bastogne battle tour

Keeping History Alive!

The Battered Bastards of Bastogne

The Bastogne Highlight Battle Tour! Explore Bastogne’s Battlefield with Our 7-Hour Tour !

Starting point is at the “ Place Du Général Patton “. After a brief introduction of the Battle of the Ardennes we will dive into the towns of Mont, Neffe, Mageret, Longvilly and Noville. From there we are heading to Recogne and Foy were we will visit several spots, including Bois Jacques. After a short break we will be heading to the 101st Airborne Museum , Assenois, Chaumont and we will end the tour in the city centre of Bastogne . We will follow the traces of units like the 10th Armored Division, 4th Armored Division, 28th Infantry Division, 506thPIR, 501PIR and 502PIR. Accompanied with a lot of pictures Bob will take you to the right spot where the events took place in these dreadfull days in december 1944 and january 1945. The end of the tour will leave you speechless! Your Bastogne battlefield tour is perfect for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in one of the most significant battles in World War II history. You’ll visit both famous and lesser-known sites, learning about the military strategy and the soldiers’ experiences. Book with us today and let us take you on an unforgettable journey through time.

This tour is made by car and lunch is not included. The tour will last around 8 hours. Want more? Tell us!

[email protected]

Bastogne – Two Day Battlefield Tour

On request I also do a Bastogne / Battle of the Bulge tours and I was asked by a group of friends, which had been on an Arnhem tour last year, to do a two day tour.

We spent the better part of two days on the battlefield visiting different point around the perimeter, beginning at the Mardasson memorial where we discussed the strategic aims of the operation as well as a quick overview of what happened during the siege. The group also visited the excellent Bastogne War Museum which is currently in the process of expanding another 30% in size.

Then we were off to the Bois Jaques to look at the foxholes and tell the stories of the men of Easy Company / Band of Brothers who spent part of the siege in those woods.

Then it was time for lunch so we headed back to Bastogne before driving to the other side of the town to talk about the German surrender demand and the subsequent NUTS reply at Kessler farm on the southern part of the perimeter.

Then on to the Assenois road where General Patton’s 3rd Army linked up with the paratroopers on the afternoon of the December 26th, 1944 breaking the siege. The last time I visited this location was at least five years earlier and boy has it the area changed! Back then it was well outside Bastogne on the edge of a small wood. No longer! It is now located at the edge of an industrial area and will soon be in the middle of it.

The monument itself has undergone a complete metamorphosis, then it was just the bunker with a small sign, now it is a memorial park dedicated to the men of the 4th Armored Division who broke the siege.

We also took our time to look at some of the video material that I had prepared for this tour. This included listening to General McAuliffe talking about the NUTS reply supported by actual combat footage, very special to listen to that in Bastogne!

We then drove back to the north side of Bastogne to visit the German War cemetery at Recogne to reflect on the human cost of war. At the cemetery 6807 Germans are buried, most were killed during the battle of the Bulge but the cemetery also contains graves of those who died in May 1940.

We began the day in Foy, having watched the Band of Brothers episode “The Breaking Point” the previous evening. Originally this stop was planned after visiting the Bois Jacques on day one but very seldom does a plan survive first contact with reality.

From here on out I have to use pictures that I took over the years as I didn’t have time to take pictures during the tour.

Leaving the 506th PIR behind we drove to the western part of the perimeter, the area that the 502nd and 327th regiments defended. The paratroopers of Able company / 502 bore the brunt of the German Christmas day attack at Champs followed shortly after by a tank and infantry attack on the lines of the glider men from the 327th. The tanks broke through but the line held, stopping all German attempts to reinforce the tanks.

Unfortunately I didn’t take any pictures in Champs!

In front of Chateau Rolley, which was the headquarters of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment a number of the broken through tanks were destroyed.

Then we drove on to Hemroulle where an artillery unit knocked out most of the remaining tanks ending any (by then vain) hope of breaking into Bastogne.

Our last stop of the tour was the Bastogne municipal cemetery where Renee Lemaire and Augusta Chiwy are buried.

Both were volunteered as nurses during the Siege of Bastogne, Renee was killed in on Christmas Eve in a German bombing attack. Her story was used in Band of Brothers and her story is now widely known. Far less known is the story of Augusta, she survived the war shunning all publicity until very late in her life when her deeds finally became known.

My name is Joris Nieuwint and I will be your tour guide! Please allow me to introduce myself and tell you a little bit about what I've been doing over the past years. For the past 10 years I've been living in Veghel, and before that, I've lived in Arnhem for almost two decades. Living so close to the battlefields meant that Operation Market Garden always had my interest and I've been studying the battles for all those years. Sharing what I've learned over the years has been my passion and becoming a tour guide was one of my dreams. Keeping the sacrifices of these men alive by telling their stories and showing the locations where it happened is my greatest passion.

Related Posts

A battlefield tour with the Dutch Army Reserves

Three countries in one day!

In the Footsteps of Hugh Lake

Guide to Battle of the Bulge Tour in Bastogne

Sharing is caring!

Battle of the Bulge was Hitler’s last offense, his last attempt at dominating Europe. The fate of the war was decided along this front. This battle was documented intensely in the popular HBO series “Band of Brothers” due to its importance. Any traveler visiting Belgium, or any traveler visiting WW2 sites in Europe, should make a point to visit Bastogne, Belgium. Here’s how to make your own Battle of the Bulge tour.

Main Stops on a Battle of the Bulge Tour

There are two main stops on any Battle of the Bulge tour: the Bastogne War Museum and the Bois Jacques Foxholes.

Bastogne War Museum

The Bastogne War Museum is the signature museum covering the Battle of the Bulge and Belgium in WW2 in the region. The museum begins with how the war began and how the war got to the pivotal moment that was the Battle of the Bulge.

You follow–via an audio guide–four people throughout the museum and hear their stories from WW2. The people include a young Belgium boy, a Belgium school teacher who carries coded messages for the resistance, a German military officer, and an American Soldier in Belgium.

The audio guides are automatic, meaning they sense where you are in the museum and tell you the story accordingly. While this seemed like a cool feature at first, I would prefer a system where I indicate what to listen to and when. I quickly became annoyed because I couldn’t control the audio system. I would walk into a room and listen to the audio guide. Then, I’d start walking around the room to read the signs. However, the audio system would sense me walking around the room and start picking up the next audio story or replay the one I had just listened to.

Tip: I suggest listening to all the audio guides in a room first, then taking off your headphones to focus on reading the signs.

Nonetheless, this museum is excellent. It is a must on any Battle of the Bulge tour. The museum’s signage explained the facts concisely and easily. The audio guide’s personal narratives helped add emotion in a war that’s easy to focus on numbers and tactics. The museum carried an excellent balance of history and storytelling.

Know Before You Go: Bastogne War museum

How much does a ticket cost?

Adult tickets cost 20 euros each, as of August 2022. The audio guides are included in the price of a ticket and come in several languages. Tickets also include entry to the Bois Jacques Foxholes.

How much time do I need at the museum?

I suggest scheduling two hours to tour this museum, plus an additional 30 minutes to walk around the memorial located to the side of the museum.

Tell me more about the memorial.

There is no ticket control at the memorial, so you could opt to only visit that if you are on a budget. It was under scaffolding in August 2022 and I’m unsure of when the repairs will be complete. You can walk around and on top of the memorial. I recommend walking on top of the memorial for its beautiful views of the Belgium countryside.

Is there a restaurant at the museum?

Bring a snack and water with you inside the exhibit, if you think you’ll need it, because there are no cafes once you’re inside the exhibit. There are plenty of restrooms inside the exhibits.

There is a café outside the exhibit inside of the museum but, as per usual with museum cafes, it’s more expensive than buying elsewhere. They serve pre-made sandwiches and salads, a couple of dessert options, and beverages.

Where do I park?

The parking lot is located immediately in front of the museum and costs 5 euros per vehicle. It’s large, so there’s plenty of parking availability. You pay the parking fee inside the museum at the same time you pay for your museum ticket.

When should I visit?

The first time I visited this museum, a Saturday in May 2021, there was no line at the museum and maybe five other groups in the museum with me. The second time I visited this museum, a Friday in August 2022, I waited 30 minutes in line to buy tickets because there were numerous groups. The museum didn’t feel packed on this visit, but it certainly felt full.

Perhaps it’s a hit or miss of when the museum is full or empty. Or perhaps my first visit is a remnant of low-tourism during COVID times in Europe.

I guess the museum will be busy during the summer season and less busy during winter.

Be sure to check the museum’s website for holiday closings and seasonal hours.

Can I pre-order tickets?

If you don’t want to wait in line, you can buy your ticket online at the museum’s website.

Bois Jacques Foxholes: Band of Brothers’ Location

These foxholes are where Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division built their battle positions. Yes, that’s the same company from Band of Brothers!

They’re still in pretty good condition and you can obviously see where the boundaries of their patrol base were. You can see the town of Foy off in the near distance and the great opening between trees where the troops cheered at the arrival of clear skies and supplies.

There is an equal sense of sorrow and pride as you wander the foxholes. The Soldiers’ lives at Bois Jacques included so much hunger, cold, fear, and pain in this defense. There was also a lot of heroism, brotherhood, and pride in successfully defending Bastogne and, ultimately, bringing the war in Europe to an end.

While the Bastogne War Museum is interactive, the Bois Jacques Foxholes are a site for contemplation and remembrance. These foxholes are a must for any Battle of the Bulge tour.

The Bois Jacques foxholes have recently undergone a transition. The foxholes were completely open for my first two visits–in May 2021 and December 2021.

However, in my last visit in August 2022, the area is now gated, there’s a paved parking area, and there are signs for an interactive experience. While it’s unfortunate in some ways that the foxholes are no longer an open space, the increased funding to preserve the history of this area is undoubtedly beneficial for the long term. Additionally, the land now has smooth dirt paths that make the site more accessible to wheelchairs. Since I don’t have experience with a wheelchair, I can’t say for sure that the site is more accessible, but that was the intent of smoothing the pathways.

You technically need a ticket to visit the Bois Jacques Foxholes now, which you scan at the entrance. However, in my visit in August 2022, anyone could enter freely as long as they entered through the gate. I don’t this free entrance will last for much longer, though, since the museum system introduced a ticket system for the Bois Jacques foxholes. Plus, as a Belgium tourist exclaimed when I told him he doesn’t actually need his ticket to enter, “Free? In Belgium? Impossible!”

Know Before You Go: Bois Jacques Foxholes

The ticket is included in the cost of the Bastogne War Museum. At the time of writing this, you can not purchase a Bois Jacques Foxholes ticket separately.

At the time of my latest visit, you could enter the gated park without a ticket. Tickets are a new requirement for the park, so I believe this is why the entrance was free during my last visit. I believe tickets will be enforced in the future.

Do I need the app?

Short answer–no. It will add to the experience though.

The app is free to download and will make your visit to Bois Jacques Foxholes more interactive. Although downloading the app is free, you need the QR Code on your Bois Jacques ticket to access the interactive platform.

Unfortunately, I did not have cell service during my last visit and could not download the app while I was at the site. I recommend downloading the app while at the Bastogne War Museum and connected to their WiFi.

How much time do I need at the foxholes?

I suggest scheduling approximately 30 minutes for your visit to the Bois Jacques Foxholes, whether you want to utilize the interactive app experience or just walk around the foxholes. If you’d like to walk the entire perimeter of the defense, schedule more time.

There is a small paved parking area immediately in front of the entrance to the foxholes. However, it is the quintessential small and tight European parking lot. If the lot runs out of space, or your vehicle won’t fit, you can park on the side of the road.

Parking is free.

Is there a restaurant at the site?

There are no facilities at the Bois Jacques Foxholes. No café, restaurant, or restrooms.

Please respect the historical site and ensure you pack out any trash you bring along and use the restroom before visiting the site.

Summer is the busier season, but even my visit in August 2022 wasn’t crowded.

If you visit during winter, you’ll get a more realistic experience to when Easy Company was at Bois Jacques. It was -15 degrees Celsisus (5 degrees Fahrenheit) when Easy Company was there. I visited in December 2021 and it was significantly warmer than what the Soldiers experienced in 1944/45, but still added to the experience. There were only a few other small groups visiting at this time, as well.

Additional Battle of the Bulge Tour Sites

Bastogne War Museum and the Bois Jacques Foxholes are the main sites on a Battle of the Bulge tour. However, there are a couple more key sites in the region that you can add onto your itinerary.

Malmedy Massacre Memorial

The 1st SS Panzer Division came across a company of U.S. troops from the 7th Armored Division during the Battle of the Bulge on December 17, 1944. Their Commander realized their efforts against a significantly greater force (in terms of manpower) was useless and surrendered.

The Nazi troops searched all the Soldiers. A few of the American Soldiers tried to flee and the order was given to shoot. The Nazi military proceeded to massacre the Soldiers. Some fled. 43 men survived. 84 died.

Now there’s a memorial, about 100m from where the actual massacre took place, commemorating those Soldiers who died.

If you have additional time on your Battle of the Bulge tour, and are greatly interested in WW2 history, you may appreciate a quick stop at this memorial to commemorate the lives lost.

Luxembourg American Military Cemetery

When you enter the grounds, two pillars stand tall. One displays the movements for the Battle of the Bulge. The other one has the 371 Soldiers missing in action inscribed. Twenty three bronze rosettes are by some of the names, indicating they were found and properly buried.

In total, 5,070 Service Members rest at the Luxembourg American Cemetery. Most of them died during the Battle of the Bulge.

The cemetery is also the final resting ground for General Patton. He is the only four-start General laid to rest at a American Battle Monuments Commission ceremony. He requested to be laid to rest next to his Soldiers. General Patton was initially laid in a plot like every other Soldier’s, per his request. However, the increased traffic to his resting place caused significant damage to the cemetery grounds so he was later moved to the front of the cemetery.

Ensure to check the website for the most updated hours as the hours change by season and holidays.

Where to Sleep and Eat in Bastogne, Belgium

Bastogne is the most famous town in Europe, and it is definitely a town.

There’s one main square in the town, exactly where the four main roads meet. The majority of restaurants are on this square, or near it. Most of the restaurants on the square turn into pubs at night. There is free parking in the square.

I’ve eaten at an Italian restaurant in the town square called Giorgi three times now and they haven’t disappointed me. Their pizzas remind me of pizza in Naples, Italy and they have a flexible and interesting assortment of pastas.

Definitely try Belgium beers while you’re visiting. Belgium beer is the best in Europe! I love the Cherry Choufe.

My friends and I stayed at this AirBnB in Bastogne . The couple who owns it are lovely and super helpful. There’s also parking immediately in front of the apartment. The apartment is located by a park and near the town square, which is convenient for food and drinks.

DIY Battle of the Bulge Tour

You could make an entire an entire week out of your Battle of the Bulge tour if you wanted. If you are short on time, or only want a general visit for your Battle of the Bulge tour, this is what you need to see.

Let me know what other Battle of the Bulge sites you want to visit or comment below if you have any questions!

Related posts

The Best Indian Food in Belgium: Mission Masala

The Coolest Bar in Ghent: Dulle Griet

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Privacy Overview

Bastogne Battle of the Bulge tours

Experience one of the bloodiest battles of wwii.

VISITING THE BULGE

Looking for a battlefield tour.

Ardennes Experience is the way to go. With years of passion for the history of the region, our guide acquired in depth knowledge of the Battlefield. Filled with personnal anecdotes our tours really bring history alive.

What we offer

Explore the battle of the bulge.

We offer both standard and custom exclusive private tours of the Battlefield of the Ardennnes. Be it the siege of Bastogne, Easy Company and Band of Brothers' path, or Kampfgruppe Peiper's attack and many more, we have a tour for you.

Tour operator or organizing a bus tour? We can also accomodate bigger groups, don't hesitate to click below:

Custom tours

Why go custom.

You have family members who fought in the battle of the Bulge? You want to follow their specific path? Or your interest is very specific? Let us do the research for you.

On the other hand, you are not travelling alone? Your significant other or companions do not have to suffer yet another "history buff only" tour. Indeed we can accommodate you with a program mixing history with local goodness. Including, but not limited to breweries, chocolate makers, nature and many more.

about the battle

The last-ditch german offensive.

Dubbed operation Wacht am Rhein by the Germans, the battle of the bulge is the very last German offensive of the Second World War. Starting on December 16th, 1944 with the objective of reaching Antwerp, it was fought in some of the worst winters of the century. Both sides suffered huge casualties, leaving fighting men as well as the local population scarred for life.

About Ardennes Experience

Professional in the field of WWII memory since 2014, Ardennes Experience specializes in providing both standard and custom tours of the Battle of the Bulge. Our exclusive experiences offer a unique opportunity to delve into the historical significance of this pivotal moment in WWII. With an expert guide and immersive itineraries, we ensure an unforgettable journey through history.

Uncover the Untold Stories of the Battle of the Bulge

Ardennes Experience

Benonchamps 25

6600 Bastogne

BCE 0720.779.977

• Print Tour Itinerary »
• Print Full Page »

80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge

The Battle of the Bulge was one of the most epic and decisive battles of World War II. In the largest American land battle of the war, the U.S. Army stopped Hitler’s well-equipped force of a half-million Germans and his final offensive in Western Europe. The victory would affect the lives of millions. 

On the Battle of the Bulge Tour we travel from Brussels to the Ardennes, Malmedy, Bastogne, Diekirch and areas that defined the fierce struggle. We get a detailed view of the soldiers, many of them untested in combat, and the Germans who opposed them.

History of the Battle of the Bulge

Addressing the first officer candidate class to graduate from Fort Benning in September 1941, Chief of Staff of the Army, George C. Marshall, reminded the citizen-soldiers turned officers that “the real leader displays his quality in his triumphs over adversity, however great, it may be.” Nowhere during World War II was this demonstrated more clearly than during the month-long Battle of the Bulge, which was the largest American land battle of the war and, in the words of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, an ever great American Victory.

More than 75 years later, what most people recognize about the Battle of the Bulge is the 101st Airborne Division’s epic eight-day defense of Bastogne. As any veteran of the Ardennes will tell you, however, it was much more than that.

On the morning of December 16, 1944, a well-equipped force of a half-million Germans fell unsuspectingly along a thinly held front along the Belgian frontier. Adolf Hitler hoped that the three armies he committed to his all-or-nothing offensive would crack the Western Front wide-open, split the Allies in two and seize the vital port of Antwerp. If the attack succeeded, victory in Europe would be delayed for at least another year and Hitler might have the time he needed to bring his “wonder weapons” on line and complete the awful work of the Final Solution. It might even have caused a war weary Soviet Union to sue for peace. To the barely 80,000 Americans that found themselves in the midst of this deluge, the Führer’s ultimate objectives were unimportant; what mattered was survival in some of the most horrific combat conditions imaginable.

With the passage of time, it is easy to think that it was elite troops like the 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions that made such a victory possible, but it was not. A great many of the units that fought in the Ardennes were untested in combat, their officers and men part of the massive training effort devised and overseen by General Marshall. It was citizen-soldiers and the “90 Day Wonders” who led them that ultimately won the battle, and it was the leadership lessons these men had been taught in boot-camp and officer’s candidate school that had made the difference between victory and defeat.

Our Battle of the Bulge Tour will take a detailed look at these men and the German soldiers who opposed them. Each stop will provide a chance to analyze the decisions-right and wrong-that officers on both sides made under the most stressful conditions imaginable. Guests will see how the young officers and enlisted men who had been through the Army’s training program made decisions that achieved a victory that would impact the lives of millions.

Brussels: Lecture on the Ardennes Campaign and what was at stake for Axis and Allied leaders in the winter of 1944.

Malmedy: Cross the same spot Peiper did more than 75 years ago and follow the exact route his armored column took through Lanzerath.

St. Vith: Start the day with a visit to St. Vith, then travel to Wallerode and its monument to a lone American officer who villagers recall carried on his own single-handed war against the Germans for weeks.

Bastogne: Begin in Bastogne with a special visit to the barracks that served as Troy Middleton’s headquarters; Mardasson Memorial; retrace the 16-mile defensive perimeter around the town.

Bastogne: Start at the village of Mande St. Etienne, where the troopers of the 101st arrived after their breakneck drive from Reims, then travel to the fields outside of Hemroulle where, on Christmas Day, the troopers of the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment were forced to hunker down in their foxholes while enemy tanks passed directly overhead.

Diekirch/Luxembourg City: Visit the location of the 5th Infantry Division’s nighttime crossing of the Sauer River, National Military Museum, and American and German cemeteries.

Foy-Notre-Dame: See the very spot where the German’s farthest westward advance was halted

• Special 80th Anniversary events: Details to be announced

Day-By-Day Itinerary

Day 1 - december 10 - fly to brussels.

Guests fly independently on an overnight flight to Brussels, Belgium. Book your flight to arrive in Brussels by 10 a.m on Day 2.

DAY 2 - December 11 - Arrive in Brussels

Arrive in Brussels and gather at a designated meet-up location within the airport. From Brussels, we drive by motor coach to our tour hotel. We kick-off dinner with a lecture on the Ardennes Campaign and what was at stake for Axis and Allied leaders in the winter of 1944.

DAY 3 - December 12 - Malmedy

When he was given his mission for the upcoming Ardennes offensive, SS Obersturmbannenfuehrer Joachim Peiper was told that terror was to be one of his weapons. For a man who had earned the nickname of “the blowtorch” in Russia, these were orders he relished. By the time his 5,000-man panzer force was stopped, they had cut a path of terror and destruction that left untold numbers of dead GIs and Belgian civilians in its path.

We will cross the same spot Peiper did 75 years ago and follow the exact route his armored column took through Lanzerath, where a baby-faced Lieutenant Lyle Bouck and 17 young Americans stood in his path, Bullingen, Baugnez and the site of the famous Malmedy massacre, Stavelot, Trois Pont, La Gleize and the December 44 museum, which features an original King Tiger tank.

DAY 4 - December 13 - St. Vith: The Slaughter

When Maj. Gen. Alan Jones, the commander of the green 106th Infantry Division, reported back to VIII Corps headquarters that prisoners taken in front of his positions along Skyline drive were warning of an impending offensive, he was told, “Don’t be so jumpy, the Krauts are just playing phonograph records to scare you newcomers.” At 5:30 a.m. the next morning, his men were deluged with incoming artillery fire and within minutes found themselves in the midst of the Fifth Panzer Army’s main attack. For three days the 106th held off the Germans, but by the 19th it had been forced off Skyline Drive and in the largest mass surrender since Bataan; 8,000 of its men were forced to surrender.

We will start the day with a visit to St. Vith. We will then travel to Wallerode and its monument to a lone American officer who elderly villagers recall carried on his own single-handed war against the Germans for weeks. Then it is on to the 106th positions in the woods along Skyline Drive. We will visit extensive intact foxholes, bunkers and artillery emplacements, as well as the field where almost the entire 442 Infantry Regiment was forced to surrender.

DAY 5 - December 14 - Bastogne: Trading Lives for Time

If it were not for the seven major roads that passed through it, Bastogne would have had no importance at all. It was because of these thoroughfares, however, that Eisenhower decided that the small Belgian farming community was one of the most important pieces of real estate along the entire Western Front. Holding it when the German offensive began were a few thousand troops assigned or attached to VIII Corps Headquarters; among which was a combat command of the 10th Armored Division. The stand these men made in the days before the 101st arrived remains one of World War II’s most compelling tales of bravery and self-sacrifice. Without their lonely 48-hour stand, Bastogne, and possibly the war, would have been lost.

Our study of their bravery and heroics will begin in Bastogne itself with a special visit to the barracks that served as Troy Middleton’s headquarters at the start of the battle and eventually served as home to Anthony McAuliffe, the 101st’s assistant division commander, and his staff during the siege. Our guests will have an opportunity to visit the cave where he gave his famous “Nuts!” answer to a German offer of surrender. Then it will be on to the impressive Mardasson Memorial. After this stop we will retrace the 16-mile defensive perimeter around the town, stopping along the way to explore the roadblock battles fought at places like Houffalize, Noville, Bourcy, Bizory, Longvilly and Marvie.

DAY 6 -December 15 - Bastogne: The Hole in the Donut

Through the sacrifice of their comrades in the 10th Armored Division, the troopers of the 101st Airborne Division were able to reach Bastogne in the nick of time and hold it for eight critical days. We will start at the village of Mande St. Etienne, where the troopers of the 101st arrived after their breakneck drive from Reims. Next, we will visit the field where the Germans finally closed the last escape route out of Bastogne and captured the division’s field hospital. From there we will travel to the fields outside of Hemroulle where, on Christmas Day, the troopers of the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment were forced to hunker down in their foxholes while enemy tanks passed directly overhead in an attack that almost defeated the Screaming Eagles. Our study of Bastogne’s defense will end with the tanks of General George S. Patton’s 4th Armored Division as they battle their way through a series of enemy roadblocks at Sibret and Assenois to reach the beleaguered defenders of the city and lift the siege.

DAY 7 - December 16 - Anniversary

Anniversary events to be announced.

DAY 8 - December 17 - Diekirch/Luxembourg City: Crossing the Sauer

Our day starts with in Diekirch to visit the location of the 5th Infantry Division’s nighttime crossing of the Sauer River on January 18, 1945; this was the first American attack after the defeat of the German offensive and marked the start of the final offensive into the Reich. The rest of the afternoon will then be spent enjoying the phenomenal National Military Museum with its 1,500 square meters of exhibit space and renowned life-size dioramas. Our tour of the Ardennes will conclude, as it should, in Luxembourg City with a visit to the American and German cemeteries.

DAY 9 - December 18 - Foy-Notre-Dame

We will depart Luxembourg and head for Brussels. Along the way we will make one final visit, stopping in the village of Foy-Notre-Dame to see the very spot where the German’s farthest westward advance was halted. We will have our farewell dinner at an airport hotel in Brussels.

DAY 10 - December 19 - Home

Morning drop off at Brussels airport.

• December 10 - 19 2024

Recommended Reading

• Citizen Soldiers: The U. S. Army from the Normandy Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany,  Stephen E. Ambrose

Tour Includes

• Full-time, professional historian
• Touring by first class motorcoach
• All breakfasts, most dinners
• All entrance fees to museums & attractions

Activity Level

As with all of our tours, we prefer to spend our time on the battlefields. There will be some museum stops, but please be prepared to walk through forests and cobblestone streets.

• Chris Anderson

TRIP COST $4,390

Prices are per person based on double occupancy. For a single room add $1,150. 

Our Guests’ Reviews

There are no reviews for this tour yet. If you traveled with us on this tour, please let your fellow travellers know about your experiences.

Write your review

Privacy overview, subscribe to our newsletter.

Read captivating articles by our historians. Compete in history quizzes. Receive invites to History Happy Hour.

" * " indicates required fields

• Tours 8-day 80th ANNIVERSARY BULGE TOUR 9-day BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR 11-day BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR 12-day D-DAY ANNIVERSARY TOUR 12-day D-DAY LUXURY TOUR 6-day BEACHES OF NORMANDY TOUR 6-day AMERICAN NORMANDY TOUR 11-day WAR IN POLAND TOUR 11-day THIRD REICH TOUR 10-day BRITAIN AT WAR TOUR 11-day ITALIAN CAMPAIGN TOUR 12-day WORLD WAR I TOUR

8-day 80th ANNIVERSARY BULGE TOUR

• Average 4-6 miles walk a day
• Some uneven terrain
• Medium to long travel times
• Moderate pace
• Battle of the Bulge Anniversary commemorations
• Bastogne Barracks
• Foxholes of Bois Jacques
• Foy, Malmedy, La Gleize

Bastogne War Museum

Luxembourg american cemetery, christmas market in luxembourg city.

• Diekirch National Museum of Military History

Join the celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the bloodiest battle for the American forces in World War II. On this extended exploration of the Battle of the Bulge you can see where exactly the encircled 101st Airborne Division courageously held the line in the siege of Bastogne during one of the coldest winters of all time in 1944. Visit the soldiers’ foxholes, the finest museums, General Patton’s grave, and other off the beaten track sites! Explore the stunning cities of Bastogne and Luxembourg City during Christmas season! You get to experience how Bastogne citizens commemorate their American liberators with the “throwing of the nuts” ceremony and how they remember all those brave soldiers who helped them take their country back.

Detailed Highlights and Itinerary

Passengers are greeted at the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, France and transferred to their hotel in Bastogne, Belgium, followed by an orientation dinner where you get to know your fellow passengers. We start our tour by exploring the war sites in and around Bastogne. The Bastogne War Museum gives us an interactive context of the causes, events and consequences of World War II, with a particular emphasis on the Battle of the Bulge. Nearby, the impressive Mardasson Monument pays tribute to the Allied soldiers who died or got wounded during this period. We visit sites such as the Bastogne Barracks, the Patton Monument, the town of Foy, the foxholes of Bois Jacques. We spend a whole day by exploring the northern arc of the Bulge by following the advance and demise of Colonel Joachim Peiper’s battlegroup to Malmedy and La Gleize and paying witness to the atrocities committed by SS troops.

Mardasson Monument

101st airborne monument

King Tiger tank in La Gleize

Malmedy Massacre Memorial

Bastogne Main Square

Long Tom gun at Bastogne Barracks

Sherman tank in the Bastogne Barracks

Foxholes covered in snow at Bois Jacques

Siegfried line in winter

We participate in the official celebrations of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge including military parades, wreath-laying ceremonies and other celebratory events. They all have one thing in common; bringing together veterans, Belgian and American service members, students and visitors. Eventually, the “throwing of the nuts” from the balcony of the town hall brings the commemoration to a heartfelt close. On this special occasion, Bastogne is filled with reenactors, WW2 military vehicles and tanks rolling through the streets during the military vehicle parade. We cross borders to Luxembourg to pay our respect to the fallen soldiers, among them many 101st paratroopers and General S. Patton at the Luxembourg American Cemetery.

General Patton's Grave

Bastogne City Hall, throwing of the Nuts!

Military parade

Reenactors dressed in uniforms

Tanks at the vehicle restoration center

Military parade on the main street of Bastogne

Reenactors with a Jeep

Tank movements at the Bastogne Barracks

On the last leg of our journey, we visit one of the world’s smallest countries, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Our visit would not be complete without a stop at the Diekirch National Military History Museum with the world’s largest collection of World War II items. On a walking tour in the center of Luxembourg City, we pass by landmarks such as the Ducal Palace, the Notre-Dame Cathedral or the Old Town, and we get to experience the heart of this vibrant capital. Before traveling to Paris, the festive Christmas market serves as the perfect end to a highly memorable tour. The next morning, after saying goodbye, the Passengers are brought to Charles de Gaulle Airport for their return flights.

National Museum of Military History Diekirch

M45 Quadmount in the Diekirch Museum

Greetings to Adolf

Inside the Diekirch Museum

Ducal palace in Luxembourg City

Luxembourg City old town

Notre-Dame Cathedral

Walking tour in Luxembourg city

Dates and prices, 80th anniversary bulge tour.

• Day 8: Departure

80th ANNIVERSARY OVERLORD TOUR

• Day 11: Departure

BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR

• Day 9: Departure

D-DAY ANNIVERSARY TOUR

• Day 12: Departure

D-DAY LUXURY TOUR

Beaches of normandy tour.

• Day 6: Departure

AMERICAN NORMANDY TOUR

War in poland tour, third reich tour, britain at war tour.

• Day 10: Departure

ITALIAN CAMPAIGN TOUR

World war i tour, 80th anniversary d-day tour, 80th anniversary gold tour, 80th anniversary silver tour, hotels, motorcoach, guides and other services.

Relax after a long flight and ease your mind knowing that your Tour Director will meet you at the airport on the first day of the tour, avoiding extra navigating and expensive taxi fares. With our all-inclusive tour package, we handle all the details of your tour, so you can focus on experiencing this trip of a lifetime. Sit back and let us wine and dine you as you explore history with our carefully planned itinerary, with all breakfasts, dinners and entrance fees included. You will sleep soundly each night at 4-star accommodations. Breakfasts are delicious and authentic, while the two-three course dinners are mix of buffet and limited menu dining options which offer a chance to taste some of the local wines or beers as well. This tour includes a 24/7 Tour Director and several local guides. Our dynamic, knowledgeable Tour Directors are with you from your arrival at the airport to departure on the final day. They proactively smooth the way for your entire tour experience. Our handpicked, trusted local guides are fluent in English and expert historians, who deliver their impressive wealth of knowledge, anecdotes, and local insights with skill that shows their years of research and experience.

Hotel lounge area

Hotel in Bastogne

Dining area in the hotel

Hotel room in Bastogne

Local Guide at the Bastogne barracks

Stories from Peace Woods

Local guide in Bastogne

Restaurant interior in Bastogne

Restaurant in Bastogne

Ardennes quiche

Restaurant street view

They always address topics onsite so that you get to experience history where it happened as they guide both popular destinations and obscure locations only the locals would know. Do not worry about availability, wait times, or ticket costs as all museum and site admissions are pre-arranged and included in the cost of our all-inclusive tours. On this tour you ride in style in our motorcoaches complete with climate control, video entertainment and extra leg room. Our skilled, professional drivers maximize your tour time by navigating the busiest highways and tightest country lanes, giving you more time at sites and less time subjected to the inflexible scheduling, delays and crowded areas that accompany public transport. For those who want to stay connected, Wi-fi is available at all our hotels and on all of our buses.

Beaches of Normandy Tours Band of Brothers Tours 48 Rue de Thouays, 50480 Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Normandy, France

Phone: +1 855-473-1999 Monday - Friday, 10am - 6pm ET e-mail: [email protected]

White Cross Battlefield Tours

World War Guided Battlefield Tours – My guided tours cover the historical locations, associated with World War 2, in Belgium, Czech republic, France, Germany, Holland, Luxembourg and Poland

The Battle of the Bulge Tour

On the 16th of December 1944, Adolf Hitler launched his last (major) Western offensive, to try and win the war in the West – codenamed “Wacht am Rhein” (Watch on the Rhine).  This later became widely known as “The Battle of the Bulge” 

Therefore -yet another German lightning strike, through the rugged and seemingly impenetrable, heavily forested Belgian Ardennes, during the coldest winter since records began, against  ill-prepared, battle weary, resting American troops, who held a very thin defensive line, on the Belgian/German border…

After a massive artillery barrage at 5.30 a.m, the huge German armored columns, with supporting Grenadiers (Infantry), pressed forward and attacked, therefore rapidly overwhelming the shocked, exhausted and unprepared American 99th Infantry soldiers, in their freezing cold foxholes, on the Belgian/German border

Later, this became widely and famously known as “The Battle of the Bulge”, because of the “bulge” it caused on the allied situation maps

I will show you where these huge shells landed, amongst the American front line positions, on the edge of the forest

FOR THE ULTIMATE WW2 GUIDED BATTLEFIELD TOUR EXPERIENCE !

 the “battle of the bulge” was not just about bastogne , many many more, belgian & luxembourg towns and villages, were fought over and devastated , minimum tour duration: 2 days  (3 day tours also available), minimum number of persons:  2, the northern shoulder tour.

I specialize in particular, in the Northern Shoulder of the “Bulge”. This is the area on the German/Belgian border, near the villages of Krinkelt, Rocherath, Hellanthal & Hollerath, where it all began, on the 16th of December 1944.

It’s where the U.S  99th Infantry Division earned their Baptism of Fire

I find this area the most fascinating, because it’s hardly changed at all, since those terrible days, in Winter 1944 & 45.  I know this area intimately, having hiked many miles, over many years, in all weathers, to further my research. 

It’s a beautiful, very peaceful area with thick pine forests, deep ridges and fast flowing streams. The nature is wonderful & we will be alone during your tour. Far away from the traffic and commercial chaos of Bastogne, where all the coaches go.

  This area still has so much of the original battlefield evidence. It does require some hiking along forest trails, but the effort is very rewarding. There are many blown German bunkers deep in the forest, masses of foxholes, gun pits, M.G nests, clearly defined trench systems, artillery crators, aid stations, command posts, American field graves, memorials, rebuilt churches, “Dragon’s Teeth” of the Westwall,  & even shrapnel & barbed wire still on the forest floor !

This Battlefield Tour could also be combined with my “Hell of The Hurtgen Forest Tour”, as the “Northern Shoulder” is only 25 minutes drive from the edge of The Hurtgenwald

Below Photo:  U.S marked mortar tube lids, used by the 99th Infantry Division, (Battle Babies), on the very first day of the “Bulge”. I found many of these, just lying on the forest floor, in September 2019

Below photo: STOUMONT :  The family of a veteran: David Fleming & his sister Sherry, standing outside the St Edouard Sanitorium, Stoumont, Ardennes, in May 2018.

Their uncle – Staff Sergeant Alton “Buster” Fleming, was one of just 4 American Sherman tanks from the 740th Tank Battalion, that assaulted the German S.S held building, in Stoumont-

-during fierce battles in late December 1944, whilst hundreds of Belgian civilians, sheltered terrified in the building’s basement

SPECIALIZING IN GUIDED, BATTLE OF THE BULGE TOURS, FOR VETERAN’S FAMILIES (& GENERAL PUBLIC), IN THE ARDENNES 

JOACHIM PEIPER – We can follow some of the original, narrow route, through the Ardennes, taken by  fanatical  S.S Colonel Joachim Peiper’s massive 25km long armoured column, (Kampfgruppe Peiper), at the beginning of the “Battle of the Bulge”.

NORTHERN SHOULDER – All the way from the “Northern shoulder”of the “Bulge”, near Losheim in Germany, to the quaint Ardennes villages, of Cheneux, Stoumont and La Gleize, in Belgium, where the German advance was dramatically halted by U.S forces.

HOCKERLINIE – A fine example of “Dragon’s Teeth” (anti-tank defences), of the Westwall “Siegfried Line”, on the Belgian/German border, bomb crators from the initial German heavy artillery barrage, aid station, U.S & German command posts, blown bunkers, trenches and a large quantity of untouched  foxholes

Northern Shoulder – 99th Infantry areas of combat – Below: Michael & Sandra Brown, from Arlington, Texas, on tour with me in December 2018. Here they are standing in an American G.I’s foxhole (99th Infantry Division). Sandra is a very successful author and Michael is a former T.V presenter

FOXHOLES & TRENCHES (NORTHERN SHOULDER)

LOSHEIMERGRABEN – The brave Battle for the strategic and vital Losheimergraben Crossroads, featuring an outline of the battle and a look at a temporary American command post, memorial to the 99th Infantry and American mortar positions in the forest 

VITAL CROSSROADS – Plus the original customs houses, where 99th Infantry American soldiers, took up their positions and bravely held back the initial German advance

ROLLBAHN B – A look at a Corduroy Road (American constructed supply road from Murringen) & “Creepy Corner” -a section of the dense and dark forest, that claimed many lives, on the Belgian/German border and where missing in action’s – PVT Alphonse Sito’s body was discovered, decades later

BATTLEFIELD EVIDENCE

10th ARMORED DIVISION – BASTOGNE –  Photo below, shows me guiding the family of a 10th Armored veteran, (CCB tanker) around Bastogne and showing them U.S foxholes, in late early November 2018. 

It was a very satisfying moment, when I found this fired M1 garand rifle bullet, on the edge of a G.I’s foxhole, near Marvie, as I was looking for a piece of shrapnel for them.

This spent bullet was just lying here, 74 years after it was fired. Therefore ,a great piece of history for the family, to take back to the United States!

LANZERATH – The peaceful little village of Lanzerath, on the Belgian/German border and the heroic story about the young American officer – Lt Lyle Bouck and how he and a handful of  soldiers, from the “Schirmbusch” forest, halted Peiper’s advance, for almost 18 hours, before being finally overwhelmed and captured, after their positions were over-ran, by fanatical Falschirmjaeger (Luftwaffe) German infantry

BUCHOLZ – A very sudden, brave and bitter battle at the former Bucholz Bahnhof (Railway station), against PEIPER’S rapidly advancing German grenadiers, along the former railway line

SS ATROCITIES

HONSFELD – The capture and subsequent Waffen S.S execution of unarmed American  G.I’s at Honsfeld and the memorial to the victims. Besides the random executions.

ATROCITIES – The S.S even stole the boots from the corpses. The German armor crushed the bodies, as they turned the corner and headed towards Bullingen. Civilians were also murdered here

MALMEDY MASSACRE

BULLINGEN – Bullingen Church and the location in Bullingen of the former American fuel dump, captured by Peiper’s men, during his push through the Ardennes. Bullingen Church was heavily damaged during the battle by artillery and there was fierce combat, between the gravestones, hand to hand combat in the houses and running battles in and around the church

BAUGNEZ – the infamous “Malmedy Massacre” near the Baugnez Crossroads, by members of the Waffen SS -including the actual location of the field, great monument & excellent museum. I will tell you all about the terrible atrocity that occurred here on December the 17th, 1944, that resulted in the execution of 84 unarmed American soldiers

WERETH – The Wereth massacre Memorial (11 American coloured soldiers captured and murdered by the WAFFEN  S.S here)

ORIGINAL TANKS & HALF-TRACKS !

LIGNEUVILLE – The Battle at Ligneuville and yet another S.S atrocity. The execution of 8 more unarmed captured American soldiers, behind the Hotel Du Moulin, by Peiper’s fanatical S.S soldiers

BEAUTIFUL STAVELOT & THE RIVER AMBLEVE – The heavy battles for the vital town of Stavelot and the Ambleve bridge.

The 3 blown bridges at Trois Ponts, plus a look at The Petit Spai Bridge over the Ambleve River, which collapsed, as the first German armoured vehicle attempted to cross it

KAMPGRUPPE KNITTEL & STAVELOT CIVILIAN MASSACRES

Knittel – s.s commander gustav knittel’s temporary command post, on the western edge of stavelot. his s.s kampfgruppe attacked the eastern side of stavelot, to try and dislodge american troops in all the houses, cross the ambleve and reach and re-inforce a stranded kampfgruppe peiper.

Schnelle Gruppe Knittel – Gustav Knittel’s  Kampfgruppe S.S, committed atrocious executions, of  138 innocent civilians, (men, women and children were randomly massacred by angry young S.S troopers) on this side of Stavelot (In Renardmont, Parfondruy and Ster) and in the town of Stavelot itself

LEGAYE HOUSE MASSACRE – The tragic civilian massacre at the Legaye House, by the S.S

END OF THE GERMAN ADVANCE – The Battles for Stoumont, Stoumont station, Rahier and Cheneux (82nd Airborne) & the vital halting, of a column of  3 of PEIPER’S  Panther Tanks, near Stoumont Station, which ended the advance, including a look at Joachim Peiper’s command posts, along the route & where Peiper’s column were strafed near Cheneux

SANITORIUM –  A visit to the huge St Edouard Sanitorium, where a hugely important and decisive battle occurred  (740th Tank Batallion against Peiper’s S.S), as both sides fought desperately, to take control of this battle ravaged, strategic building, which commanded views over the battlefield

TROIS PONTS – The S.S massacre of Belgian civilians at Trois Ponts

DOLLINGER’S KING TIGER TANK – The huge, battle damaged, 68 ton King Tiger Tank, at La Gleize and the wonderful La Gleize museum, packed full of original artefacts, found on the surrounding Battlefield

CIVILIAN TRAGEDY – Below: The Legaye House, Stavelot – Tragic scene of just one of the many cruel, civilian massacres by the S.S in and around Stavelot

KRINKELT & ROCHERATH – The ferocious 3 day battle for the twin villages of Krinkelt and Rocherath. Lots of battle evidence here, including shell crators, German & American (99th Infantry) trenches, foxholes, command posts, aid-station.

FIELD GRAVES – Locations of field graves and memorials, where American & German soldiers have been found, decades after the war.

HASSELPATH Memorial, The Krinkelterwald  & Rupenvenn areas. Command posts, foxholes, trenches, aid-station, artillery crators

BASTOGNE & EASY COMPANY (506th P.I.R of 101st Airborne)

HEINTZ BARRACKS  (Bastogne Barracks & Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe’s Headquarters during the siege) & the excellent 101st Airborne Museum nearby

ENCIRCLEMENT – The German encirclement of Bastogne and the Sherman tank turret memorials, on all the major approach roads, marking the defensive positions

TASK FORCES – Locations of the 3 Task Forces defensive/blocking positions, of the 10th Armored Division. (Task Force Cherry, Task Force Desobry & Task Force O’Hara)

OTHER IMPORTANT VILLAGES – The villages of Bizory, Bourcy, Champs, Foy, Neffe, Noville, Longvilly, Longchamps, Mageret, Marvie, Mont, Wardin etc (These strategic villages all encountered heavy fighting & shelling)

SCREAMING EAGLES – Several superb monuments to the 101st Airborne – Bastogne

GENERAL McCAULIFFE -McCauliffe Square and the battle scarred Sherman Tank -Bastogne

HOTEL LEBRUN -Location of the former Hotel Lebrun (10th Armored)

10th ARMORED – Bastogne Church and the location of  the former aid-station, for the 10th Armored (where Belgian nurse – Renee Lemaire was tragically killed by a direct hit on the building) & 101st Airborne Airborne’s aid station, in the Seminary

ASSENOIS – The battle scarred Belgian Pillbox  on the Assenois road -Bastogne, where the encirclement was broken

C47’S – Parachute re-supply drop-zone location, outside Bastogne (C 47 drop zone)

RENEE LEMAIRE -Belgian Nurse -Renee Lemaire’s grave and the Bastogne Civillian Cemetery, where so many American soldiers were temporarily buried

RECOGNE – The Recogne German Military Cemetery & former site and memorial of the American Cemetery nearby

BAND OF BROTHERS -at FOY – Easy Company’s (101st Airborne)- “Screaming Eagles” foxholes, in the Bois Jaques woods, near the village of Foy & the attack on Foy, by Richard Winters men, of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment

AIRBORNE MUSEUM – Bastogne – Excellent museum, dedicated to the 101st Airborne. So many original artefacts on display, here on 3 floors and a fantastic simulation, of the devastating Christmas Eve bombardment, by the Luftwaffe

SCHUMAN’S ECK – An Abundance of untouched foxholes, shell crators and trenches, outside Bastogne, where a fierce battle occurred at Schuman’s Eck.

MARDASSON MEMORIAL- The huge and impressive Mardasson Memorial, situated on the former Battlefield and museum (optional)

“HEARTBREAK CROSSROADS” & HASSELPATH

WAHLERSCHEID – The terrible Wahlerscheid Crossroads battle –  “Heartbreak Crossroads” (99th Infantry and U.S 2nd Infantry Division). Lots of trenches, bunker ruins, M.G nests  and battlefield evidence can be seen here

MILITARY CEMETERIES

HENRI-CHAPPELLE American Military Cemetery – with it’s immaculately tended graves of the fallen, including Medal of Honour recipients and the grave of Brigadier General Frederick W Castle. 7,992 American soldiers are buried here, who fell in Europe during WW2. The rows and rows of beautiful white headstones stretch out over 57 acres, in this beautiful and peaceful location.

HOUFALLIZE – A Heavily bombed and destroyed Ardennes town, on route to Bastogne, which was vitally important for the German advance

CAULDRON OF LA GLEIZE  – For the more adventurous, we can hike the first part, of  S.S Colonel – Joachim Peiper and his 800 men’s arduous escape route, from the cauldron of the besieged village of La Gleize, during Christmas 1944. (3 hour duration approx.) A very tough hike, because of the steep terrain, but well worth the effort ! (OPTIONAL)

CUSTOMER PHOTOS

Rick & Rachel from near Perth, Australia – standing next to “Dragon’s Teeth” of “The Westwall”, on the Belgian/German border, during a July 2017 tour…..

BASTOGNE & BULGE BATTLEFIELDS

Guided tours / visites guidées, tours in english.

The tours below are given as examples.

Each tour can be a personalized one. Based on your interests, I can offer you visits or particular sites.

For example if you have a current or past connection with an unit, we can arrange a visit to the region where they fought. Or  i f you are a WW2 armored vehicles geek, a visit to the Bastogne Barracks site of the War Heritage Institute (Collection of the Belgian army) will be essential.

Bastogne : half day tour

Bastogne : one day tour

Bastogne, Band of Brothers, on the footsteps of Easy company : half day tour

Band of Brothers, on the footsteps of Easy company : complete tour

The Battle of Bastogne : the first days. Special tour

The Battle of Bastogne : the southern front

Battle of the Bulge – the north : stopping the Kampfgruppe Peiper – the King Tiger in La Gleize

Battle of the Bulge – the north : the 82nd airborne battlegrounds

Battle of the Bulge – the north : the Siegfried Line, Krinkelt and Rocherath, the Elsenborn Ridge

Battle of the Bulge – the British battlefield around La Roche & La Roche Museum

• Personnaliser
• Copier shortlink
• Signaler ce contenu
• Gérer les abonnements

Battle of the Bulge Guided Tours

This is the standard 1 day bastogne tour, this tour runs from 9 am until 5:30 pm        private tour.

This Battle of the Bulge tour gives you a general overview on the Battle for Bastogne. The German Lines of Attack and the American Lines of Defense.  Reg shows you the actual battlefields , foxholes , bullet holes which still remain today. We visit the sites of the 101 st Airborne Division and follow Patton’s trail into the city hereby using lots of original photo’s and personal accounts that were given to me by the veterans themselves.  We visit the woods where Easy Company  of the 506 PIR was dug in , talk about Team Cherry , Team Desobry and Team O’Hara, and others … This  tour highlights the men who fought for our freedom. Those brave men who paid the highest price for freedom … We will walk in their footsteps!

Neffe – Bizory

Team Cherry & 501 PIR meet with General Bayerlein

Halt Station

The German Breakthrough on 21 Dec 1944 . Band of Brothers Memorial.

Bois Jacques -Jack Woods

501 PIR attack and Easy Company 506 PIR lines overlooking Foy

The battles in Foy & civilian accounts.

           LUNCH

Clochimont – assenois.

Patton’s 4 th Armored Div , CCR under Lt Col Abrams breaks the German encirclement …..

Kessler Farm where Germans delivered the ultimatum to surrender and received McAuliffe’s brief reply!

Hemroulle –Rolle Castle – Champs

The German breakthrough on 25 Dec 1944 . Bed linen stories. US HQ.

Native American Memorial. ‘Dear IRS, Come and get me!’

Recogne – Foy

German Cemetery and Temporary American Cemetery

         END OF DAY 

We’re not taking new bookings for travel to Belgium at the moment. Our specialists can advise you on all the destinations you can currently book with us.

Change location

• Call us today from 10am 01993 838 925 01993 838 407 or
• REQUEST A QUOTE

Bastogne and Battle of the Bulge tour

Take a day to soak in a deeper understanding of one of the most critical battles of World War II — the Battle of the Bulge. With your private guide, you’ll visit major sites near Liège that reveal the story of the leaders, the soldiers and the casualties of Germany’s last major offensive.

You’ll stop first at the Battle of the Ardennes museum in La Roche, which delves into the daily lives of the soldiers as well as the battle itself. Then you can walk the streets of Bastogne, a town that a US division held against severe odds. In town, the Bastogne War Museum tells the most comprehensive story of the Battle of the Bulge.

Near Bastogne, you’ll visit the Mardasson Memorial, which commemorates Americans who were killed in the battle. The Peace Woods, planted on part of the battlefield, also pay tribute to the battle’s civilian casualties and surviving veterans.

You’ll spend the day exploring battle sites, museums and memorials related to the Battle of the Bulge, the last major German offensive in World War II. Your driver and guide will pick you up in Liège and take you outside the city to several places that were important in this struggle that ultimately ended the war, plus a number of museums and memorials on the subject.

South of Liège is La Roche-en-Ardenne, a small municipality that was nearly destroyed before being liberated in January 1945. The Battle of the Ardennes Museum began as a hobby for a local father and son, who by 1993 had gathered so many items relating to the battle that they decided to open their collection to the public. The museum’s exhibits display equipment, weapons, uniforms and other items used by the soldiers in the conflict, arranged in dioramas depicting their daily lives.

You’ll spend the remainder of the day in and around Bastogne, a town that played a crucial role against the German offensive. Bastogne was under siege by German troops for several weeks while the United States’ 101st Airborne Division held the line, until General Patton’s Third U.S. Army arrived to relieve the town.

The Bastogne War Museum, just northeast of the town, is the most comprehensive museum on the Battle of the Bulge. The star-shaped building houses multimedia installations that tell the story of the battle through the eyes of four key guide characters, based on real people and events. On the same grounds as the museum is the colonnaded Mardasson Memorial, a monument — also star-shaped — to the American soldiers killed and wounded in the battle.

North of Bastogne is the Bois de la Paix or Peace Woods, a collection of 4,000 trees planted for the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. The trees are dedicated to American veterans, Belgian combatants and all civilians and military personnel who died in the offensive. Some of the trees are specifically named for veterans who returned to the site for the anniversary in 1994 and chose trees to bear their names.

The grove is planted on part of the battlefield — you can still see the foxholes dug by the so-called Easy Company, later the subject of the book and TV series Band of Brothers . From the air, the trees form the shape of the UNICEF emblem: a mother and child.

If you have specific interests, there are many other smaller monuments in the area that you can visit, all dedicated to different companies and regiments. We can arrange your tour to visit the sites that are important to you.

Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Belgium specialists

• 01993 838 925 01993 838 407
• Make an enquiry

Photos of Bastogne and Battle of the Bulge tour

BRIEFING & BATTLEFIELD TOUR

An interactive briefing (45 minutes) on the Battle of the Bulge and the Battle of Bastogne can be given for groups of up to a maximum of 40 people, subject to availability and requested at least 3 weeks in advance.

The content of the briefing:

• The general German situation by summer 1944
• The idea behind the attack
• The German plan « Wacht am Rhein
• The preparations
• The general situation of the Allies
• What did the Allies know?
• 16 December 1944 – The German attack
• The battle for Bastogne
• Conclusions

It is possible to adapt the briefing to your wishes.

Battle tour of the battlefield of Bastogne

The 101 st Airborne Museum is also organizing guided tours on the battlefield of Bastogne requested at least three weeks in advance. A program is suggested for the visit of the following historical sites : Bunker Boggess – The Kessler farm – Patton’s Monument – The field hospital of CCB 10 th Armored Division – The village of Mont and the position of Vincent Speranza – The village of Neffe and the progression of the Panzer Lehr Division – The Monument of the Mardasson – The Bois Jacques and the foxholes – The villages of Foy and Noville – The American temporary graveyard of Foy-Recogne – The German graveyard of Foy-Recogne – The Native American Monument – The villages of Champs and Hemroulle – The castle of Rolley – The landing zone (LZ) and the dropping zone (DZ) – The Saint Pieter’s church – The graveyard of Bastogne – and many other historical sites

Cookies en scripts

La Vuelta Femenina 2024: Route, How to Watch, and Favorites

Demi Vollering, Kasia Niewiadoma, and Gaia Realini will battle for the red jersey on the challenging eight-stage tour across Spain.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. How we test gear.

As of this Sunday, April 29, we’re officially in Grand Tour season, as the eight-stage Vuelta Femenina kicks off with a 16-kilometer team time trial in Valencia, Spain.

Last year’s race covered just over 740 kilometers over the course of its seven stages. It was won by Movistar’s Annemiek van Vleuten , who, with the win, became the first woman to win all three of the major women’s stage races (the Vuelta, along with the Tour de France Femmes, and the Giro Donne). She beat SD Worx’s Demi Vollering but just nine seconds. Trek-Segafredo’s Gaia Realini rounded out the podium in third.

But van Vleuten retired after last season, meaning there’s no chance for a repeat winner. And given the variety of winners we’ve seen in the women’s peloton this spring, this race is truly up for grabs.

This year’s race adds a stage, making it eight in total. All of them stick exclusively to Spain’s northwest and northcentral regions.

It kicks off with what should be a blistering team time trial over 16 lake-flat kilometers. From there, the second stage will take riders from Buñol to Moncofa over 118 hilly kilometers, including just one Category 3 climb. As that climb comes 40 kilometers from the finish, expect a bunch sprint.

The third stage is a 131-kilometer medium mountain stage that will take riders from Lucena to Teruel and feature another Category 3 ascent. Stage four covers 142 kilometers from Molina de Aragón to Zaragoza and is mostly downhill from start to finish.

The 113 kilometers of stage 5 are where the peloton first gets into proper mountains, with a pair of category 2 climbs—one of which provides the day’s summit finish—on the menu. Stage 6 is the opposite of stage 4, taking riders on a daylong gradual uphill from Tarazona to Laguna Negra, ending with a category 1 summit finish that very well could determine the race’s overall winner.

Stage 7 could be the last chance for the sprinters to leave their mark. However, the final 500 meters of the day’s 126 kilometers ramp up to 10%, so look for a punchier rider to take the win there.

The Vuelta Feminina will end with an 89-kilometer ride from Distrito Telefónca to ValdesquíMadrid. The ride features a pair of category-1 climbs, the last of which leads to the race’s final finish line.

Complete information on each stage can be found here .

How to Watch

The Vuelta Feminina will be broadcast in the US via Peacock , which costs $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year. In Canada, the race will be broadcast via FloSports , which costs $12.50 per month or $150 per year.

Live Stream Schedule - All times Eastern (EDT) 04/28 - Stage 1 Valencia > Valencia - 9:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. 04/29 - Stage 2 Buñol > Moncófar - 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 04/30 - Stage 3 Lucena del Cid > Teruel - 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 05/01 - Stage 4 Molina de Aragón > Zaragoza - 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 05/02 - Stage 5 Huesca > Jaca - 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 05/03 - Stage 6 Tarazona > Vinuesa - 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 05/04 - Stage 7 San Esteban de Gormaz > Sigüenza - 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 05/05 - Stage 8 Distrito Telefónica. Madrid > Valdesquí - 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.

Riders to Watch

While the final roster for the race is yet to be final, several confirmed names promise another competitive edition. Among the riders targeting the general classification are Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift champion Demi Vollering of SD Worx-Protime, Gaia Realini of Lidl-Trek, who graced the podium last year, and the consistently impressive Kasia Niewiadoma of SD Worx-Protime. With the absence of retired defending champion Anemiek Van Vleuten and Vollering showing signs of wavering form this season, the battle for the coveted red jersey appears wide open.

Other riders to watch are the 2024 Tour of Flanders champion Elisa Longo Borghini of Lidl-Trek, Canyon//SRAM’s Ricarda Bauernfeind , and Mavi García of Liv Alula Jayco.

.css-1t6om3g:before{width:1.75rem;height:1.75rem;margin:0 0.625rem -0.125rem 0;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-background-size:1.25rem;background-size:1.25rem;background-color:#F8D811;color:#000;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-position:center;background-position:center;}.loaded .css-1t6om3g:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/bicycling/static/images/chevron-design-element.c42d609.svg);} Racing

A Comprehensive Guide to the 2024 Giro d’Italia

Wout van Aert is Back to Outdoor Training

Nairo Quintana Will Focus on Stage Wins at Giro

Kopecky Won’t Be Racing the Tour de France Femmes

UAE Team Emirates Secures Isaac Del Toro’s Future

MvdP and Tom Pidcock Eat Humble Pie at LBL

Pogačar Dedicates Liège Victory to Urška’s Mother

2024 Sea Otter Classic Fuego XL Race Results

Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2024 Results and Recap

How to Watch Liège-Bastogne-Liège

La Flèche Wallonne 2024 Results

Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2024 - Analysing the contenders

Tadej Pogačar, Mathieu van der Poel, Demi Vollering and Elisa Longo Borghini battle in final event of this spring's Ardennes Classics

Liège-Bastogne-Liège will close out the Ardennes Classics on Sunday, April 21, with the peloton vying for one last opportunity to win one of the prized one-day classics this spring.

It is the oldest of the Classics on the men's calendar, celebrating its 110th edition, and the fourth of five Monuments on offer after Alpecin-Deceuninck's Jasper Philipsen won Milan-San Remo and his teammate Mathieu van der Poel won both Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix .

Known as La Doyenne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège closes out the Ardennes Classics with a last-man-standing war of attrition over 250km or more and 11 classified climbs in the rolling hills of eastern Belgium.

On the women's side, Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes is the youngest of the Ardennes Classics. Its inaugural edition in 2017 formed the triple alongside Amstel Gold Race, which held its first edition in 2001 (though it was on hiatus for 13 years between 2004 to 2016) and Flèche Wallonne since 1998. 

With no women's races offered at Milan-San Remo or Il Lombardia, Liège-Bastogne-Liège marks the third and final Monument of the season. Only one rider has won all three, with Lizzie Deignan winning the Tour of Flanders in 2016, Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2020 and Paris-Roubaix in 2021. 

This could change on Sunday if her teammate Elisa Longo Borghini or SD Worx-Protime's Lotte Kopecky triumphs in Liége.

Cyclingnews highlights the riders to watch in the men's and women's Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates)

Tadej Pogačar crashed out of the 2023 Liège-Bastogne-Liège, fracturing three bones in his scaphoid and disrupting his hopes and ambitions for the Tour de France. This year, the UAE Team Emirates leader is targeting a Giro d’Italia-Tour de France double and is arguably in his best-ever form, even by his high standards.

While Mathieu van der Poel has dominated the cobbled Classics, Liège-Bastogne-Liège is far better suited to Pogačar, and it is difficult to see who can match his superb climbing skills and racing aggression.

Pogačar won the Doyenne of the Classics in 2021, and a second victory would give him a sixth Monument victory, equaling van der Poel's and confirming his readiness for the Giro d’Italia, which starts in just two weeks.  

Pogačar limited his racing before his busy summer of Grand Tours but has won often. He dominated Strade Bianche with an 80km solo attack on his season debut. He was ‘only’ third at Milan-San Remo behind Jasper Philipsen and Michael Matthews in the Via Roma sprint but then won four stages and the overall classification at the Volta a Catalunya.    

Pogačar has spent three weeks training at altitude at Sierra Nevada in the south of Spain. He avoided the cold and fatigue of the rain-soaked La Fleche Wallonne and so will arguably be the freshest rider on the start line in Liege on Sunday and perhaps the strongest at the finish after the hilly 254km race.      

Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime)

Demi Vollering's remarkable dominance of the Ardennes Classics last year saw her win all three events – making her the returning Liège-Bastogne-Liège champion – and become the second woman, after Anna van der Breggen in 2017, to win the triple crown. 

The team appears to have changed tactics for this year's Ardennes Classics in support of multiple riders during the week and play out their strategy on the road at each race. It was not a surprise then to see Lorena Wiebes sprinting for the win at Amstel Gold Race. Although she ended up with second place, after celebrating victory too soon in the sprint against Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike), and Vollering finished 22nd.

Vollering was somewhat of a wildcard for SD Worx-Protime at the Ardennes Classics because at this point in the season last year, she had already secured two victories, and so far, she has yet to win a race, although she came close with 2nd at both Brabantse Pijl and a cold and wet La Flèche Wallonne.

Her slower start to the season could be the strategy, however, as she looks to the bigger goals at the Tour de France Femmes, possibly also the Olympic Games and the World Championships.

Sharing the leadership role among her teammates at the Ardennes Classics will certainly have taken the pressure off Vollering, but she still remains a favourite for Liège-Bastogne-Liège and will undoubtedly not want to leave the Ardennes Classics without a win.

The team also has World Champion Lotte Kopecky as a contender, especially knowing that she is in good form after her win at the recent Paris-Roubaix. She also played a key role at Flèche Wallonne, where she ended up finishing 15th on the Mur de Huy in her first attempt. Watch for both Vollering and Kopecky to play their cards for the win in Liège on Sunday.

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)

Mathieu van der Poel suddenly seemed human at the Amstel Gold Race after weeks of incredible Classics performances. After his historic double at the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, it will be fascinating to see what he can do against Pogačar and the rest in a Monument where the cobbles are swapped for the cotes. 

It will also be a moment of sports science as we see if Van der Poel’s talents and power can handle the 11 classified climbs and 4,100 metres of vertical climbing of Liège-Bastogne-Liège.  

Van der Poel has tempered his chances of success, highlighting how he is now racing at a disadvantage compared to Pogačar and others, but he also has nothing to lose in his final race of the spring.

Van der Poel has spent the week in Spain, avoiding the spotlight and training in the sun. The cooler spring temperatures of Liège might be a bit of a shock on his return to Belgium, but he has a pedigree in the race and cannot be ignored. In 2020, when the Classics were held in September and October, van der Poel finished sixth, just 14 seconds down on winner Primož Roglič and Pogačar.

Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek)

Elisa Longo Bargain had high expectations coming into these Ardennes Classics, even opting to skip Paris-Roubaix so that she could focus on all three races. Her wins at the Tour of Flanders and Brabantse Pijl show that she is in top form this spring and has bounced back from a horrific 2023 season in which she suffered COVID-19, a skin infection and sepsis.

The Italian Champion has always been a contender for all three Ardennes Classics, and so far this year, she has finished fifth at the Amstel Gold Race and third at La Flèche Wallonne. She has one more chance of victory this Sunday in Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

She has finished twice on the podium at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, with a third in 2021 and a second last year, so she has the experience to be in the final for the win.

Lidl-Trek have shown dominance in tactics on the road, especially with her teammate Shirin van Anrooij. The two riders will be the two most-watched in the peloton, and if the race plays into their hands the way it did in Flanders, they could both end up on the podium again.

Stevie Williams (Israel-Premier Tech)

The Welshman showed his talents by winning the Tour Down Under in January but earned his place in this Liège-Bastogne-Liège analysis thanks to his impressive victory at La Fleche Wallonne on Wednesday.

Williams looked resilient in the cold and rain of the Ardennes and then bravely attacked with three hundred metres to go to the finish. Many other riders have faded on the steep slopes of the Mur de Huy, but Williams had the strength and power to stay away. 

Those talents could be vital on the 11 categories climbs and numerous others that make Liège-Bastogne-Liège so hard.

Williams and his Israel-Premier Tech teammates can race without any pressure or expectation, putting the onus on UAE Team Emirates, Alpecin-Deceuninck and Ineos Grenadiers. Michael Woods is absent due to a recent virus but Dylan Tuens is back to his best and will share leadership and ambitions with Willilams. They are a dangerous, underdog combination.  

Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM)

Kasia Niewiadoma, the reigning gravel World Champion, is always a contender for the Ardennes Classics. 

Five years after she secured the win at Amstel Gold Race in 2019, she launched up the Mur de Huy with a powerful attack to win Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday. It was an inspiring performance, especially since she had stood on the podium in two previous editions but had never won before.

She came into these Ardennes Classics with new-found confidence after finishing second at the Tour of Flanders from a three-rider breakaway, and her victory in Huy will have added to her motivation ahead of Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

The last time she stood on the podium in Liège was in 2017, the first edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, but she has been in the top 10 in four other editions.

Her winning performance on the Mur de Huy shows her strength on short and steep climbs, but it was her late-race breakaway performance at the Tour of Flanders that really made her a contender for the title in Liège.

Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost)

Richard Carapaz has again endured a difficult spring, crashing hard at Tirreno-Adriatico and missing a month of racing. The Ecuadorian is a man of few words but a fighter who has overcome difficulty throughout his life and in his recent racing career to come back and win.  

Carapaz has only raced the Amstel Gold Race and La Flèche Wallonne but quickly impressed on the Mur de Huy and out in the terrible weather conditions. While other riders suffered and climbed off, Carapaz raced on and was upfront on the climb to the finish line. 

He suffered in the final metres, and other riders passed him before the finish, but it was a clear message that Carapaz was back and a dangerous contender for Sunday who should not be ignored.  

EF Education-Easypost have shown their strength as a team in virtually every classic but have obtained less than they deserved. Carapaz can count on a strong team that also includes co-leader Ben Healy, Mikkel Frølich Honoré and possibly a returning Neilson Powless after a knee injury wrecked his spring.  

Marianne Vos (VIsma-Lease a Bike)

Marianne Vos was a late addition to the Visma-Lease a Bike roster lining up to compete at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, but certainly, one to watch after a successful spring campaign.

She secured her 251st career road racing when she won the Amstel Gold Race last weekend, and combined with early-season victories at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Dwars door Vlaanderen; she is having one of her best Spring Classics in recent years.

Vos opted not to race La Flèche Wallonne, even though she has won on the Mud de Huy five times in her career, perhaps saving her energy for Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The challenging route will suit her very well, especially after her performances this year, where she frequently features in the finals and breakaways and has the strength and experience to triumph across the finish line.

Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers)

Tom Pidcock has endured a contrasting week of Ardennes racing, winning the Amstel Gold Race with a superb performance and sprint finish but then suffering in the cold and rain of La Fleche Wallonne . 

Yet he remains a favourite for Liège-Bastogne-Liège, with the forecasts of a mainly dry Sunday easing his suffering and disappointment and poking his natural pride.  

Pidcock’s multiple talents mean he can race cyclocross, mountain bikes, Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix, the Ardennes Classics and the Tour de France.

While van der Poel is handicapped by his solid physique on the many cotes of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Pidcock is more of a climber and so will revel in the hills on Sunday.

He will not ride defensively and will surely join Pogačar if the Slovenian attacks early to create an open race and hurt van der Poel or anyone else. Pidcock and Pogačar could then go head to head and sprint for victory in Liege. That would be a thrilling end to one of the best Classics seasons for years. 

Juliette Labous (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL)

Juliette Labous is a dark horse contender, opting to skip the cobbled Classics in favour of the Ardennes Classics. 

She steadily improved across the first two events, finishing 19th at the Amstel Gold Race, where her teammate Pfeiffer Georgi finished fourth, and then she was seventh on the Mur de Huy at Flèche Wallonne.

The French talent typically focuses on the Ardennes Classics, where she can show her strengths on the challenging and hilly terrain, before turning her attention to the shorter summer stage races ahead of her bigger goal at the Tour de France Femmes.

Her best place at Liège-Bastogne-Liège was eighth place in 2020, but it's a race where only the strongest survive the 10 ascents followed by a fast run-in to Liège, and we can anticipate Labous to be present in the final.

Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance-Soudal)

Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio has been relatively quiet this spring campaign, finishing 17th at Strade Bianche and, more recently, 21st at Brabantse Pijl, but she has turned that around at the Ardennes Classics, finishing seventh at Amstel Gold Race and fifth at Flèche Wallonne.

For the first time in her career, she opted for a lengthy break and high-altitude training camp instead of competing at the cobbled Classics and perhaps will arrive fresher than her rivals as she contests the Ardennes Classics.

Her results so far seem to show an upward trajectory, and her form indicates that she is just starting to peak ahead of the late-spring stage races. 

Although she has never stood on the podium at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, she has finished four times in the top 10, including fourth place in 2018 and 2022. This means that she knows what it takes to make it to the final stages of the race in the lead group.

Honourable mentions

• Benoît Cosnefroy (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale)
• Mattia Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek)
• Marc Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates)
• Alexey Lutsenko (Astana Qazaqstan)
• Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa - B&B Hotels)
• Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost)  
• Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers)
• Évita Muzic (FDJ-SUEZ)
• Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime)
• Shirin van Anrooij (Lidl-Trek)
• Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ-SUEZ)
• Veronica Ewers (EF Education-Cannondale)
• Christina Schweinberger (Fenix-Deceuninck)

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Get The Leadout Newsletter

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

Stephen is the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters , Shift Active Media , and CyclingWeekly , among other publications.

'I know I can do better' – Demi Vollering moves on from Classics, focuses on Vuelta Femenina

Itzulia Women past winners

POC Aspire cycling glasses review: A sturdy and stylish modern classic

Most popular, latest on cyclingnews.

Tour de Romandie: Thibau Nys wins stage 2 as Plapp attacks for GC

Tour of Turkey: Tobias Lund Andresen wins stage 5 to retain overall lead

Mike's Bikes launches 'mega sale' with discounts on everything sitewide

THE 5 BEST Bastogne Tours & Excursions

Bastogne tours.

• Private Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Walking Tours
• Ports of Call Tours
• Multi-day Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Historic Battle of the Bulge Sites Private Tour from Brussels

2. Bastogne Battle of the Bulge from Brussels (semi-private)

3. Private Historic Battle of the Bulge Sites Full-Day Tour from Luxembourg

4. The Battle of The Bulge tour

5. Band of Brothers in Bastogne from Amsterdam

6. Band of Brothers in Holland and Belgium

7. The Battle of the Bulge tour+Normandy D-Day Beaches +Option Mont-Saint-Michel

8. Private Tour Historic Battle of the Bulge Sites from Luxembourg

Keep the fun going with other experiences in the area.

Discover Durbuy by playing! Escape game - The alchemist

Discover Dinant while playing! Escape game - The alchemist

Children's escape game in the city of Durbuy Marsupilami

Liege Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour

e-Scavenger hunt Spa: Explore the city at your own pace

e-Scavenger hunt Liège: Explore the city at your own pace

Liege Walking Tours

Discover Liège while playing! Escape game - The Walter case

Discover Arlon while playing! Escape game - The alchemist

Discover the secrets of Namur while playing! Escape room

Children's escape game in the city of Liège Marsupilami

Discover Namur while playing! Escape game - The Walter case

Castle Guided Tour (English)

Namur: Escape Game in the city - The Alchemist

Discover Arlon while escaping the zombies! Escape room

e-Scavenger hunt Arlon: Explore the city at your own pace

Discover Liège while playing! Escape game - The alchemist

Children's escape game in the city of Namur - Peter Pan

Urban Escape Game for EVG EVJF in Durbuy

The best of Dinant walking tour

Urban Escape Game for EVG EVJF in Dinant

Liège Self-Guided Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery Game

Urban escape game in Liège - Crazytopia

Namur Self-Guided Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery Game

Private Beer Bike Tour in Hotton in the Belgian Ardennes

Old Town Private Walking Tour in Durbuy

Touristic highlights of Durbuy on a Half Day (4 Hours) Private Tour with a local

Private Full Day Tour to Luxembourg and Dinant from Brussels with Hotel Pick Up

Touristic highlights of Spa on a Half Day (4 Hours) Private Tour with a local

Private 8-hour Tour to Namur and Dinant from Brussels with Hotel Pick Up

What travelers are saying.

• The Battle of The Bulge tour
• Historic Battle of the Bulge Sites Private Tour from Brussels
• Private Bastogne, Battle of the Bulge tour from Brussels (by car)
• Private Tour Historic Battle of the Bulge Sites from Luxembourg
• Private Historic Battle of the Bulge Sites Full-Day Tour from Luxembourg
• Battle of the Bulge Guided Tours
• History Wolf Tours
• Bastogne Battle of the Bulge Guided Tours
• WhiteCross Battlefield Tours
• Ardennes Experience

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Pogačar beats Van der Poel in a dominant win at Liège–Bastogne–Liège classic

Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar of the UAE Emirates team crosses the finish line to win the Belgian cycling classic and UCI World Tour race Liege Bastogne Liege, in Liege, Belgium, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar of the UAE Emirates team after crossing the finish line to win the Belgian cycling classic and UCI World Tour race Liege Bastogne Liege, in Liege, Belgium, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

• Copy Link copied

LIEGE, Belgium (AP) — Tadej Pogačar proved too strong for Mathieu Van der Poel as he won the Liège–Bastogne–Liège cycling classic with a solo breakaway on Sunday.

Pogačar attacked 35 kilometers (22 miles) out to win cycling’s oldest classic for the second time, after victory in 2021, and made up for last year when he broke his left wrist in a crash.

“I’m happy that I can finally win this race again,” the 25-year-old Slovenian said. “It’s beautiful to finish like this.”

The two-time Tour de France champion waved to the crowd as he approached the finish line well clear. French veteran Romain Bardet finished second and Van der Poel led a mass sprint to the line to finish third.

Liège–Bastogne–Liège is one of the five “monuments” in one-day cycling with the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, the Tour of Lombardy and Milan-San Remo. Van der Poel won Roubaix two weeks ago but has not won Liège and Lombardy.

Pogačar beat Van der Poel last year to win the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) and they have won six monuments each.

The 254.5-kilometer (157.8-mile) trek, starting and finishing in the eastern Belgian city of Liège in chilly conditions, featured 11 small hills and played to Pogačar’s elite climbing skills. He pulled ahead in a small group with Van der Poel one minute behind.

Van der Poel’s group caught Pogačar with 70 kilometers remaining to form a main peloton. But with Pogačar’s UAE Team Emirates setting a fast tempo at the front, Pogačar attacked again and no rival could catch him.

He clocked 6 hours, 13 minutes, 48 seconds with Bardet 1:39 behind and Van der Poel 2:02 back.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

How to watch Liège–Bastogne–Liège 2024: live stream cycling online

See the two greatest riders in the world settle the argument of who is best on the hills of the Belgian Ardennes.

• Live stream for FREE
• Unblock any stream

Liège–Bastogne–Liège, or La Doyenne (The Old Lady), was first run in 1892 and is the oldest Monument on the cycling calendar. It's also one of the hardest to win. Set in the Ardennes region of Belgium and covering 259km with 10 vicious climbs, its savage course always separates the best from the rest, so read on to find out how to watch Liège–Bastogne–Liège 2024 live streams from anywhere with a VPN — and potentially for FREE .

You can watch Liège–Bastogne–Liège 2024 live streams on Sunday, April 21. ►  Race start time: 1.10 a.m. PT / 4.10 a.m. ET / 9.10 a.m. BST / 6.10 p.m. AEDT • FREE STREAMS — Watch on SBS (Australia), RTBF (Belgium) •   USA — Peacock , FloBikes •   Canada. — FloBikes •   U.K. — Discovery+ • Watch anywhere — try NordVPN 100% risk-free

It’s the showdown we have been waiting for all Spring: Mathieu Van der Poel vs Tadej Pogačar in the oldest and most arduous Monument on the cycling calendar. Pogačar, a previous winner in 2021, must start as favorite as his slighter build lends itself more to the continuous short steep climbs but when Van der Poel decides he wants to win a race, few can stop him. It will be EPIC!

Leaving Liège, the course meanders south to Bastogne, and up until this point all is usually calm. It's when the race turns to head back north that the action kicks in. Starting with the Côte de Saint-Roch, the course tackles 10 classic ascents including the likes of the Col du Rosier, the iconic Côte de la Redoute and the final wicked test — the Côte de La Roche-aux-Faucons. After this climb at 13.3km to go, the race will then head into the heart of the industrial city of Liège for the grandstand finish.

In the absence of last year’s winner, Belgium's Remco Evenepoel, after his terrible crash in the Basque Country, the riders hoping to challenge the two favorites will be the victor of this year’s Amstel Gold race, Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers), Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl Trek), Simon Yates (Team Jayco–AlUla), Matej Mohorič (Bahrain - Victorious) and Aleksandr Vlasov (BORA - hansgrohe).

Dry but cold conditions greeted the peloton as they woke in Liège to face one of the toughest days on the cycling calendar. Can anyone stop the two favourites and will they provide the spectacle the fans crave.  

Read on to see how to catch the action from wherever you live.

FREE Liège–Bastogne–Liège 2024 live streams

If you live in Australia, the FREE Liège–Bastogne–Liège free live stream is on SBS On-Demand (with English commentary). 

In Belgium, you can look forward to a FREE Liège–Bastogne–Liège live stream on RTBF .

But what if you're based in Belgium or Australia but aren't at home to catch that free Liège–Bastogne–Liège coverage? Maybe you're on holiday and don't want to spend money on pay TV in another country, when you'd usually be able to watch for free at home?

Don't worry — you can watch via a VPN instead. We'll show you how to do that below.

Liège–Bastogne–Liège 2024 live streams around the world

It's only natural that you might want to watch a 2024 Liège–Bastogne–Liège live stream from your home country, but what if you're not there when the race is on?

Look no further than a VPN, or virtual private network. A VPN makes it look as if you're surfing the web from your home country, rather than the one you're in. That means you can access the streaming services you already pay for, from anywhere on Earth. Or anywhere that has an internet connection, at least.

They're totally legal, inexpensive and easy to use. We've tested lots of the best VPN services and our favorite right now is NordVPN . It's fast, works on loads of devices and even offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

There's a good reason you've heard of NordVPN. We specialize in testing and reviewing VPN services and NordVPN is the one we rate best. It's outstanding at unblocking streaming services, it's fast and it has top-level security features too. With over 5,000 servers, across 60 countries, and at a great price too, it's easy to recommend.

Get over 60% off with this NordVPN deal

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice . As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance if you're in the U.S. and want to view an Australian service, you'd select Australia from the list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to SBS or another streaming service and watch the action.

How to watch 2024 Liège–Bastogne–Liège live streams in the U.S.

Cycling fans in the U.S. can watch a Liège–Bastogne–Liège live stream on  Peacock , NBC's streaming service. To tune in, you'll need to be signed up for either a Premium subscription ($5.99/month) or Premium Plus ($11.99/month), which also gets rid of some ads).

You can also watch the action on  FloBikes . A subscription will set you back US$149.99 for the year or US$29.99 on a monthly basis.

And if you're currently out of the U.S. but still want to watch the race, then don't forget to check out  NordVPN  as explained above.

How to watch Liège–Bastogne–Liège 2024 live streams in the U.K.

Live coverage of Liège–Bastogne–Liège will be broadcast on Eurosport and Discovery+. Coverage starts at 11.30 a.m. BST.

A 'standard' subscription to Discovery+ which includes Eurosport's cycling coverage will set you back £6.99 per month. The package includes year-round cycling streams as well as other live sports including snooker, tennis, motorsports, the upcoming Paris Olympic Games, and more.

A Premium subscription, which includes all that plus TNT Sports ( Premier League , Champions League and Europa League football plus rugby, wrestling, UFC, and MotoGP) costs £30.99 per month.

If you're currently traveling overseas, don't worry, as you can use NordVPN to watch from abroad.

How to watch Liège–Bastogne–Liège 2024 live streams in Canada

Cycling fans in the Canada can watch the 2024 Liège–Bastogne–Liège on  FloBikes . A subscription will set you back CAN$150 for the year or CAN$29.99 on a monthly basis.

Not at home right now? Use NordVPN or another VPN service to trick your device into thinking you're still in Canada.

Liège–Bastogne–Liège route 2024

• How to watch F1 live streams online
• How to watch Premier League live streams
• YouTube TV's multiview channels revealed — here's what you can watch

Simon Warren has been obsessed with cycling since the summer of 1989 after watching Greg Lemond battle Laurent Fignon in the Tour de France. Although not having what it took to beat the best, he found his forte was racing up hills and so began his fascination with steep roads. This resulted in his 2010’s best-selling  100 Greatest Cycling Climbs , followed to date by 14 more guides to vertical pain. Covering the British Isles, Belgium, France, Italy and Spain he has been riding and racing up hills and mountains for over 30 years now. He hosts talks, guides rides, has written columns for magazines and in 2020 released his first book of cycling routes,  RIDE BRITAIN . Simon splits his time between working as a graphic designer and running  his 100 Climbs brand  and lives in Sheffield on the edge of the Peak District with his wife and two children.

Everton vs Brentford live stream: How to watch Premier League game online

France vs England live stream: How to watch 2024 Women's Six Nations decider online

7 ChatGPT prompts to help you live a greener life

Most Popular

• 2 NYT Strands today — hints, spangram and answers for game #55 (Saturday, April 27, 2024)
• 3 I tried 60 minutes of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the first time — here’s what happened to my body
• 4 15 Amazon deals I'd buy this weekend — 25% off LG OLED TVs, $110 off MacBook Air M3 and more
• 5 I took over 200 photos with the iPhone 15 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max — here's the winner

Five storylines to watch at 2024 Liege-Bastogne-Liege

The 2024 edition of liege-bastogne-liege carries with it plenty of storylines to follow across the men’s and women’s races..

(L-R) As Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar prepare for battle in Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Demi Vollering will defend her title in the women's race. Source: Getty

British hat-trick?

Heavyweight bout, stream free on demand.

Paris-Roubaix 2024: Men's Race

series •  sport

French twist to homeland hopefuls.

Fleche-Wallonne 2024: Men's Race

Vos returns

Demi’s defence.

Fleche-Wallonne 2024: Women's Race

Have a story or comment? Contact Us

Share this with family and friends

Recommended for you

Five storylines to watch at 2024 Vuelta Femenina

Pogacar the favourite as Giro d'Italia announce entry list

Fleche, Liege-Bastogne-Liege round out Classics season on SBS

Tour of Turkey - Extended Highlights - Stage 3

How to watch LIVE sport on SBS

SBS Cycling Calendar: Races to watch in 2024

How to watch the 2024 Giro d'Italia LIVE on SBS

Giro d'Italia

How to watch Paris-Roubaix 2024 on SBS

Sbs sport newsletter, sign up now for the latest sport news from australia and around the world direct to your inbox..

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.