Ian Fletcher Battlefield Tours

Agemus Agenda

Napoleon and Russia 1812

borodino

When Napoleon embarked upon his ill-fated invasion of Russia in 1812 he had little idea that it would end in such a crushing defeat for him and his Grande Armee. Irritated by what he perceived to be growing Russian ambitions and unable to bring Czar Alexander into line with words alone he decided to invade Russia in order to teach Alexander a lesson. Unfortunately for him and his army Napoleon badly miscalculated the resolve of both the Russian people and their army and more significantly, the effects that the bitter chill of winter would have upon the campaign. Our tour follows in Napoleon’s footsteps to Moscow, including an extensive visit to the great and bloody battlefield of Borodino on the 200th anniversary of the battle. It has numerous memorials and a fine museum. During our stay in Moscow we will also visit the superb Borodino Panorama and museum and, of course, the Red Square and the Kremlin as well as other great museums. Our tour also includes visits to the battlefields of Maloyaroslavets and Tarutino. We will also attend the great annual re-enactment of the Battle of Borodino which is done by thousands of re-enactors. It promises to be bigger than ever in this special year of course. The tour is based out of the centrally-located and very elegant 4-star Hotel Budapest, situated just a few minutes’ walk from Red Square and the Kremlin.

DDay 1. Fly London to Moscow. Check-in at the 4-star Hotel Budapest. Dinner and overnight.
Day 2. Breakfast. Today we drive west to Borodino to attend the annual re-enactment of the great battle. It is attended by thousands of re-enactors and spectators each year but it promises to be even bigger this time with it being the 200th anniversary year of the battle. If time allows we will also visit Petrishevo and the memorial to the partisans of WWII. Return to Moscow. Dinner and overnight.
Day 3. Breakfast. We enjoy a city tour of Moscow including a visit to the Borodino Panorama and museum in the city. It was a highlight of our last trip to Moscow in 2006. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4. Breakfast. Today, we drive south-west to Maloyaroslavets and the battle of 24 October 1812 which saw Napoleon attempt to break out into an area where provisions might be found. We visit the military museum, the Borovsky and Chernoostrovsky museums in the town and see the memorial dedicated to the heroes of the War of 1812.We also take lunch in a restaurant in Maloyaroslavets.We will also visit the battlefield of Tarutino, fought six days earlier. Both battlefields are in good condition. Return to Moscow for dinner and overnight.
Day 5. Breakfast. Another day in Moscow sees us visiting the Red Square and the Kremlin, sure to be a highlight of the tour, with its armoury and its famous cathedrals. We will also visit the superb State Historical Museum which contains a superb collection of military artefacts. Dinner and overnight.
Day 6. Breakfast. A free day in Moscow where guests are free to shop and do their own thing for the day in what is one of the great capital cities of the world. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7. Breakfast. Today is the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Borodino and once again we drive east to the battlefield to be there on the great day. Our tour of the battlefield includes the museum and visitors centre, the Bagration fleches, the Rayevsky Battery, the Shevardino Redoubt and numerous other memorials. Many of the fieldworks still survive and lend great atmosphere to one of the world's great battlefields. Return to Moscow. Dinner and overnight.
Day 8. Breakfast. Depart hotel for our return flight to London.

1-8 September 2012 Price £2378 Single Supplement £300

Package includes: Return air fare, seven nights half-board accommodation at the centrally-located 4-star Hotel Budapest, seven breakfasts, seven dinners and one lunch at Malayaroslavets, coach transport, entrance fees to the Museum of Borodino Panorama in Moscow, the State Historical Museum, the Moscow Kremlin, the Armoury Chamber, the Borodino battlefield and visitors centre and the museums and cathedral in Maloyaroslavets and Tarutino, a local guide and Russian liaison manager, visa support (but not the visa itself), guide Julian Spilsbury and tour manager Ian Fletcher.