Ardennes - WW2 Sightseeing
 

We want to drive through Ardennes to see various WW2 towns and sights. Does anyone recommend going with a tour guide to find these sights, or are the sights marked well enough to locate on our own? Thanks. Susan

I just read an article on visiting the Ardennes, and the author went on his own with a guidebook and maps and had no trouble finding anything. We've found it useful to stop at the tourist office in local towns to pick up maps and guides about the area, and that's where you could enquire about a tour guide if you felt you needed one at that point. It sounds like a very interesting region to visit, especially if you're interested in the war's history.

There are a lot of interesting sites there and I can't imagine a tour would cover them all. A good guidebook would have all the basic info - and we had no trouble finding any of the museums or sites.;

Just what I was hoping to read. Thank you.

You'll want to stop in Bastogne where there's a good 101st museum/memorial detailing the Battle of the Bulge and Trois Ponts is about 30-40 minutes away where some of the fiercest battles took place. There are American cemeteries called Henri Chappell and Maargraten which rival Arlington near DC that are worth a visit - one is in Belgium and the other nearby in the Netherlands, and worth a visit to at least one.

Don't forget the cemetary outside of Luxembourg City where Patton is buried.

If you would do a Google search on "the battle of the bulge", I'm sure you would find tons of information.

PLEASE, PLEASE give a trip report when you return. Our next trip to Europe is very much aimed at the WWll sites in Belgium/Luxembourgh.

Curious

On no account should you miss the Luxembourg National Museum of Military History in Diekirch. Many of the exhibits are devoted to the Battle of the Bulge and there are a number of first-rate dioramas illustrating various aspects of the battle.

My girlfriends and I will be going to the Ardennes. The father of one of the girls fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Suggestions on where to stay? Seems from reading the replies that it is best to drive around rather than take a tour. Will be new to travelling in the area so any suggestions will be helpful.

Depending on the level of your interest you may want to look into a really intensive tour. I don't know about the Ardennes area but when we went to Normandy there were a few military historians giving very detailed informative tours. A few we ex-British military officers and War College faculty. i would imagine the same is true for the Ardennes region.

Run a very selective search on whatever engine you use and you should find what you are looking for.

Brian