By bike through the Land of Bastogne

The Land of Bastogne is perfect for a bike ride. Here you can enjoy the rich unspoilt nature around the city and the bustling city itself. The history of Bastogne is particularly strongly linked to the Ardennes offensive and that is reflected in this area.

The Battle of the Ardennes
The Ardennes Offensive consisted of the Battle of the Ardennes in December 1944 and in January 1945. This offensive was postponed several times, but the time finally came at the end of 1944. The German army at that time shifted its goal from the surrender of Antwerp to the surrender of Bastogne. Under the leadership of General Patton, on January 3, 45, in icy cold and in the snow, the counteroffensive of the allied armies began. On January 28, the German army is pushed back into its positions at the beginning of the Offensive, behind the Siegfried Line. The Battle of the Ardennes is over and the inhabitants of Bastogne will never forget the liberators.

The Mardason
In and around Bastogne you will find numerous monuments that are reminiscent of this time. For example, visit the Mardasson, a monument in the shape of an American star.

The Peace Forest
To commemorate this terrible period, several monuments have been erected. Not far from Mardasson Hill, a'Peace Forest\\\' was inaugurated in 1994 at the initiative of the local UNICEF chapter. Seen from the air, the 4000 trees, planted on an area of 3ha, form the symbol of UNICEF: the mother with child as a symbol of tenderness.