Summary
This Walloon municipality in Belgian Luxembourg is situated on an elevated area in the Ardennes, approximately 500 meters above sea level.
Bastogne holds historical significance as it was positioned strategically during the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944-45. The Siege of Bastogne in December 1944 was a highly intense confrontation, part of Germany’s last significant effort to disrupt the advancing Allied forces during World War II.
The events that unfolded around Bastogne in December 1944 were further popularized by HBO’s miniseries Band of Brothers (2001). Visitors to Bastogne can trace the movements of the 101st Airborne Division through various historical locations and museums while stopping at memorials such as the Mardasson Memorial and the Bois de la Paix.
1. Bastogne War Museum
The Bastogne War Museum, located at the Mardasson Memorial site (1950), provides a comprehensive narrative of the Battle of the Bulge. This museum, which was inaugurated in 2014, is designed in the shape of a five-pointed American star, similar to the memorial itself.
The museum caters to multiple languages, including French, Dutch, English, and German, and features a compelling 30-minute film detailing the Ardennes Offensive during the winter of 1944-45. Throughout the multisensory exhibitions, visitors will follow the perspectives of four individuals: an American soldier, a German soldier, a Bastogne schoolteacher, and a local boy, allowing for a multidimensional understanding of the conflict’s causes, developments, and effects.
2. Bastogne Barracks
In 2010, following a restoration project, this significant historic site from the Siege of Bastogne was transformed into a World War II interpretation center.
The barracks served as the Allied headquarters during the Ardennes Offensive, established by General McAuliffe in December 1944. A small collection of military vehicles, which includes pieces from Belgium’s Royal Museum of the Armed Forces, is available for examination.
The vehicles, including Tigers, Shermans, jeeps, and tankettes, are well-maintained at the Vehicle Restoration Center.
A notable highlight of the museum is the office from which General McAuliffe famously delivered his one-word reply, “Nuts!” to a German commander’s demand for surrender on December 22, 1944. At this point, German forces had encircled Bastogne, and it would take another five days before they were relieved by General George Patton’s Third Army.
3. 101st Airborne Museum
Located in the elegant officers’ mess of the Chasseurs Ardennais from 1936, the 101st Airborne Museum provides an in-depth examination of the Siege of Bastogne from the perspective of the units involved in the Battle of the Bulge.
This building was utilized by the Wehrmacht during the conflict and later operated as a temporary hospital following the war.
Over four floors, the museum boasts immersive exhibitions and authentic artifacts, including weaponry, equipment, uniforms, documents, photographs, and civilian items from that era.
In the basement, visitors can experience a simulated bomb shelter environment, providing insight into the harrowing winter of 1944-45 as endured by the residents of Bastogne.
4. Mardasson Memorial
Adjacent to the Bastogne War Museum stands the Mardasson Memorial, which honors the American soldiers who were wounded or lost their lives during the Battle of the Bulge.
Unveiled in 1950, this remarkable structure was designed by Liège architect Georges Dedoyard. Shaped like a five-pointed American star, the memorial reaches a height of 12 meters, with each point measuring 31 meters and a central atrium that is 20 meters in diameter.
On its walls are the insignias of the battalions that participated, symbolizing the 76,890 soldiers who were killed or injured in the battle.
Inside the memorial, ten panels narrate the history of the Battle of the Bulge, and within the crypt are three altars representing Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant services, each adorned with mosaics by Fernand Léger.
A spiral staircase leads to the monument’s roof, offering views over the Ardennes landscape, along with maps illustrating the direction of the battle.
5. Bois de la Paix
On the route from the Mardasson Memorial to the village of Bizory lies Bois de la Paix.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, 4,000 trees were planted in a formation resembling the UNICEF logo, symbolizing a mother and child.
This grove of birches, service trees, oaks, and beeches was planted to pay homage to American veterans, Belgian combatants, and all civilians and military personnel who lost their lives in the conflict.
At the center of the woods, cities significantly impacted by the war are acknowledged with a panel and three trees.
Names such as Verdun, Warsaw, Volgograd, and Coventry are included.
Returning American veterans in 1994 were each invited to select an individual tree, which is now permanently labeled with their names.
6. Le Piconrue – Musée de la Grande Ardenne
For insight into the culture of the Ardennes and Belgian Luxembourg, this museum is housed in a 17th-century former Recollects convent.
Le Piconrue’s collection encompasses nearly 70,000 items, featuring religious art, ethnology, legends, and popular beliefs.
The museum showcases a remarkable array of religious artifacts and liturgical ornaments sourced from regional churches, spanning centuries.
Visitors can also explore numerous legends of the Ardennes, including tales of ghost riders from the Wild Hunt, the Four Sons of Aymon, their magical horse, werewolves, and more.
In early 2020, a temporary exhibition featuring the award-winning cartoonist and graphic novelist Jean-Claude Servais was available, complete with immersive scenography and 120 original panels.
7. Animalaine
After exploring the significant events of the Battle of the Bulge, you may wish to engage in a lighter activity.
Animalaine is an interactive living museum dedicated to wool production and textile crafts throughout history.
This venue features animal paddocks where guests can interact with various fiber-producing animals, including sheep, rabbits, and alpacas.
Following this, visitors can learn about the various methods and stages of wool processing, observing contemporary techniques as well as those that were utilized over a century ago.
Animalaine also includes a faithfully reconstructed period house that illustrates domestic life and trades from earlier times.
Children can expend energy on the playground while there is also a café serving local beer and light meals.
8. Église Saint-Pierre
This Romanesque and Gothic church located in front of the Porte de Trèves gate has undergone several restorations over the years, including after the Battle of the Bulge.
However, what is known is that a place of worship has existed on this site since at least the 7th century.
Some of the older, Romanesque features of the Église Saint-Pierre remain intact, particularly the stout Romanesque bell tower dating from the 11th century.
Gothic elements were introduced in subsequent centuries, particularly in the 1500s when the structure was modified into a hall church.
Polychrome frescoes from this period adorn the vault, depicting scenes of contemporary daily activities as well as narratives from the Old and New Testaments.
Several fixtures have survived through the ages, including the 12th-century Romanesque baptismal font and the 11th-century high altar, parts of which may date back even further, to the 600s.
Additional fine works, created later, include the 17th-century pulpit, the 18th-century altar in the left aisle, and an exquisite carving of the Entombment from the late 16th century.
9. Bois Jacques
Located just ten minutes from Bastogne, the forest Bois Jacques, outside the village of Foy, was occupied by the 101st Airborne Division during the Battle of the Bulge.
Foy itself was heavily defended by German forces, and the woods were the site of intense confrontations resulting in numerous casualties.
While the existing woodland is a pine plantation, one can observe the remnants of the foxholes dug by members of the 101st Airborne Division over 75 years ago.
These sites gained notoriety through Band of Brothers, and the forest has been designated as “exceptional cultural heritage” since 2017.
10. Porte de Trèves
Situated behind Église Saint-Pierre is the last remaining feature of Bastogne’s medieval city walls.
The Porte de Trèves (Trier Gate), constructed in the mid-14th century as part of a defensive system featuring two gates and twelve towers, is built from local shale sandstone and topped with a slate roof.
Bastogne’s walls were demolished at the request of Louis XIV at the close of the 17th century, after which the Porte de Trèves served as a prison.
This gate was damaged during the Siege of Bastogne but was reconstructed post-war.
Small remnants of the city walls can still be seen on the northeast and southwest sides.
11. Place Général Mc Auliffe
As you explore Bastogne, take time to visit the main square, renamed in honor of Anthony McAuliffe after World War II.
A bust of McAuliffe stands at the square’s southern corner, adjacent to a preserved M4A3(75)W Sherman Tank “Barracuda,” which served with the 11th Armored Division.
Additionally, this location marks the final marker for Liberty Road, an extensive 1,146-kilometer commemorative route that traces the Allied advance in 1944, following D-Day in June of that year.
Moreover, at the nearby Maison du Tourisme, visitors can obtain additional orientation and information about the area.
12. La Foire aux Noix
An enjoyable feature of Bastogne’s culture is its historic festival, La Foire aux Noix, held in mid-December.
This cherished event traces its roots back to at least the mid-19th century.
A traditional aspect involves newly married couples who toss walnuts into the crowd from the balcony of the city hall, symbolizing good fortune for their households.
Following the war, this tradition merged with thanksgiving ceremonies to honor the contributions of the Allied troops in the Battle of the Bulge.
As a result, the festival weekend includes military events and reenactments, featuring a procession, flower-laying ceremony, and a parade of military vehicles.
On Saturday afternoon at 16:00, spectators can witness the climactic walnut-throwing ritual during the “Jet de Noix”.
13. Liège–Bastogne–Liège
At the end of April, Bastogne becomes the focal point for one of the five “Monuments” on the European professional road cycling calendar.
As a “spring classic,” Liège–Bastogne–Liège is undeniably one of the most arduous and prestigious races in cycling, spanning a 250-260 kilometer course across the Ardennes.
The challenge of this race lies in its relentless series of long, steep ascents, totaling around a dozen climbs throughout the route.
The renowned Côte de La Redoute is particularly challenging, having appeared in most editions of the race with an average gradient of nearly 9%, featuring sections exceeding 20%. Notably, the record holder for the most victories in this event is the legendary Eddy Merckx (five wins), followed closely by Spain’s Alejandro Valverde and Italy’s Moreno Argentin (four wins each).
14. Memorial Day
Observed on the last Monday in May, this American holiday honoring military personnel holds particular significance in Bastogne’s commemoration calendar.
Each year, a solemn ceremony takes place at the Mardasson monument, accompanied by the laying of a customary wreath at the American military cemetery in Foy.
This commemoration typically occurs on the first Saturday following Memorial Monday.
This tradition has been upheld since 1946, initiated by the Belgian-American Association to honor American veterans along with their war dead and the missing in action.
The ceremony consistently attracts the American ambassador to Belgium as well as various dignitaries from different sectors.
In early 2020, plans were underway for a special event commemorating the 75th anniversary, which would include a Reconciliation Ceremony on the preceding Friday.
15. Guided Tour
If you are tracing the historical events of the Siege of Bastogne and the broader Ardennes Offensive, there are numerous sites and considerable information to absorb.
To ensure you do not overlook any significant aspect, consider reaching out to local tour companies based in Bastogne, such as Reg Jans Battlefield Experience or Battle of the Bulge Guided Tours. A personalized tour with a knowledgeable local historian will enrich your understanding of the terrain and delineate historical facts among the stories, elucidating the harsh realities of the Siege of Bastogne.
This aspect might be particularly meaningful and impactful, especially if a family member served in the Ardennes during 1944-45, as guides can retrace the precise movements of each unit over 75 years later.
