Departure from the Penn State Harrisburg campus for Dulles International Airport (IAD) at 11:30 a.m. Check-in at United Airlines no later than 2:40 p.m. Flight UA915 leaves for Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) at 5:40 p.m.
Arrive at Charles de Gaulle airport at 6:55 a.m. Assistance and transfer to Bayeux, a small town in Normandy. Stop for lunch on your own en route. Check into the hotel for a four-night stay. Enjoy an afternoon tour of Bayeux where your local guide will discuss local customs, money exchange, and safety. You will have a guided stroll through historic Old Bayeux, the medieval town center, and visit the Bayeux Cathedral. Also, enjoy a visit to the Museum of the Battle of Normandy. Dinner on your own.
After breakfast at the hotel, depart for a full day excursion following the coast from Bayeux to Juno Beach, Port-en-Bessin, Arromanches, Colleville-sur-Mer, and Omaha Beach. You will visit Juno Beach Center and Park, D-Day Landing Museum, Arromanches 360 Circular Cinema, Germany Battery with guided tour, and American Cemetery of Normandy. Return to Bayeux. Dinner on your own.
Following breakfast at the hotel, board the bus for a full day excursion focusing on D-Day and Utah Beach. Travel to Cricqueville-en-Bessin to visit the Pointe-du-Hoc Ranger Monument. Then drive to Sainte-Marie-du-Mont for an orientation tour and entrance to Utah Beach Landing Museum. After the museum, hike to the top of the adjoining bluff to spot where Americans first broke through Germany’s Atlantic Wall. Lunch on your own. After lunch, travel to Sainte-Mère-Église. Explore the small tour and visit the Airborne Museum and D-Day Experience Museum. On the way back to the hotel, stop at the German Military Cemetery at La Cambe. Dinner on your own.
After breakfast at the hotel, travel to Mont St. Michel for a full day excursion. Mont St. Michel is one of France’s most historic and picturesque locales. The 1,200-year-old fortified abbey and medieval pilgrimage site is located on an island just off the coast of Normandy. This site will give students perspective on the medieval and religious heritage that formed a vital foundation for the French nationalism of the WWII era. If time permits will walk through the tidal mudflats that surround the island. Once on the island, you will enter the fortress through the King’s Gate. You will visit St. Peter’s Church, ascent the Pilgrim’s Stairs to the abbey and enjoy a guided tour. Lunch and free time on your own before returning to Bayeux. On the return trip to Bayeux, you will stop at the Little Chapel of Saint Michel in Mortain Bocage, a historic battle site in the Normandy campaign situation on top of a 323-foot-high rocky hill with panoramic views across Normandy. Time for reflection on the day’s sites. Dinner on your own.
Following breakfast at the hotel, check out of hotel and travel to Paris with a stop in Caen. In Caen, take a two-hour walking tour focusing on WWII events, including the Caen Memorial Museum. Lunch on your own. Travel to Paris and check into the hotel for four nights
After breakfast at the hotel, receive your Mobilis Metro Pass valid for three days. Depart from the hotel with your guide for a morning walking tour. Visit the Catacombs of Paris: WWII headquarters for the French Resistance. Afternoon on your own to visit the Museum of the Liberation de Paris, including Musée du Général Leclerc de Hautecloque and Musée Jean Moulin. Continue to the Arc de Triomphe and stroll along Champs-Elysées. Return to hotel by subway. Dinner on your own.
Following breakfast at the hotel, depart for a morning walking tour. Arrive at the Invalides Army Museum in the Hotel des Invalides where you will visit the WWII Wing and the Charles de Gaulle exhibit. Then walk to the Museum of the Order of Liberation. Free time for lunch on your own. In the afternoon, go to the abbey of Saint Germain-des Prés and visit the Eglise the Church. Remainder of the day for academic studies. Dinner on your own.
After breakfast at the hotel, depart from the hotel for a half day guided walking tour. Visit the historic Marais district of Parish, which includes the historic Jewish Quarter. Visit the Memorial de la Shoah, including the Memorial of the unknown Jewish Martyr and the Shoah memorial to learn about the fate of French Jews during the German occupation. The visit Musée Carnavalet which focuses on the rich history of Paris. Remainder of the day for academic studies. Lunch and dinner on your own.
Depart hotel for Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). Check-in at United Airlines counter no later than 8:40 a.m. Flight UA914 departs CDG at 11:40 a.m. and arrives at Dulles International Airport (IAD) at 3:25 p.m. Upon arrival, meet your driver and coach to return to the Penn State Harrisburg campus.
HIST144 or HIST144H The World at War: 1939-1945 (3 credits) (satisfies GEN ED: GH and US)
World War II shaped the course of the twentieth century, and France occupied a central place in the history of that war. After Germany’s victory in the Battle of France in 1940, the Nazis occupied over half of the country, including Paris. French citizens participated in the Resistance in growing numbers, conducting campaigns of sabotage and assisting the escape of downed Allied bomber crew members. The D-Day landings in June 1944, the largest military sea-borne invasion in history, marked the start of the Battle of Normandy and the beginning of the final chapter in the defeat of Nazi Germany. Students in this course will learn about World War II through the lens of the French experience and travel to France to see places where many of the pivotal events transpired. The class will tour the Normandy beaches where the D-Day landings occurred, explore the German battlements that formed Hitler’s Atlantic Wall, and walk in the footsteps of the American, British and Canadian soldiers who overcame those defenses. In the latter part of the week, students will visit sites in Paris connected to the history of the French Resistance.
Course registration is separate from trip registration.
Upon receipt of your deposit, Celestial Voyagers will send you a receipt that you must present at the Penn State Harrisburg Registrar’s Office to register for the course. Honors students must register with the Honors Program.
To register for course credit:
Award funds are available to undergraduate honors students through the Penn State Harrisburg Honors programs. The University also has funds for students traveling internationally. Students who enroll in an embedded course will be
automatically considered for a $1,000 grant ($500) for graduate students based on financial need and academic merit. A limited number of travel awards are available through the Penn State Harrisburg Office of International Programs. The application deadline is October 27, 2023.
Novotel Bayeux March 2 – 6 (4 nights)
Address: 117 Rue Saint Patrice Rond Point De Vaucelles, 14400 Bayeux, France
Phone: +33 2 31 92 16 11
Nestled in a sea of greenery, Novotel Bayeux invites you to relax in the peaceful guest rooms or on the terrace overlooking a large, tree-filled garden. In the heart of Bayeux-Bessin, this hotel is near both the landing beaches and the town centre. Take an invigorating walk along the shore or admire the local attractions, including Notre-Dame Cathedral, the half-timbered houses of Rue des Cuisiniers, and the famous Bayeux tapestry.
Hotel Novotel Paris La Defense March 6 – 10 (4 nights)
Address: 2 Bd de Neuilly, 92400 Courbevoie, France
Phone: +33 1 41 45 23 23
This contemporary hotel is a 4-minute walk from the Esplanade de La Défense metro station, 5.3 km from the Arc de Triomphe and 8 km from the Eiffel Tower. The sleek, modern rooms feature desks, free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, plus tea and coffeemaking equipment. There’s a casual restaurant and a bar. There’s also a gym, a video game area, and a business center with iMacs
Tour price: $3,767 sharing in a double room
(includes airfare, accommodation, transfers, taxes and fuel surcharge)
Single room supplement: $680
Deposit: $500
Final payment date: January 15, 2024
| Departure Day | Departure Date | From (airport/terminal) | Departure Time | Flight # | To (airport) | Arrival Time (local time) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | March 1, 2024 | Washington Dulles | 5:40 PM | UA 915 | CDG -Paris | 6:55 AM +1 |
| Sunday | March 10, 2024 | CDG - Paris | 11:40 AM | UA 914 | Washington Dulles | 3:25 PM |
Celestial Voyagers’ terms are based on contracts with airlines, hotels and other suppliers. The terms and stipulations mentioned below are bound by these contracts and will be strictly enforced. A passport valid until September 10, 2024, is required.
Deposit: $500 due upon registration.
$150 of this is a non-refundable processing fee to Celestial Voyagers. Your deposit will assure your reservation with the airline, the hotel and other suppliers. The deposit must be sent with a copy of your passport as soon as you register online.
Send your deposit as soon as possible prior to December 8, 2023. After this date, space may not be available and a supplement may apply.
Balance due no later than January 15, 2024.
All payments by check must be made to Celestial Voyagers. Indicate the tour #/name:
After registering, you must mail your deposit within 48 hours to: Celestial Voyagers, Inc., 145 Merritts Road, Farmingdale, NY 11375
In case of cancellation, penalties will apply. All cancellations must be received in writing.
Written cancellation received between December 11, 2023 – January 10, 2024 will incur a penalty of $350 plus a processing fee of $150 – a total of $500.
Written cancellation received after January 10, 2024 or no-shows incur a penalty of 100 percent of the total trip cost – $3,767.
Travel Insurance is highly recommended
We advise all travelers to purchase travel insurance in case of any unforeseen circumstances and if you are no longer able to travel. We offer the following insurance policies through Allianz Travel Insurance: Basic, Classic, and Classic with cancel anytime. Prices vary with age and amount insured. Click on the link below for more details:
https://keyword.celestialvoyagers.com/leisure/leisure-insurance-passports-visas/
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Passport
Most countries require that a passport be valid for six months beyond the completion of a trip. If your passport expires before September 10, 2024, you must apply to renew your passport. If you are not a US citizen please check with the consulate of France or a visa agency for the latest requirements. You will also need a re-entry permit to return to the USA.
Visa
Visas to the European Union will be required beginning in 2024 for United States citizens. All international students are responsible for determining if a visa is required and should immediately apply for the visa. Please check the Schengen Visa website at if a visa is not issued. You will to notify the Office of International Programs that you have applied for your visa.
Celestial Voyagers, Inc. (Travel arrangements)
146 Merritts Road
Farmingdale, NY 11375
E-mail: gineth@keyword.celestialvoyagers.com
Phone: 212-203-1021
Stephanie Ponnett
Administrative Support Coordinator for International Travel Programs
717-948-6062
slp29@psu.edu
Dr. David Witwer
Professor of American Studies
717-948-6052
dxw44@psu.edu
Gineth is in charge of the Operations Department, supervising ticketing and travel planning. With over twelve years of experience in the travel industry, Gineth has exceptional leadership experience, and her passion for travel has contributed to her successful career.