Bastogne is part of Belgium and located within the Walloon province on the Ardennes. A number of old villages comprise what is now known as the municipality: Noville, Villers-la-Bonne-Eau, Wardin and Longvilly.
The area known as Bastogne was originally controlled by tribes of Gauls. After going through control from a number of abbeys, the Holy Roman Emperor began to mint coins in the city during the 13th century.
During the early winter of 1944-1945, Bastogne was the site of a major German counterattack on the Allies. This was seen as part of the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge. The fight is remembered primarily for the encirclement of the 101st Airborne Division.
A number of tourist sites are popular with visitors to Bastogne. Defensive walls known as Porte de Treves were built in the 14th century and still stand. The St. Pierre Church features a tall Romanesque tower. Monuments for World War II include the Mardasson Memorial and General Patton Memorial.
Cycling is highly popular with residents of the area. The region of Bastogne is the midway point for the Liege-Bastogne-Liege bicycle tour operating since the late 19th century. The Belgian Grand Prix also used to take place near Bastogne, a popular car-racing event.
