I went to Belgium with a couple of friends and the plan was to visit Bastogne and sightsee. The…read moreprimary reason was to visit the Bastogne War Museum! Being a history buff, this was a win-win! The story of the battle is told from the Allied, German and Civilian perspectives.
Parking is free, you pay at the entrance and you are given a communication pack that you wear around you neck, about the same weight as a camera. It has headphones, you tell the staff member handing them out which language you prefer to hear. I suggest wearing one. There are no other options to hear what is being said during the tour. You can take pictures of all of the exhibits, they request that pictures taken inside the exhibit theaters, to turn off your flash.
The flow is designed to keep the sightseers moving. There are plenty of photo ops.
After seeing the indoor portion of the museum you are guided outside. The centerpiece is the Mardasson Memorial. You can see it from the road. It is in the shape of a star. All 50 states and every unit that fought in the war are inscribed on the memorial. You can walk around at ground level, view the crypt and then you can take the stairs to the top and walk around on top and look at the surrounding area. There are 5 points on the star, each point has a plaque with a map showing the direction and which units (German/Allied) were fighting each other. Very detailed maps molded on each point.
Another cool sight is the 30ft tall "Victory Kiss" statue.
If you find yourself in Bastogne, and are a history buff. Pay a visit to this museum.
The cost of admission is $14 Euro, or $17.05 USD. Cash, credit or debit cards are all accepted forms of payment.
Kids under 6 and Senior Citizens get an admission discount.