Explore one of the main American battlefields of World War I. Accompanied by a historian live guide, follow the progress of the Doughboys through the forests and villages of the Argonne, where the U.S. Army led the largest offensive in its history up to that point in the fall of 1918.
Your tour begins in Binarville, following in the footsteps of the 77th American Division, nicknamed the "Metropolitan Division" due to its close ties with New York. You will discover the context of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the difficulties of the terrain, and the battles fought in a forest transformed into a veritable fortress by the German army.
You will then head to the Lost Battalion sector. In the Charlevaux Ravine, several hundred soldiers under the command of Major Charles W. Whittlesey were encircled from October 2 to 7, 1918. Cut off from their lines and subjected to German attacks, they resisted for several days in extreme conditions.
A walk on the battlefield makes it possible to understand their isolation, the organization of the positions, and the reasons why this episode has become one of the most famous stories in American military history.
The tour continues on to Châtel-Chéhéry, in the footsteps of Alvin C. York. On October 8, 1918, this soldier from Tennessee took part in a spectacular action that earned him the Medal of Honor and made him one of the most famous American figures of the Great War. On the heights of the village, you will place his feat in its true military context and discover the role of the 82nd U.S. Division in the fighting in Argonne.
You will then reach Montfaucon-d'Argonne, one of the major strategic objectives of the American offensive. From the heights occupied by the German army, you will understand the importance of this dominant position and the difficulties encountered by American troops during the first days of the offensive. You will also discover the American monument of Montfaucon, erected in memory of the victory and the combatants of the Meuse-Argonne.
The tour ends in Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. With 14,246 graves, it is the largest American military cemetery in Europe. This monumental site allows us to measure the human cost of the offensive and pay tribute to the soldiers who fell in 1918.
This tour combines a historical narrative, an interpretation of the landscape, and a discovery of major memorial sites. Part of the tour is a walking tour in the forest, on paths that are sometimes uneven. Appropriate footwear is recommended.
