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Archduke Charles of
Austria, Duke of Teschen, was Napoleon's most dogged
adversary throughout the Napoleonic Wars. 2009 marks the
200th anniversaries of some of the great battles between
France and Austria, including, of course, Wagram which
provides us with the centrepiece of the tour. In addition
to Wagram we will visit Austerlitz, just a short drive
north, as well as Aspern-Essling, Ratisbon - where
Napoleon was wounded - Eckmuhl, Abensberg and Landhsut,
giving us a whole week of great Napoleonic battles. Of
course, no trip to Austria is complete without a visit to
the capital, Vienna, and time is duly given over for a
good look at this wonderful city. Our guide, as usual on
the Napoleon tours, is Julian Spilsbury.
Day
1. Fly London to Vienna. Drive to Brno and check-in at
the 3-star Hotel Voronezh. Introductory talk, dinner and
overnight stay.
Day
2. Breakfast. Austerlitz. We have a complete tour of
the battlefield, including the Pratzen Heights, the Santon,
and the Visitors' Centre. We then drive south to Vienna
and check into our hotel, the 4-star Sofitel Vienna.
Dinner and overnight stay.
Day
3. Breakfast. The 200th anniversary of Wagram, fought
on this day in 1809. Our tour takes in all the salient
points of the battle, fought on the western side of the
river Danube. Our plans on this day may be affected by
commemorative events, although we will, nevertheless,
ensure a complete, detailed tour of the battlefield.
Dinner and overnight.
Day
4. Breakfast. Aspern-Essling. Fought over two days in
May 1809, this battlefield lies close by Wagram. The
battle resulted in a victory for
Archduke
Charles over Napoleon. It was here also that Marshal
Lannes was mortally wounded. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day
5. Breakfast. City tour of Vienna. Optional visit to
army museum, otherwise we have free time for shopping,
etc., in the city. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day
6. Breakfast. Today we will visit Ratisbon, Abensberg,
Eckmuhl. All three actions were fought in April 1809 and
lie close by, allowing us to visit all three with ease. We
then drive to Ingolstadt and check into the 4-star Mercure
Ingolstadt hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day
7. Breakfast. Today we visit the Bavarian Army Museum
in Ingolstadt before driving south to take a look at the
battlefield of Landshut, yet another battle fought in
April 1809. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day
8. Breakfast. Drive to Munich airport for the return
flight to London.
Departure date 4-11 July 2009
Price £1750 Single supplement £210
Tour
Package includes
return
air fare, coach transport, seven nights accommodation,
seven dinners with wine,
seven
buffet breakfasts, all museum entry fees, tour manager,
and guide Julian Spilsbury
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