Bastogne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bastogne
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 Bastogne
Location in Belgium
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| Country | Belgium | ||
| Community | French Community | ||
| Region | Wallonia | ||
| Province | Luxembourg | ||
| Arrondissement | Bastogne | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 172.03 km2 (66.42 sq mi) | ||
| Population
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| • Total | Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1,575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | ||
| Postal codes |
6600
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| Area codes | 061 | ||
| Website | www.bastogne.be | ||
Bastogne is a city and municipality in Wallonia, a region in Belgium. It is located in the province of Luxembourg, within the beautiful Ardennes area.
The municipality of Bastogne includes several smaller districts: Bastogne itself, Longvilly, Noville, Villers-la-Bonne-Eau, and Wardin. The town sits on a high ridge in the Ardennes, about 510 meters (1,673 feet) above sea level.
Good news for the future: on January 1, 2025, Bastogne will join with Bertogne to form a new, larger municipality.
Contents
History of Bastogne
Long ago, when the Roman Empire was expanding, the area around Bastogne was home to a Gaulish tribe called the Treveri. The name Bastogne first appeared in records around the year 634. At that time, a local lord gave these lands to the St Maximin's Abbey near Trier.
A century later, the Bastogne area became part of the nearby Prüm Abbey. The town and its marketplace were mentioned again in a document from 887. By the 1200s, Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor, who was also the count of Luxemburg, was making coins in Bastogne.
In 1332, Henry's son, John the Blind, gave Bastogne its city rights. He also had strong defensive walls built around the city. A part of these old walls, called the Porte de Trèves, can still be seen today.
In 1451, the lands of Luxemburg became part of the Duchy of Burgundy. This meant Bastogne later became part of the Spanish Crown's lands when Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor became king of Spain in 1516.
The city's walls were very good at protecting it during difficult times. The city's economy actually grew because its agricultural and cattle fairs became famous. In 1602, the walls successfully stopped an attack by forces from the Dutch Republic. However, in 1688, King Louis XIV ordered the walls to be taken down when French forces occupied the town during the Nine Years War.
The 1800s and Belgium's independence were good for Bastogne. Its forest products and cattle fairs became even more well-known around the world. Several railway lines were built to connect Bastogne to nearby towns. This period of growth ended when German forces occupied the area during World War I.
Bastogne in World War II
Bastogne was freed by the Allied forces on September 10, 1944. But just a few months later, German forces attacked again. Hitler wanted to take back control of the Ardennes region. His plan was to split the British and American forces, then capture the important port of Antwerp to cut off Allied supplies.
The Battle of the Bulge began on December 16, 1944. German artillery attacked American divisions spread out around Bastogne, using the cold and fog to their advantage. A few days later, Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe and the 101st Airborne Division, along with parts of the 10th Armored Division and the 82nd Airborne Division, arrived to fight back. However, after heavy fighting, they became surrounded inside the town.
On December 22, German messengers asked the Americans to surrender. General McAuliffe famously replied with a single word: “Nuts!” The next day, the skies cleared. This allowed Allied planes to attack the German forces and drop much-needed food, medicine, and weapons to the soldiers on the ground.
On December 26, the Third U.S. Army, led by General George S. Patton, arrived and broke the siege. The fighting in the Bastogne area officially ended three weeks later.
Bastogne is the end point of the Liberty Road. This special road marks the path of the Allied forces who liberated Europe and the Third Army that helped Bastogne.
Geography of Bastogne
Bastogne is located in the Ardennes region of Belgium, in the eastern part of the Luxembourg province. The city is about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from the border with the country of Luxembourg. It sits at an altitude of 515 meters (1,690 feet) on a ridge. This ridge separates the areas where rivers flow into the Rhine and Meuse rivers.
Bastogne is the 9th largest municipality in Belgium by area. It is also the third largest in its province, after Libramont-Chevigny and Léglise. In terms of how many people live there, it is the 4th largest municipality in the province, after Arlon, Marche-en-Famenne and Aubange. The 50th degree of north latitude crosses right through the city.
The municipality of Bastogne includes five main sections: Bastogne itself, Longvilly, Noville, Villers-la-Bonne-Eau, and Wardin. These used to be separate towns before they merged in 1977. Each section has several smaller villages:
- Bastogne: Bizory, Chifontaine, Hemroulle, Isle-la-Hesse, Isle-le-Pré, Savy, Senonchamps
- Longvilly: Al-Hez, Arloncourt, Bourcy, Horritine, Michamps, Moinet, Oubourcy
- Noville: Cobru, Fagnoux, Foy, Hardigny, Luzery, Rachamps, Recogne, Vaux, Wicourt
- Villers-la-Bonne-Eau: Livarchamps, Losange, Lutrebois, Lutremange, Remoifosse
- Wardin: Benonchamps, Bras, Harzy, Mageret, Marenwez, Marvie, Mont, Neffe
Climate
Bastogne has an oceanic climate, similar to the rest of Belgium. However, because it is inland and at a higher elevation, it has more continental influences. This means its weather can be a bit more extreme than coastal areas. Winters are still mild for its latitude, but snow and frost are common. Temperatures usually stay just above freezing.
Sights to See in Bastogne
- The 101st Airborne Museum tells the story of soldiers and civilians during the siege of Bastogne in World War II. It uses dioramas and displays to show what it was like.
- The Bastogne Barracks museum is run by the Belgian Army and is free to visit. It is located in the same barracks that the U.S. 101st Airborne used as their headquarters during the Siege of Bastogne. You can see many restored tanks and military vehicles. There's also a guided tour of the underground barracks and artifacts from American, German, and British forces. This museum includes the basement office where General McAuliffe gave his famous "Nuts!" reply.
- The Bastogne War Museum has many war artifacts and videos. These help visitors experience what the Battle of the Bulge was like.
- The Porte de Trèves is a part of the old defensive walls built in the 1300s by John the Blind. You can still see this historic gate today.
- The Romanesque tower of St Pierre church and its baptismal fonts are also very old, dating back to the Middle Ages.
- The Mardasson Memorial was built near Bastogne in 1950. It honors the American soldiers who were hurt or died during the Battle of the Bulge.
- You can find monuments to Brigadier General McAuliffe, General Patton, and other important figures around the town.
- The Recogne German war cemetery is about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) north of Bastogne. It is the burial place for 6,807 German soldiers.
Folklore
A special character in Bastogne's legends is called the piche-cacaye. This is pronounced "pish-cackay" and is a key part of the town's local stories.
Transportation
Bastogne used to have a railway line that connected it to Libramont and Gouvy. Passenger trains to Gouvy stopped in 1984, and the line to Libramont was closed in the 1990s. The two old station buildings in Bastogne are still there, but they are now used for other things. Part of the old railway line has been turned into a path for bicycles.
The city has two bus stations: Bastogne Nord and Bastogne Sud. These stations help people travel around the area.
Sports
- Bastogne is the halfway point of the Liège–Bastogne–Liège classic bicycle race. This is one of the oldest and most famous one-day professional road cycling events, started in the late 1800s.
- The Circuit des Ardennes used to be a 600-kilometer (370-mile) car race near Bastogne. Famous people, like German Emperor William II, used to enjoy watching it. This race later moved to Francorchamps around World War I, where it is now known as the Belgian Grand Prix.
See also
In Spanish: Bastoña para niños
