DOUGLAS BOND
AUTHOR | TEACHER | TOUR LEADER
Connected to War in the Wasteland
FRANCE BATTLEFIELD BOND TOUR 2026
"Bond is a historian with unusual insight."
Russ Pulliam, Indianapolis Star
BOND BATTLEFIELD TOUR 2026
Tour FRANCE with me in 2026, where cuisine and Gothic architecture were born, and where the Protestant Reformation began long before Luther. You will spend eleven rich and delightful days exploring the grand splendors of Paris, Noyon (nearby Armistice railcar and Calvin’s birthplace), WW I reflective valley of the Somme, Arras, Thiepval (where Tolkien fought), Amiens Cathedral (largest in France--Notre Dame Paris could fit inside twice! Used as garrison in WWI), Mont Bernenchon (where CS Lewis was wounded), Rouen (Huguenot “safe place” and where Knox wintered while a galley slave), WW II Normandy (CS Lewis BBC broadcaster of hope), Dunkirk, Omaha Beach, Caen (where William the Conqueror is buried), Saint-Mere Eglise, Chartres—and more!
The Western Front in France is the setting of
WAR IN THE WASTELAND
June 17-27, 2026
HOW TO REGISTER:
Cost per traveler $3850
Early registration discount $2999--do not delay!
Reserve your place right away! Register by downloading and signing the tour contract. Contact me for Venmo or Zelle payment. Mail right away with your deposit of $500 per traveler to:
Douglas Bond
704 Grant Ave
Port Orchard WA
98366
Payment schedule:
--October 1-------------$1000
--February 1------------$1000
--April 1-----------------$499
TOTAL ---------------------------------$2999.00
TOUR ITINERARY
JUNE 17-27, 2026
--PARIS (days 1 & 2):
Walking tour of
Reformation Paris, Calvin
as 14 year-old student;
Jacques Lefevre d'Etaples;
Farel; Blaise Pascal;
much more...
--NOYON (day 3):
Calvin birthplace; Armistice Museum nearby
--ARRAS (days 4-6): WW I sites on the Western Front: Wellington Quarry; Musee de Somme; Thiepval; Grand Mine; Amiens; Mont Bernenchon,where CS Lewis was wounded (setting of War in the Wasteland, my historical novel on teen atheist WW I 2/Lt CS Lewis); Vimy Ridge and many other WW I sites... and WW II Dunkirk
--DEAVILLE (day 7): Rouen, Huguenot sites, WW II bombardment
--CAEN (days 8 & 9): Normandy, Omaha Beach, Saint-Mere Eglise, Pont du Hoc, others, including exploring Abbey des Hommes in Caen, Bayeux, Norman Conquest, and Church history sites throughout the region
--CHARTRES (day 10): Cathedral and centre ville; return to Paris
The tour is in June when the poppies are in bloom and the weather is mild.
"I commend Doug's knowledge of Church history. I've heard very few people who have such an extensive knowledge of Church history and who really see it with all of the important distinctions." TIM CHALLIES
TRAVELER REVIEWS
"Words really fail me here - if only I had Mr. Bond's talents! I am so incredibly blessed. Your enthusiasm for history and literature are contagious."
(UK and France Tour)
"It was such an incredible gift and challenge to me to see how Christ-centered you are..." (Knox 500)
"The tour really was way more than we ever expected or imagined..." (Luther 500)
"When is the next tour? We're on it!" (Crown & Covenant Trilogy Tour, Scotland)
"Douglas Bond serves the church universal with these tours--and the fellowship is amazing!"
(Rome to Geneva Tour)
Bond has almost 30 years of boots-on-the-ground experience organizing, directing, and leading European tours (profile)
2025--Frankfurt to Prague Tour
2025--Rome to Venice BHA
2025--Italy and Greece KCA
2024--Rome to Venice BHA
2023--Summer OCWMC
2023--Rome to Geneva Tour
2023--Spring OCWMC
2023--Rome to Venice student tour
2022--Early Church in the British Isles Tour
2022--Oxford Creative Writing Master Class
(2020-2021 multiple tours canceled--stay tuned!)
2019 England & Scotland Church History Tour (June 25-July 5)
2019 Oxford Creative Writing Master Class (Jume 15-22)
2019 Oxford Creative Writing Master Class (April 2-9)
2018 Armistice Centenary Tour (June 15-25)
2018 Oxford Creative Writing Master Class (April)
2017 Oxford Creative Writing Master Class (Summer)
2017 Luther 500 Tour
2017 Oxford Creative Writing Master Class (Spring)
2016 Oxford Creative Writing Master Class (Summer)
2016 English Church History & Hymn Tour
2016 Oxford Creative Writing Master Class (Spring)
2015 Rome to Geneva Tour
2014 John Knox 500 Tour
2014 UK/Normandy Student Tour
2013 Reformation For All Time Tour
2012 UK/Normandy History Tour
2012 Hymns For All Time Tour
2011 Crown & Covenant Trilogy Tour
2010 UK/Normandy Student Tour
2009 John Calvin 500 Tour
1996-2009 Biennial Tours of UK and Normandy
Along with WAR IN THE WASTELAND, Bond's novel THE BETRAYAL on John Calvin begins April, 1918, in Noyon, Calvin's birthplace--Important reads to get the most from the this tour. HAMMER OF THE HUGUENOTS and GRACE WORKS (And Ways We Think It Doesn't) would be good ones too.
"The Bond tour was one of the greatest gifts I have ever been given. Thank you! God used the time in France to remind me of his love."