Bastogne War Rooms

The historic building that houses the McAuliffe Cellar was protected by the Walloon Minister of Heritage in 2019 and will become a new memorial site, namely the Bastogne War Rooms.
In the Bastogne War Rooms, visitors travel through time to December 1944, where they suddenly end up in the Battle of the Ardennes. This immersive experience, enhanced by an original scenography, gives visitors a better understanding of what happened there during the Second World War. Visitors receive a true historical reconstruction of the events that took place there.
The name of the new memorial was not chosen at random, because it was here that decisions by a handful of men had consequences for thousands of young soldiers.

A visit to the Bastogne War Rooms is a step back in time, a dive into American history in Bastogne at the place where it was written. Visitors pass by the symbolic photo of General Patton awarding General McAuliffe the Legion of Merit for his exemplary defense of the city of Bastogne. They then become acquainted with the history of the Heintz barracks in Bastogne (1933-1944), before it was captured by the American army during the Battle of the Ardennes.

Through large interactive and dynamic tables (which look like military maps) on the ground floor, visitors are presented with the most important events in the Battle of the Ardennes, from the German offensive in December 1944 to the lesser-known battles in January 1945, including the air siege of Bastogne .

The cellar is undoubtedly the most compelling part of the visit. It takes place in the historic cellars that housed the American headquarters. In addition, four compelling video installations of about five minutes each will be shown about four crucial moments of December 22, 1944, the day when General McAuliffe replied "Nuts!" when the Germans demanded that he surrender.

Back on the ground floor, visitors discover the room in which McAuliffe and his officers ate part of their Christmas meal before having to take shelter in the cellars from the German shells that fell on Bastogne. There is also the original 'Stars & Stripes' flag of the 101st Airborne Division, which the general carried all the way from the Netherlands to Bastogne after the invasion of Normandy.

For current visiting hours, please visit the website of the museum.

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Source

• Text: Bastogne L'Ardenne en Capitale
• Photos: Bastogne L'Ardenne en Capitale