What to do · Bastogne
Bastogne Barracks
Information
- From
- €12 adult
- Duration
- 1 h 30
- Season
- Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 to 17:00
- Who it's for
- All ages
What it is
The Bastogne Barracks is a former Belgian army barracks, the one that served as headquarters of General McAuliffe's 101st Airborne Division during the siege of 1944. Today it is run by the War Heritage Institute, the Belgian military heritage institute, and since 2010 it has operated as a Second World War interpretation centre.
What sets it apart is its collection of wartime vehicles: some rare or almost unique, many with their original camouflage, markings of other armies and the wear of use. They are not just on display: the centre has working restoration workshops, several vehicles still start up and come out for events and commemorations, and from time to time there are demonstrations with the engines running.
What you see
The tour goes through renovated exhibition rooms, with the vehicle halls and the workshops where they are restored. Allow an hour and a half.
Opening hours
Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 to 17:00. Closed on Mondays, 1 January, 1 May, 1 November and 25 December.
Tickets
- Adults: €12.
- Children and young people aged 6 to 18, students and teachers: €9.
- Under-6s: free.
- People with a disability and their companion: free.
- On the first Wednesday of each month, free entry from 13:00.
Groups of at least 15 people: €9 per person and €4 for under-18s. Guided tours for groups cost €87 on weekdays and €97 at weekends, plus €4.50 per adult, and are booked three weeks in advance at [email protected].
Payment is by card: the centre does not accept cash, according to its listing on the province's tourism website.
Getting there
It is at rue de La Roche 40, in Bastogne, next to the Bastogne War Rooms, the basement where McAuliffe replied "NUTS!". There is parking in front. The Bastogne War Museum, on the Mardasson hill, is a few kilometres away.
Accessibility and with children
The official listing describes it as suitable for people with reduced mobility. Children and teenagers who like tanks and lorries will find it more engaging than a museum of display cases; for under-6s, admission is free. If you are going with little ones, remember that it is an hour-and-a-half tour mostly of vehicles.
How to combine it
A perfect morning in Bastogne: the Barracks at 9, the War Rooms next door and lunch in the centre. The Mardasson museum and the Bois Jacques can be left for the afternoon or another day. Watch out for Mondays: the Barracks is closed.
Tips
- Go on the first Wednesday afternoon From 13:00 admission is free on that day of each month.
- Bring a card Cash is not accepted.
- Ask about the engines The demonstrations are occasional: ask on arrival whether any is planned that day.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Bastogne Barracks cost?
€12 for adults and €9 for ages 6 to 18; under-6s go in free. The first Wednesday of each month is free from 13:00.
Which days is it open?
Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 to 17:00. Closed on Mondays and some public holidays.
Is it included in the Bastogne War Museum ticket?
No. It is a different centre, run by the War Heritage Institute, with its own ticket; the War Rooms, next door, are included with the museum ticket.
As a familyWith teenagers
