European Battlefields

[ShogunGrumpyBear]

I am a big history buff. Is there any European Battlefields I should check out in a couple years when it's okay to travel again?

 

[innonimatu]

You can find old battlefields just about anywhere here. But there's nothing notable in the vast majority, if anything you'll see some ruins of trenches or fortifications, or a small museum in place if the battle was famous. Only recent and very large battles have big monuments in some places, some of the famous battles of the wars of the modern european mad conquerors, from Napoleon to Hitler.
If you're interested in military history I advise instead visits to national military museums. Some military academies also have museums open to the public. And if you interest is more about medieval or ancient battles seek events with reenactments, those usually happen in summer and may be done in some of the old battlefields. But with the coronavirus running amok don't expect any to be done this year or the next. You'll have to search nearer the date of your visit, and in the regions you intend to visit.

 

[Ajidica]

Aren't parts of Verdun still considered "strongly advise you don't go there" because of lingering affects of chemical weapons?
Or was I deceived by some history clickbait?

 

[Sarin]

Aren't parts of Verdun still considered "strongly advise you don't go there" because of lingering affects of chemical weapons?
Or was I deceived by some history clickbait?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_Rouge

 

[ShogunGrumpyBear]

Never knew that about Verdun. Interesting!

Here is what someone told me on another forum:

Not Good Sites
Dont go to Aspern-Essling - its a shopping mall.
Nothing at Jena (they were beaten so why keep the site)
The Berezina - is a cold river with a few signposts. Borodino is pretty good if you get past the fact that the historical narriative is so incorrect to be laughable.

Good Sites (worth the airplane fare)
Austerlitz - names have all changed but the topography is as it was on the day.
Any of the Spanish Fortress Castles/Towns - Salamanca is my fav.

Best Site
Has to be Waterloo including Plancenoit. None other come close. The new museum is very good indeed. Any Napoleonic person thinking of a trip should visit Waterloo. I have spent many a long Summer day on the 'champs d'honour' and every time I revisit its as if it was my first. I love the place.

Been to Gettysberg a few times and I did like that site.

 

[innonimatu]

Waterloo is probably good, most european countries were virctims of the 19th century Hitler and have a few museums about the french invasions. And commemorations where they were beaten.
Salamanca is worth a visit, but not just (or especially) because of that war's battles. Not far in Portugal you can find a very nice place in Buçaco: it has a museum about the battle but the area is worth visiting for its beauty.

 

[ShogunGrumpyBear]

I have been to Gettysburg and Spotsvanyila before. They are good battlefields but I think Gettysburg is the better one out of the two.

 

[AmazonQueen]

You can find old battlefields just about anywhere here. But there's nothing notable in the vast majority, if anything you'll see some ruins of trenches or fortifications, or a small museum in place if the battle was famous. Only recent and very large battles have big monuments in some places, some of the famous battles of the wars of the modern european mad conquerors, from Napoleon to Hitler.
If you're interested in military history I advise instead visits to national military museums. Some military academies also have museums open to the public. And if you interest is more about medieval or ancient battles seek events with reenactments, those usually happen in summer and may be done in some of the old battlefields. But with the coronavirus running amok don't expect any to be done this year or the next. You'll have to search nearer the date of your visit, and in the regions you intend to visit.

Very true.
I used to have a book of walks around British battlefields and there was very little to see at most of them.
In some cases they've been extensively built over, patterns of farming have changed etc.

Normandy has a lot to see from the D-Day campaign and is a nice area for a holiday if you are interested in history anyway.

 

[Kyriakos]

If you wait a few more years, there will be new battlefields

There's also the Thermopylae, though I've never visited and I really doubt it has been turned into a notable site for tourists.