Wargame Holiday in France with Bluewillow

Bluewillow, has a couple very good blogs.  But his specialty is Normandy tours and wargaming holidays in Normandy.  The bed and breakfast in located in Mayenne, France.  Link to book a holiday:Normandy Holiday



Here is his story:

Wargame Holidays France

Wargame Holidays at L'Hotel de Hercé 

"Walk the battlefield in the morning, Wargame it in the afternoon"©

Welcome to L'Hotel de Hercé, former residence of Baron de Hercé, unleast until the French Revolution! We are a B and B in Mayenne, Pays de Loire, France, with two ensuite king bedrooms, and one double room. The use of two grand salons, the 1 hectare garden and orangery.

 We offer guided battlefield and history tours in Brittany, Normandy and Pays de la Loire, plus Wargame Holidays.

We offer unique Wargame holidays for you and your partner in two ways:-

1. For the Gentlemen - We offer battlefield tours of the regions main battlefields and Châteaus, then you have the opportunity to Wargame them at L'Hotel de Hercé in the Salon de Guerre, a fully timber panelled room with purpose built terrain and a magnificent private collection of wargames 28mm and 20mm miniatures. We start with the invasion of Gaul by Ceasar, the coming of the Alan's and Sarmations and fall of the last Roman outposts in France, then the Franks and Charlemagne, the Breton raids, the Viking raids up the Loire, the Norman raids and then conquest by William the Conqueror, the Angevins/Pantagenets empire, the Capetian Kings,  the Breton wars of independence, the wars of Religion, the Vendee/Chouan Rebellion, the Franco Prussian war, and most recent the liberation of France and the battle for Normandy. (The breakthrough was through Mayenne) 
2. For the Ladies:- We offer your partner a beautiful historic Maison and large private garden to relax in, plus options for historical tours, museums, unique shopping tours, French cooking classes, and the added bonus of lunch and dinner breaks with you at local restaurants and cafes in the centre of town or in quaint villages nearby.

This holiday is for both of you to relax and enjoy, we do all the driving, the planning, organise transfers from the TGV or Rennes airport and speak the language, so you can fully enjoy your break. Small group bookings also available on request. Note: Tours and wargaming only available to guests of L'Hotel de Hercé as per our French tourist regulations.

Full details and holiday options 

French Wargame Holidays at L'Hotel de Hercé

Why Mayenne

The old province of Maine (now the departments of Mayenne, Orne and Sarthe) has been the frontline of conflict for centuries, on the border with Brittany and Normandy it has the highest concentration of Medieval Châteaus in France, and the third and forth largest Gaulois Oppidums in France. 

The first stone Chateau built by Charlemagne in the 8th century (Mayenne city), the Plantagenet fortified city of Le Mans, the home of Kings and famous Chevaliers, King Henry II, Geoffrey V d'Anjou, Duke Rollo,  the dukes of Laval, the princes of Talmont and Rohan, chevaliers Ambroise de Loré. 

Home of the first French Victories and a main centre of the fighting in the west for the Hundred Years' War, the frontline for the last breathe of Breton independence, the main power base and  rise of Calvinists and the wars of religion in the west, home a several major figures and the major battles the Vendee rebellion, the last battles of the Franco Prussian war. 

In WW2 in 1940 the last French defence line in the west. In 1944 the breakout location through Mayenne and Sarthe, the desperate defence of the Mayenne river line, and finally of Pattons drive east and the closing of the Falaise pocket. 

Plenty to do and see, for full details please contact us through the website

Cheers

Matt