These two towns offer dramatically different experiences, while sharing the scenic beauty and fresh air that are the Ardennes's strongest suit.
Bastogne
70km (44 miles) S of Liège
During the Battle of the Bulge in the bitter winter of 1944 and 1945, the U.S. 101st Airborne Division, outnumbered and surrounded, held the town and its vital road network until a relief force could break through to them. It was a hard, nip-and-tuck fight for the troopers of the 101st -- the "Battered Bastards of Bastogne," they dubbed themselves. Their commander, Brig. Gen. Anthony MacAuliffe, answered German demands for surrender with a single word that became legend: "Nuts!" During the annual December memorial days, you'll see the division's Screaming Eagle emblem around town.
Han-Sur-Lesse
40km (25 miles) NW of Bastogne; 25km (16 miles) SE of Dinant
This is a particularly good stop for those traveling with children, though the two places described below are very interesting for adults as well.
