Bastogne Barracks

About the museum

The Bastogne barracks were built in 1935 and 1936 to house the 2nd Regiment of Ardennes Chasseurs, a unit created at the request of the Minister of Defence of the time. On 12 May 1940 the Wehrmacht occupied the town; the following year the buildings served as a training centre for the Hitler Youth. After the German retreat, the US VIII Corps set up its headquarters there and was still there when the Battle of the Bulge broke out on 16 December 1944.

A few days later, General Anthony McAuliffe, who was acting commander of the 101st Airborne Division, established himself there with his men. Surrounded on 21 December, he answered the German ultimatum with the famous ‘Nuts!’. The garrison held out until its liberation on 26 December by troops including the Sherman Jumbo tank ‘Cobra King’.

Part of the former barracks, north-east of the town on the road to La Roche-en-Ardenne, became the Bastogne Barracks interpretation centre in 2010; it has been part of the War Heritage Institute since 2017. The halls house tracked and wheeled vehicles, artillery pieces and equipment of the Allies and the Axis. The site also houses the largest workshop in Europe devoted to restoring historic vehicles, the Vehicle Restoration Center, which opens during events.

Highlights

• ‘Mechanised Warfare’ hall with armoured vehicles from several nations
• ‘Battle of the Bulge’ hall, renovated in 2022, with a virtual tour of a Sherman
• ‘Field Artillery Tractors’ hall with the Long Tom and its tractors
• Vehicle Restoration Center, the largest European workshop for restoring historic vehicles
• Poster game and booklet ‘On the Tracks’ for children

Permanent exhibitions

• Hall « Mechanised Warfare » – Armoured vehicles from several nations let you follow the war from May 1940 to the liberation of Europe.
• Hall « Battle of the Bulge » – Thirteen American and German vehicles and artillery pieces engaged in the Battle of the Bulge, a documentary film and a virtual tour of a Sherman.
• Hall « Field Artillery Tractors (1944-1945) » – Artillery tractors and towed guns, including the American 155 mm Long Tom.

Founded

2010

Operated by

War Heritage Institute

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Wednesday of the month from 13:00: free admission.

Payment by bank card only on site, or online. The museumPASSmusées (€64.95 per year) also gives access to the museum.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum states that it is accessible to people with reduced mobility; buses and cars carrying a passenger with reduced mobility may enter the site through the main entrance (announce yourself at reception). Animals are not admitted, except assistance dogs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

At reception, a free poster game for 4 to 9-year-olds and the booklet ‘On the Tracks’ for 10 to 14-year-olds, with the mascot Tanky, let you explore the collections while playing.

Getting there & parking

Navigation address: Rue de La-Roche 40, 6600 Bastogne.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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