Welcome to “The Path to Freedom @R“This is one of the largest itineraries proposed in the Ardennes by the Maison de la Randonnée – GTA Belgique. The freedom trail is an invitation to remember the past in this area of the Bastogne region which, in 1944-45, was surrounded by the Germans and where the fighting was intense. This 68 km loop hike passing by the American memorial on the Mardasson hill takes you through the municipalities of Bastogne, Vaux-Sur-Sûre, Sainte-Ode and Bertogne. It connects various memorial sites erected in homage to the soldiers and civilians who died during the Second World War “Word War II”.
On this circuit, you will discover different places of a region which was crossed by the American army and, in particular, by the 3rd army of General Patton during the battle of the Bulge also called “Battle of the Bulge”.
From one stop to the other, you drive through villages that have been liberated by the Americans after having experienced terrible fighting. Along the way, the route leads you successively through the natural park of the Deux Ourthes and the natural park Haute-Sûre Forêt d’Anlier. You walk on forest paths, village roads or through fields. And, in some places, on major routes or local walks. For example, from the Mardasson hill to Sprimont in the municipality of Sainte-Ode, the route follows the Rhine-Meuse route that connects Andernach in Germany to Monthermé in France.
