On 8 May 2026, a new themed cycling route on the Liberation Route Europe , The Battle at the Heart of the Ardennes, was officially launched in Houffalize, Belgium. Developed by La Maison du Tourisme Coeur de l’Ardenne, the 157-kilometre route retraces the events of the winter of 1944–1945, when the Ardennes became the scene of Hitler’s last major offensive in Western Europe. The project involves the towns of Erezée, Houffalize, La Roche-en-Ardenne, Manhay and Rendeux, linking places that were deeply marked by the Battle of the Bulge.
The inauguration took place near the preserved Panther tank in Houffalize, a town that suffered extensive destruction during Allied bombings in January 1945 and endured heavy civilian losses during the Battle of the Bulge. Today, memorials throughout the town, together with the Panther tank, testify to the impact of the battle on the local population. A new Vector of Memory was unveiled during the ceremony, which was attended by Rémi Praud, LREF Managing Director. The launch date was chosen deliberately: exactly 81 years earlier, on 8 May 1945, Germany capitulated, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe.
The cycling route connects towns, memorials and battle sites through winding roads and forest paths across the Ardennes landscape. Along the route, cyclists encounter 30 selected historical sites linked to the Battle of the Bulge and the experiences of civilians and soldiers during the conflict.
In Manhay, cyclists reach one of the strategic crossroads fiercely contested by German and American troops during the winter of 1944–1945, where relics such as a PaK 40 anti-tank cannon remain visible today. The route also passes by the Manhay History 44 Museum, dedicated to the history of the Battle of the Ardennes in the Manhay, Lierneux and Erezée Sectors. Further along the route, La Roche-en-Ardenne bears witness to the destruction caused during the final weeks of 1944. Much of the town was destroyed during the fighting, and today bridges, plaques and monuments commemorate both civilian victims and the resilience of the town. Visitors can discover the La Roche Museum of the Battle of the Ardennes there, one of the largest museums along the route.
Together, these sites create a chronological journey through the Battle of the Bulge, from the surprise German assault to the Allied counteroffensive and eventual victory.
The Battle at the Heart of the Ardennes route is now available on the Liberation Route Europe website and in the Liberation Route Europe app, where users can also download GPX files for navigation.
