# A night in Bastogne via Orval Abbey, two hours from Brussels On Saturday, the Cistercian ruins of Orval and its Trappist beer, and the afternoon at the Barracks; dinner and a night on McAuliffe Square. On Sunday, the battle museum, the memorial and the Easy Company forest. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/belgium/bastogne/itineraries/one-night-with-orval-from-brussels · Revisado: 2026-11-12 Dónde: Bastogne In a day from Brussels, Bastogne gives you the museum and little else. With one night you can fit in everything about the battle and, on the way, something that has nothing to do with war: Orval Abbey, in the Gaume forest, beside the French border. There you see the ruins of the medieval church and eat in the abbey tavern, the only place where Orval Vert is served on draught. In the afternoon you go up to Bastogne for the Barracks and sleep on McAuliffe Square. Sunday is for the museum, the Mardasson memorial, the Bois Jacques and the War Rooms, all with a single ticket. ## How do I get there? By car, which is the practical way: about two hours from Brussels along the E411 to Orval, an hour from Orval to Bastogne and about two hours back along the N4 and the E411. Without a car you can reach Bastogne by IC train to Libramont and TEC bus 6, but Orval is left out. ## What does it cost? WhatHow muchNote Orval Abbey€8€3 for ages 7 to 14 Bastogne Barracks€12€9 for ages 6 to 18 Bastogne War Museum€28Includes Bois Jacques and War Rooms MardassonFreeSome areas may be under works ## Where to stay? The Léo Station Hotel, in the same building as the Wagon Léo restaurant, on the place McAuliffe, puts you in the centre without needing the car for dinner. The four-star Hôtel Melba, with a restaurant, is the other option in the village; the Hôtel du Sud is smaller, and with a tent or caravan there is the Camping de Renval. ## Where to eat? À l'Ange Gardien in Orval at lunchtime on Saturday; Wagon Léo for dinner, and the Bistrot de la Paix, inside the museum, for Sunday. ## El plan ### Saturday · 08:00 · Drive to Orval About two hours along the E411 towards Luxembourg. From November to February the abbey opens at 10:30; from March to May and in October, at 9:30. ### Saturday · 10:30 · Orval Abbey The ruins of the church, Matilda's spring, the museum in the cellars and the medicinal herb garden. About two hours. ### Saturday · 12:30 · Lunch at À l'Ange Gardien The abbey tavern, with Orval cheese and beer. The kitchen is open from 11:30 to 15:00; it is closed one day a week, check on its website. ### Saturday · 15:00 · Bastogne Barracks An hour by car to Bastogne. The former barracks of the 101st Airborne, with wartime vehicles and restoration workshops, until 17:00. ### Saturday · 19:00 · Dinner and night at Wagon Léo The restaurant on McAuliffe Square serves dinner from 17:30 to 21:30; the hotel is in the same building. ### Sunday · 09:30 · Bastogne War Museum Two and a half hours with an audioguide. Book the slot with the combined ticket. ### Sunday · 12:00 · The Mardasson memorial Next to the museum, the great stone star with the names of the states. ### Sunday · 12:30 · Lunch at the Bistrot de la Paix In the museum itself, with a terrace facing the memorial. ### Sunday · 14:00 · Bois Jacques 4 km away, the foxholes of Easy Company, with the 360° videos on the app. ### Sunday · 15:00 · Bastogne War Rooms McAuliffe's cellar, with the same ticket. Afterwards, about two hours to Brussels. ## Consejos ### Buy the museum ticket beforehand The combined ticket is valid for six months: if on Sunday you don't have time for everything, you come back another day. ### Check the Ange Gardien's closing day The website marks one closed day each week without saying which. ### In December, book everything For the anniversary of the battle, the village fills up and the hotels sell out early. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How long does it take to get from Brussels to Bastogne? About two hours by car along the E411 and the N4; by train and bus, about two and a half hours. ### How far is Orval from Bastogne? About an hour by car, to the south, near the French border. ### Can it be done with children? With children from about 10, yes: they like the Barracks and the Bois Jacques more than the museum. ### How much does the getaway cost? Between €170 and €260 per person with hotel, tickets and meals, not counting the car. ## Dónde dormir if you're driving - **Hôtel Melba**: A large hotel in the centre of Bastogne, with a restaurant. Without a car, the museum and the square can be reached on foot. - **Léo Station Hotel**: In the centre, in the same establishment as the bistro, the restaurant and the shop of Wagon Léo. - **Hôtel du Sud**: A simple hotel a step from the square, for a night between the museum and the Ardennes. - **Camping de Renval**: The village campsite, on the road out towards Marche, for arriving with a tent or motorhome. Check the exact dates before you go. ## Dónde dormir without a car - **Hôtel Melba**: A large hotel in the centre of Bastogne, with a restaurant. Without a car, the museum and the square can be reached on foot. - **Léo Station Hotel**: In the centre, in the same establishment as the bistro, the restaurant and the shop of Wagon Léo.