Top Things to do in The Ardennes
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Things to do in The Ardennes, Wallonia: The Best Military Museums
A smorgasbord of flavors come from this lofty land in the hilly southeast of Belgium: game, wild boar, venison, smoked ham, the region's famous paté and world-renowned Trappist beers. Primarily located in Belgium, the Ardennes mountains also nudge into France and Luxembourg. Dense forests flank the steep hillsides, and market towns and villages perch on river banks. Spring and summer show this lush area at its best, but cross country skiing opportunities make a good case for winter visits.
Restaurants in The Ardennes
1. The Remember Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 62 reviews
Reviewed By samtD2637LR - Kissimmee, United States
Mathilde and Marcel Schmetz opened this museum in 1994 to ensure that the service and sacrifice of Americans who liberated Belgium will never be forgotten. As curator Marcel has handcrafted the exhibits including the mannequins and dioramas. In addition to WWII memorabilia, they go by M &M so there are many M &M candy figurines, a definite joyful way for children to learn about the deeds of their great grandparents.
2. BASTOGNE BARRACKS
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 845 reviews
Visit our exhibition hall displaying Second World War vehicles and equipment Bastogne Barracks, one of the WHI sites, is situated to the north east of town, in the direction of La Roche-en-Ardennes and presents in a 2,350 m2 exhibition hall as well as in outside display a large array of Second World War track and wheel vehicles, artillery pieces and various equipment, both from the Allies and the Axis Powers. The circuit is totally secure. March/April/May/October/November: weekends June/July/August/September: from Wednesday through Sunday December: weekend 11-12 + Spring break: from 15 till 19/2 – Easter holidays: from 5 till 18/4 – Fall break: from 1 till 7/11
Reviewed By Swintooh - High Wycombe, United Kingdom
Visited on a family holiday in August. You need to show up at the gate at given hour. This is no "anytime entry, wonder by yourself museum" but active military base, where the whole group needs to be escorted at all times. Great Bastogne siege display/reconstruction, very knowledgable tour guide (a sargeant in Belgian army), then the main attraction - huge garage with all the great tanks and armoured vehicles. My boys were so happy. A must do for any World of Tanks player. The price of entry is very low - 8 EUR per adult (card payment only), kids go free! Excellent!!!
3. Bulge Relics Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 53 reviews
It's in a historic building situated in Joubiéval that the « Bulge Relics Museum » presents on several floors battlefield relics that were recovered from the battlefields of Vielsalm, Lierneux and at the Baraque de Fraiture crossroads. A didactical path through pictures, displays, vehicles and sceneries makes you relive those dark days of winter 1944 which saw US forces face mainly the elite troops of the SS panzerdivisions. Thousands of artifacts that, directly risen from that time, depict the everyday living of these men dragged by the storm of the battle. The museum will be opened from June up to September at weekends from 13 til 17 pm. It will also possible to visit it during the weeks as well as on special occasions but on appointment only. Schools : A special didactical file to be printed can be mailed in advance to teachers.
Reviewed By TsunamiHunter
The tour of the Bulge Relics Museum was the highlight of the group's visit to the area, which also included stops at local monuments and battlefield positions. The collection of uniforms, weapons, general supplies and artifacts is terrific and the condition of many items on display is excellent. The stories and information presented by the curator / guide conducting our tour was exceptionally interesting. If you are in the Ardennes, a visit to this hidden gem is definitely worth the time and entrance fee.
4. December 44 Historical Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 228 reviews
The December 44 Museum is located in the hearth of the Belgian Ardennes, in the village of La Gleize, where the Battle of the Bulge was fought, on the northern part of the offensive. Surrounded by American airborne, armored and infantry forces, 800 German survivors of the 1st Panzer SS, a "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler" elite division, lead by Peiper, fled on Christmas Eve leaving behind 135 armoured vehicles including the 69 tonne King Tiger tank, still visible at the museum.The museum accurately recounts these tragic events through one of the most important collection in Europe, most of it collected on the very battlefield where it was fought.
Reviewed By davidsL9543GV - Wales, United Kingdom
I had long wished to visit the area and I finally did this in December 2019. I'll try not to repeat what has been written before - but essentially, the museum focuses on the German side of the Battle of Bulge and a lot of the artefacts and uniforms were found in the immediate area of La Gleize - which is as far as Peiper and his tanks got. Dioramas with mannequins display a variety of original SS, Heer, Fallschirmjäger and Luftwaffe uniforms. There are certainly US exhibits - both in display cases and with dioramas, but the focus is on the German aspect of the campaign. I'm a militaria collector as well as a WW2 tour guide and I have to say, this is an impressive display. Did a mention there is a Königstiger out the front? :-) I got here late in the day so it was not so busy. Staff were friendly and approachable.
5. 101 Airborne Museum Le Mess - Bastogne
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 549 reviews
Reviewed By scottp372 - Ottawa, Canada
This 101st Airborne Museum is a tribute to the men of the American 101st Airborne Division who were surrounded and held off German forces who tried to take Bastogne. The museum holds many artifacts from the Battle of the Bulge, ranging from weapons, uniforms, and equipment, both American and German. There are glass-enclosed displays of life-sized wax figures of soldiers and civilians as well as audio recordings describing the battle, Not to be missed is the air raid shelter in the basement of the museum where one can go inside a room where there is an audio-visual account of the battle taking place where the traveler can get an account in how the battle was going on while sitting in the air-raid shelter. You can hear a dog barking, tanks rumbling, an airplane dropping a bomb shattering glass and rifle and machine- gun fire, all from the inside of the shelter wondering what it was like to have endured the sounds of the fighting. This museum is a gem and well worth the visit
6. Fort Eben-Emael
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 299 reviews
Reviewed By Aipalovik - Brussels, Belgium
Our visit lasted one hour due to lack of time, but we could have stayed longer. The exhibits and the 10 min introductory film are very good and give a clear view of the war context, the strategic importance of the fort, and the reasons why the fort was captured so quickly. The only negative was the status of the path around the top of the fort. While the circuit is relatively well indicated, it is poorly maintained and some sections can be dangerous for pedestrians that do not have good footing especially where the handrails are missing or broken. The path offers views of some of the top bunkers but again access for good views is not always easy. We also missed the side path with the view over the Meuse and the canal.
7. Bastogne War Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,851 reviews
Located close to the famous Mardasson Memorial, the Bastogne War Museum is the principal memorial dedicated to the Second World War in the Ardennes and Belgium with more than 150 000 visitors per year. Through the use of scenography, witness testimonial, multi-media installation the route through the exhibition appeals not only to the intellect but to the emotions, giving visitors the feeling that this story belongs to each and every one of us.
Reviewed By erictX7670ZS - Norway, null
Visited with our two kids (7 and 9), and we all thought the museum was fantastic. For my generation and that of our kids, the events of WW2 are very removed. But when you learn about what happened, and that it wasn't all that long ago, it's a very humbling educational experience. The museum is really well curated, and the exhibition leads you through the lead up and events of this part of WW2 in a logical and very engaging manner. My kids liked their individual audio guides and especially the way the story is narrated by the 4 perspectives of the local boy, his teacher, the American soldier and the German soldier. The theatrical displays are really good (to give your mind a break) because there is just so much info to absorb and it is tiring. We spent 3hrs in the museum. It is scary that the events of today seem so similar to those in the lead up to WW2... We also visited the Verdun WW1 museum the next day, and it is incredulous that the world didn't learn it's lesson the first time round.
8. From Texas to Bastogne, Aggies go to War
9. Musee Baillet-Latour
10. Centre General Gerard
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