b'WELLINGTON OVERScan hereTHE NAPOLEONIC LEGEND Scan here THE PYRENEES for the fullTOULON, CORSICA, ELBA AND THE ROUTE NAPOLEON for the full itinerary itineraryTHE INVASION OF FRANCE 1525 June 2025 Historical Background11 days In the early years of the French Revolution both the young Napoleon and Expert Historian: Great Britain were ardent supporters of Corsican Independence. But as the 23 April1 May 2025 Historical Background revolution progressed, Napoleons enthusiasm waned, and the Buonaparte 9 days After achieving the decisive victory over the French at Salamanca in JulyAlan Rooney family found themselves forced to flee the island for Marseilles. Shortly Activity Level: 2 afterwards, Captain Bonapartes command of the artillery during the siege of Expert Historian: 1812, Wellington liberated Madrid but then over-extended his army at BurgosToulon was instrumental to the capture of that port from the allied Royalist Col Nick Lipscombe and was forced into a harrowing retreat. The following year, determined notand British. In search of a Mediterranean base, the British set their sights to make the same mistake, he drove three French armies back and defeatedDuring this unique tour from Toulon inon Corsica, landing forces under Sir David Dundas, Colonel John Moore and Activity Level: 2 them in the epic encounter at Vitoria. The French withdrew and fought with their backs to the Pyrenees trying to prevent the unthinkablethe invasionProvence, across the Mediterranean Sea toCaptina Horatio Nelson RN in 1794. Fast forward some 20 years, after an of France. Wellington captured San Sebastian and fought a series of battles inCorsica and Elba and back to Nice, capital ofastounding career, the defeated emperor found himself banished to Elba in This tour is a natural progression from ourthe Pyrenees before judging the time right to commence the invasion. Afterthe French Riviera, we will visit the places1814. But the restrictions of the small island were too great for his restless popular Wellington in Spain tour. Our routetwo more battles at the end of 1813, at Nivelle and the Nive, Soult was pushedand discuss the events that were influentialambition. Regularly receiving reports from France as to the unpopularity roughly follows the Great North Road fromeastwards via Orthez and Tarbes towards Toulouse where the last encounterin the creation of the Napoleonic Legendof the Bourbon regime that had replaced him on the throne of France, he Madrid towards the great French borderof the war was fought in April 1814. as we travel to: Ajaccio on Corsica, wheredetermined upon the last great gamble of his career. Slipping away under fortress of Bayonne and thence eastwards.Napoleon was born and raised; Toulon,the cover of darkness En route we traverse sierras and greatwhere a young Captain Buonaparte explodedand evading the Royal rivers, once formidable barriers for theonto the world stage; Nice, where newlyNavy, he landed at armies of both sides and none so much aspromoted Brigadier Buonaparte plannedGolfe Juan on 2 March the dominating mountains of the westernhis part in the 1794 Italian campaign; Elba,1815 and immediately Pyrenees from the top of which, we will gainwhere the emperor spent 9 months of exile;commenced his march stunning views over much of the campaignGolfe Juan, where he landed to commenceon Paris to regain his area. Well travel along the often violenthis ill-fated 100 days in 1815; Cannes toplace at the head of coast of the Bay of Biscay and visit theGrenoble to follow his march, including thethe French Empire and harbour havens so crucial to the resupplysite of famous confrontation with the 5thprepare for what was to of Wellingtons army. And once in FranceLine regiment. Necessarily there will be seabe his final campaignwe will discover its rich lush countrysidetravel: overnight from Toulon to AjaccioWaterloo.which reminded many of the soldiers of theirenjoying en-suite cabins and return day trip homes in Britain. from Bastia to Elba. Travel between Corsica and Nice is by air. Hotels throughout are four-star and centrally located. In Toulon and Nice we will use the local public transportationDay 1 Fly London to Marseille or make your own arrangements to join the toursystems which will require walks of up to 30at the hotel. Drive to Toulon (1 night), tour Royale, introductory talk over minutes at a time. drinks. (L,D)Day 2 Toulon. Cable-car to Mt Faron, panoramic views of Toulon, British/Royalist defence, Mmorial du dbarquement, ferry across the inner harbour toMt Cairo/Fort Mulgrave, Muse National de la Marine. Overnight ferry to Ajaccio, Corsica. (B,D) Day 3 Ajaccio. Full day exploration: La Maison Bonaparte, Salon Napolonie, cathedral, imperial chapel, Muse Fesch, Place dAusterlitz. (B,D)Day 4 Corsica Independent. Corte, the former Bonaparte home, battle ofDay 1 .Fly LGW/Bilbao or meet at Arrivals Hall of Bilbao Airport. To PamplonaPonte Novu, Tour de la Mortella. Biguglia (3 nights). (B,D) for 3 nights. Pamplona citadel. (D) Day 5 Elba. Return ferry to Portoferraio. Villa dei Mulini, Villa di Dan Martino;Day 2Vitoria. (B,D) Stella and Falcone forts. (B,D)Day 3.Maya, St. Jean Pied de Port, Roncesvalles. (B,D) Day 6 . Calvi. British siege of 1794: English landing beaches, preserved citadeland site of British batteries. (B,D)Day 4Sorauren, Pasaia, San Sebastian for 1 night. (B,D) Day 7 Nice. Fly Bastia to Nice (2 nights). Walk to Villa Massna Muse. Free Day 5San Marcial, The Bidassoa, Vera, Bayonet Ridge. Bayonne for afternoon and evening. (B)4 nights. (B,L,D) Day 8 . The Flight of the Eagle. Fort Carre in Antibes, Golfe-Juan, Cannes,Day 6 The Nivelle: Santa Barbara, La Rhune, Amotz. No dinner. (B) Napoleons house in 1794. (B,D)Day 7 .The Nive, St Pierre, Bayonne. (B,D) Day 9 . Route Napoleon. St-Vallier, Seranon, Castellane, Barreme, Digne, Sisteron, ESSENTIALS Day 8 Orthez, Tarbes (B,L,D) ESSENTIALS Gap, Ponthaut, La Prairie de la Recontre, Grenoble (2 nights). (B,D)4-star hotels, meals as indicated,Day 9 Farewells at Bilbao Airport. Fly Bilbao/LGW or perhaps extend your 4-star hotels, meals as indicated,Day 10 Grenoble. Chateau of Vizelle, museum of the French Revolution, cabledrinks with dinner, all entrance fees,stay in Spain. (B) drinks with dinner, all entrance fees,car to Fort Bastille, mountain troop museum. (B,D)tour manager and expert historiantour manager and expert historianDay 11 . Salon en Provence and home. Valence, Muse de lEmpri. Fly Marseillesthroughout, all internal travel, throughout, all internal travel, to London or perhaps extend your stay in France. (B)optional travel from UK. optional travel from UK.36 www.theculturalexperience.com I info@theculturalexperience.com I UK0345 475 1815 I USA(toll-free) 877 209 5620 www.theculturalexperience.com I info@theculturalexperience.com I UK0345 475 1815 I USA(toll-free) 877 209 5620 37'