The Ardennes and Bastogne Trip at Christmas

[Martin Bull]

....,unfortunately since then the area has been hammered by metal detectors .

Yes, back in the day you didn't need a metal detector. I knelt next to a tree to get one of my photos in that wood and got a sudden pain in the knee - it was a tiny but very sharp shell fragment, which I've kept as a souvenir ever since. The pain was worth the gain.....

[lenny499]

Nowadays you will find nothing there. Totally empty because of all the diggers that have been there.

[HistoryMan]

Thanks for the inputs fella's, this is really wetting my appetite ! getting excited already ! haha

Yes I will be visiting Foy, that was the first on my list, not watched the BoB series for a while, I do remember the episode regarding the attack on Foy. Will be watching the entire series again before I go, must have watched it 10 times already !

I also intend to stop off at Mons for the night on the return journey, I want to visit the bridge at Nimy, but thats for another discussion

Cheers guys

[BlackCat1982]

The museum in Bastogne is worth a visit as is the imposing US monument. Keep an eye out for the Sherman tank turrets that mark the limit of the Germans advance on the town.

[HistoryMan]

The museum in Bastogne is worth a visit as is the imposing US monument. Keep an eye out for the Sherman tank turrets that mark the limit of the Germans advance on the town.

Will do thanks

[lenny499]

At the place where I put the marker, was the Allied attack that ended the siege of Bastogne and made a corridor. A small damaged bunker is still standing here. It is also worth to visit, I have been there with a guide. You get a good impression of how it all ended.
On the bunker is also a monument which tells the story about the ending of the siege.

[lenny499]

Here you can see the bunker with the monument, as seen by google street view.

[Composite]

..it's been a few years now but the Tank Restoration Centre on the road into town also had a small museum at the gate house when I was last there and a handful of vehicles on the parade ground.....they also held an impressive stock of vehicles out back but I understand they were only sheltering them whilst another museum was being refurb'd. As already mentioned, there was a little museum (it looked like a shop) just along from the square full of dug-ups...well worth a visit if it's still there....and they sold stuff too.....but don't forget Customs!

Enjoy!

[HistoryMan]

Thanks again guys for the interest. On one of the days I am hoping to drive up to La Gleize , via Malmedy and Trois-Ponts and back through Stoumont. Just want to get a good experience of the terrain and winter conditions during the BoB, fingers crossed there is no extreme winter weather conditions over the Christmas period however !

Cheers

[jet1]

I was there 8 years ago and it was fascinating I really enjoyed it. Have a great trip!