The Freedom Trail follows the historic route of the American Army (in particular, Lieutenant-General George Patton’s U.S. Third Army), during the Battle of the Bulge, fought from December 1944 to January 1945 in the Belgian and Luxembourg Ardennes.
The Battle of the Bulge was the last major German offensive on the Western Front. It started on 16 December 1944 with a surprise attack in the Ardennes region in Belgium and Luxembourg.
The aim was to seize the port of Antwerp and split the Allied armies. This operation has become more commonly known as the ‘Ardennes Offensive’ or the ‘Battle of the Bulge,’ taking its name from the ‘bulge’ created by the German Army in the Allied lines in the Ardennes. This included the formation of German soldiers that surrounded the Americans troops in Bastogne. Lasting around six weeks, it was one of the largest battles in U.S. history in terms of lives lost.
The Freedom Trail itinerary begins in Bastogne where, in 1982, the World Union of Martyred Towns for Peace was created. The trail links many of the villages liberated by American troops after experiencing fierce fighting in the winter of 1944 to 1945. The route is easily accessible to walkers and mountain bikers.
Themed Route developed in partnership with La Maison de la Randonnée - GTA Belgique asbl
Roadbook and Map, as well as map IGN 1/25000 available here.
