Historic Normandy manor expands American Legion centennial tours

Historic Manoir du Quesnay in Normandy, France, now offers two American Legion Discovery Tours in honor of the organization's centennial celebration.

Recently added is a Normandy-only guided tour of five days and four nights that takes visitors to the D-Day beaches, the Normandy American Cemetery, the ancient coastal city of Mont Ste. Michel, Bayeux (where the medievel tapestry depicting the Norman conquest is displayed) and the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial near Paris. The Normandy tours are available for visitors in groups of four to eight.

To see the Normandy-only tour schedule, click here.

American Legion Family groups of 10 to 12 can tour historic memorial sites of both the first and second world wars in Europe – from Gen. George S. Patton’s grave in Luxembourg to the D-Day invasion beaches of France – through Manoir du Quesnay, which has served as host to The American Legion’s national Normandy delegations since 2006.

Lodging at Manoir du Quesnay and top hotels in France and Belgium, first-class transportation, an expert travel guide, fine dining, champagne tasting and opportunities to take in cultural attractions are included in the experience during the Legion’s centennial commemoration period.

Air transportation is not included in the tours, which begin in Brussels and include visits to Flanders Field American Cemetery in Waregem, Belgium; the Bastogne War Museum; the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial; Paris; Normandy; and Mont Ste. Michel on the Normandy-Brittany border.

Manoir du Quesnay, near historic Bayeux, is known unofficially as “American Legion Post 1944.” Owners of the 12th century stone property that once was a grain farm and flour mill are Jacques and Alix Fourcade, who explain that the walled manor – equipped with apertures for archers to defend it during various times of threat in its history – has withstood many chapters in French history, from the 100 Years War to World War II when Germans occupied it until the American liberation. Learn more about Manoir du Quesnay at http://www.manoir-du-quesnay.com.

Jacques Fourcade’s mother, Marie Madeleine Fourcade, was one of the most prominent leaders of the French Resistance during World War II. Her memoir “Noah’s Ark” describes her dramatic and dangerous journey through World War II espionage as leader of a network known simply as “The Alliance” but was called Noah’s Ark because animal names were common codes among the resistors.

More details about the larger group tours can be found here. Learn about prices of the tour or registerby emailing magazine@legion.org or by contacting Manoir du Quesnay directly at manoir.quesnay@wanadoo.fr.

Registration forms can be found here.