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Bastogne – Walk through History

A long awaited Bastogne

During our trip through Belgium and Luxembourg, I thought it was necessary to specifically call out the day spent in Bastogne with a short post.  I’ve been interested in all things WWII for as long as I can remember; watching shows on cable TV about the weaponry used, the logistics, R&D and much more.  Now that has evolved into being able to travel to places where these events actually transpired.  I believe I have one show in particular that bridges the gap and made this day trip so significant – Band of Brothers.

Each Memorial Day, I’ll make it a day to watch the miniseries paired with a glass of Nixon’s VAT 69 (Scotch Whiskey).  And every year, the episode from the Battle of the Bulge depicts the fierce fighting in and around Bastogne.  The show, summarized, follows Easy Company of the 101st Airborne division through their theatre of war in Europe from the initial drop during D-Day up until V-Day (victory in Europe).  And the scenes from Bastogne and Foy are some of the most climatic.

Mission Accomplished

Upon stepping off the bus in Bastogne, I was surprised at how busy the main street was with all the shops and restaurants.  Surely, the town is much more than just a historic WWII location, but I guess my mind was still stuck in 1940s Bastogne.

With only a few hours in the town, Kolbe and I made sure to get through the entire Bastogne War Museum and stop at some of the more notable monuments and memorials along the way.  The museum alone could be a whole day affair, and regrettably caused us to miss the 101st Airborne Museum.  Although in retrospect, I think we chose right option between the two if only able to choose one.

101st Airborne Monument
101st Airborne Monument
11th Armored M4 Sherman Tank
11th Armored M4 Sherman Tank
Main street in Bastogne
Main street in Bastogne

Overall, I was simply happy and proud to be on the same ground that the 101st Airborne walked and fought on.  It’s crazy to think what a different, war-torn place the town was only 80-some years ago.  And this was one of countless locations that experienced the same fate.  If anything, it goes to show that even with all the destruction, human resiliency still shines through.

To the 101st and all the divisions!

-ML

Recap of Places

Check out the MAP for links!

  • 101st Airborne Museum
  • Bastogne WWII Museum
  • Wagon Restaurant
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Michael Lakus

IT professional, athlete, musician, ponderer of many things... Born and raised in Florida, I began traveling internationally after college. I created this site primarily to remind myself of where I've been and to share my experiences on traveling with a quirky, stress-free, travel attitude.
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