Bastogne Belgium is a must-see on anyone’s World War 2 travel plans and a special stop for anyone wanting to walk with the “Band of Brothers” Easy Company crew! There are SEVERAL museums in Bastogne and the surrounding region that cater to almost any World War enthusiast. Here’s where I went on my day trip to visit the larger attractions in the area. Enjoy!
Useful Links
- Bastogne War Museum
- Easy Company Memorial Location
- Foxholes Location – Ticket Required
- Shifty’s Shot Location
Bastogne War Museum
The Bastogne War Museum located on the eastern side of the town is probably one of the newest museums in the area. It has lots of modern options to choose from with an interesting headphone system that follows 4 members of the Battle of the Bulge. The 4 people are a child and teacher in Bastogne, an American soldier, and a German soldier. You will get their voices during each portion of the exhibit adding context to the history of Bastogne during the war.
There are 3 additional movie exhibits that you can add to your walk through the museum. They were engaging but you typically wait for the start of each movie and if you’re moving through the exhibit at your own pace this can stall you. It was an adequate museum. I spent about 1.5 hours and it was alright. You may not get any new revelations about the Battle of the Bulge in this museum but it is interactive enough if you have children. You will pay €5 for parking or you can walk up the hill from the town and public areas.
Easy Company Monument near Bastogne
The Easy Company Memorial is located a few kilometers to the northeast of the war museum and is an easy drive. It is also located right along the biking path that goes to Bastogne. There is a small parking area next to the memorial. It’s a unique monument to the special band of brothers that were here during the pivotal Battle of the Bulge.
101st Airborne Foxholes
The foxholes were my favorite part of the day trip! The Bois Jacques is located just a few minutes up the road from the memorial. This is the area associated with Easy Company waiting until their assault on Foy. The Germans were located in the forest on the opposite side of the road. This is a real area where many Americans waited during the battle but I’m unsure of the authenticity of the foxholes.
One thing to note is the new fence and the requirement to have a ticket. You use your Bastogne War Museum entrance ticket to get through the gate. Some people tried to call the museum and order that way but I don’t know if they had success. The sign indicates the museum ticket is the only way in.
Foy Belgium – Shifty’s Shot
Foy Belgium is a small village located several kilometers from Bastogne. It was a major battle that Easy Company was a part of. There was a scene in Band of Brothers where Shifty Powers shot the sniper from across the town. This is the actual location of where that shot happened. He was hiding behind the house to the left and the sniper was in the window of the house in the center of the picture. It’s interesting to imagine walking in the same place where such interesting actions happened during such a crazy time!
The Band of Brothers was E Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. The book and tv series follow their experiences starting with boot camp and culminating with the liberation of Europe.
Brett, I’ve been following your trips. You really have a good web site