Mardasson Memorial

What it is

The Mardasson Memorial is the monument that Belgium dedicated to the American soldiers who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. It stands on the Mardasson hill, on the outskirts of Bastogne, next to the Bastogne War Museum. The first stone was laid on 4 July 1946 and it was inaugurated on 16 July 1950; the architect was Georges Dedoyard.

It is shaped like a great star, that of the Allied troops, which evokes the flag of the United States. On the pediment are the names of all the states of the country, including Alaska and Hawaii, which joined after the war, and an inscription in Latin: the Belgian people remember their American liberators. Since 2020 its upkeep has been the responsibility of the United States: the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), which manages American military cemeteries and monuments abroad, has taken it over and now calls it the Battle of the Bulge Monument at Mardasson.

What you see

• The star. You walk around the walls with the names of the states and the inscription from the Belgians.
• The terrace. A spiral staircase climbs to the top of the monument, with a view over Bastogne and its surroundings.
• The crypt. Below are three vaulted niches with altars for Catholic, Protestant and Jewish worship, each with a mosaic by Fernand Léger.

The visit takes about 30 minutes.

Hours, price and works

Admission is free. Since the ABMC took charge, the memorial has been undergoing complete renovation; in December 2024 the end of the works was announced for summer 2025 at the earliest. Some areas may be closed, such as the crypt or the terrace: if you are interested in one in particular, ask at the museum reception before going up.

Getting there and parking

It is a few steps from the museum, on the same hill. Park in the museum's municipal car park, with 200 spaces, for €7.50 per vehicle, and walk up. Without a car, the TEC bus reaches Bastogne from Libramont station; in the village, line 6 stops at Pépinière, about 20 minutes' walk from the museum.

When to go

First thing in the morning or at the end of the afternoon, when the groups from the museum go down, the memorial is quieter. In December Bastogne celebrates the Nuts Days, with events around the anniversary of the siege: in 2026, from 11 to 13 December, with the inauguration at the Mardasson of a monument to the 28th Infantry Division. On those days there are more people and more atmosphere.

With children

It is a place of remembrance, open and without difficulty: children can go up to the terrace if it is open. With small children it works as a short stop between the museum and the bistro. If you have already seen the museum, they will better understand what the star commemorates.

How to combine it

Do the museum, go out to the memorial and eat at the Bistrot de la Paix, which has a terrace facing the star. Then the Bois Jacques, 4 km away, closes the morning.