of this convenient option for an additional charge – please enquire at the time of booking.
