At War with Wellington - The Peninsular War by Air

Fly to Madrid where you will be met and transferred to your overnight hotel.

This morning we visit Wellesley’s (Wellington) advanced Talavera ‘outposts’ along the banks of the Rio Alberche hearing the story surrounding the fortified Casa de Salinas. Touring the battlefield we then visit the memorial sited on the slopes of the Cerro de Medellin Hill and study the landscape on which the principal fighting occurred. We stay for two nights in Badajoz.

Location: Talavera 1809

Badajoz, a fortified ‘gateway’ town to Spain fell to Allied troops in one of the bloodiest sieges of the campaign on 6th April 1812. We view the ‘breaches’ where the main fighting occurred. On the ramparts we study how the French and German garrison resolutely resisted the Allied operations for many days. Later, we ascend to the exterior of Fort San Cristobal and view Badajoz from the opposite bank of the River Guadiana.

Location: Badajoz 1812

A hard fought victory for the Allies commanded by General Beresford, ‘Bloody’ Albuera was one of the most sanguine battles of the campaign. Today, we see the ‘Fatal Hill’ where the principal fighting occurred. Wellington, surveying the aftermath, observed the corpses ‘literally lying dead in their ranks as they stood’. After visiting the monuments in the nearby town we drive to Guarda for an overnight stay.

Location: 'Bloody' Albuera 1811

This morning we visit the Battlefield of Fuentes de Onoro, both one of Wellington’s closest run and finest victories. After lunch, we will walk the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo 1812. Walking the ramparts, our journey will end at the castle. We continue to Salamanca for two nights.

Location: Ciudad Rodrigo 1812

A few days after the Battle of Salamanca the French General Foy, writing of Wellington’s skill, said ‘it brings up Lord Wellington’s reputation almost level to that of Marlborough’. Today, we leisurely drive and walk across the battlefield and beyond seeing and hearing why.

Location: Salamanca 1812

Leaving Salamanca we study further events surrounding Wellington’s retreat from Burgos including the engagement at Venta del Pozo. Later we see how he masterfully outflanked the French and brought them to battle winning the decisive victory at Vitoria. We drive to Pamplona where you will learn how the French fortress commander reluctantly surrendered to the Spanish. We stay at Pamplona for one night.

Location: Vitoria 1813

Today we will stand on the bridge where Wellington wrote a despatch prior to defeating Marshal Soult at the battle of Sorauren, ending any attempt to relieve the besieged French garrison at Pamplona. After examining the Allied defence at the Maya Pass we study the Storming of San Sebastián, the battle of the Bidassoa River 1813 and preview the battle of the Nivelle. We then drive to the Biarritz area for two nights.

Location: Bidassoa River 1813 and the Siege of San Sebastián 1813

Today we over-view the landscape encompassing both the Battles of the Nivelle and the Nive. After lunch in Bayonne we reveal how General ‘Daddy’ Hill held his nerve and won the action at St. Pierre. Here we visit Marshal Soult’s Memorial. Afterwards, we study the French Sortie from Bayonne and visit the Citadel.

Location: Battle of St. Pierre 1813

This morning, we view the landscape of the Battle of Orthez 1814 and hear how both Wellington and Foy were wounded. After lunch, we drive to Toulouse. Here we study how Wellington wrested the city from the French on 12th April 1814 only to hear that Napoleon had recently abdicated. We stay overnight in the Limoges area.

Location: Taking of Toulouse

Today we travel to the Palace of Fontainebleau where your guide will explain the political circumstances surrounding both the 1807 and 1814 Treaties of Fontainebleau (entrance fee extra – approx. 11 Euro). Then to Paris area for an overnight stay.

Location: Fontainebleau

Return home. You will return by coach to either your original departure airport* or one of our local joining points.