The World War II Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial is situated near the southeast edge of the village of Neupre (formerly Neuville-en-Condroz), 12 miles southwest of Liege, Belgium. Highway N-63 from Liege to Marche or Dinant and Paris passes the main entrance. Excellent autoroutes lead to Liege from major cities in Belgium, the Netherlands and West Germany. Liege can be reached by train from Paris (Gare du Nord) in about 5 _ hours, from Brussels in a little more than 1 hour, and from Germany via Aachen. Taxicabs are available from Liege station. Hotel accommodations are available in Liege.

The Ardennes American Cemetery spans ninety acres and contains the graves of 5,329 American war dead and memorializes 462 American missing.

The Superintendent of Ardennes American Cemetery is Hans H. Hooker. The telephone number is: 011-32-43-71-42-87. The fax number is: 011-32-43-72-03-29. The E-Mail address is: Ardennes.Cemetery@abmc-er.org

 

Thanks to the Ardennes American Cemetery publication for this map.

 

Brussels Airport is the major airport in Belgium and is closer in miles to Neuville (Liege). There are frequent trains from the airport to Liege, Belgium. There you will find taxi service to the cemetery. The Brussels Airport web site is very easy to use and has helpful information for travellers to Belgium.

http://www.brusselsairport.be/index.cfm?lang=en

Here is a link to the Belgian national railroad company:

http://www.b-rail.be/main/E/index.php

Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam is the major airport in The Netherlands. Upon arrival at Schiphol there is easy connection by rail to the Central Station in Amsterdam, from which you can take a train to Liege Guillemins Station. Click Here!

Frankfurt Airport in Germany is another possibility. Upon arrival at Frankfurt, there is easy connection by rail (high-speed train) to Liege Guillemins Station.

http://www.airportcity-frankfurt.com/cms/default/rubrik/9/9682.airport_city_en.htm

A last possibility is to land in Paris Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport. From there you can take a high-speed train (Thalys) from Paris to Liege Guillemins Station.

http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/ADP/en-GB/Passagers
http://www.thalys.com/fr/en

From Liege, take the road N-63 to Marche or Dinant and Paris, which passes the main entrance of the Cemetery in the village of Neuville-en-Condroz (Neupré).

 

Liege has numerous hotels in different price ranges. Here is a selection of various standing hotels in decreasing order :

 

The Hotel Bedford – 36, quai Saint-Léonard, B-4000 Liege; Phone: +32 4 228 81 11 Fax: +32 4 227 45 75. See: http://www.hotelbedford.be/ns/liege/home.php

The Holiday Inn, Liege – Esplanade De LiEurope 2, B-4020 Liege;Phone : +32 4 349 20 00 Fax : +32 4 343 48 10. See: http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hd/lgebe

The Post Hotel SA – 160, rue Hurbise, B-4040 Herstal / Liege; Phone: +32 4 264 64 00 Fax: +32 4 248 06 90. See: http://www.evolutionbuilder.com/posthotel

The Hotel Mercure – 100, boulevard de la Sauveniére, B-4000 Liege; Phone: +32 4 221 77 11 Fax: +32 4 3221 77 01. See: http://www.mercure.com/mercure/fichehotel/gb/mer/1893/fiche_hotel.shtml

Here is the hotel which is closest to the cemetery, only a 10-minute drive:

The Ibis Liege Seraing Hotel – 15b Route du Condroz, B-4100 BONCELLES, Phone : +32 4 338 53 97; Fax : +32 4 338 45 11
http://www.ibishotel.com/ibis/fichehotel/gb/ibi/3533/fiche_hotel.shtml

The Ibis Hotel – 41, place de la RÈpublique FranÁaise, B-4000 LIEGE Phone: +32 4 230 33 33 Fax: +32 4 223 04 81. See: http://www.accohotels.com/accorhotels/fichehotel/gb/ibi/0864/fiche_hotel.shtml

 

Car rentals are available at Brussels, Schiphol, Frankfurt and Paris Airports as well as in Liege. However, be warned that gasoline is very expensive. Try to avoid filling up along the highways because gasoline is even more expensive there. If you come from Paris by car, you will have to pay a fee to drive on the highway. This doesn’t apply to Belgium, the Netherlands or Germany.

 

The Ardennes American Cemetery suggests the following florist:

Le Panier Fleuri – 81 Chaussée de Marche, B-4121 NEUPRE ( Neuville-en-Condroz Village); Phone :+32 4 371 26 00; Fax : +32 4 371 26 01
E-mail: le_panier_fleuri@teledisnet.be

In addition, there are many florists in and around the city of Liege.

 

Embassy of the United States of America – Regentlaan 27 Boulevard Du Regent, B-1000, Brussels: Phone: +32 2 508 21 11; Fax: +32 2 511 27 25. See: http://belgium.usembassy.gov

Open Monday thgrough Friday – 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

 

For more information on what to see in and around Liege:
http://www.liege.be/cadreslg/cadwelco.htm

House of Tourism of Wallonia/Brussels :
http://www.opt.be/Langue/en/index.htm

 

The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm except December 25 and January 1. It is open on host country holidays. When the cemetery is open to the public, a staff member is on duty in the Visitors’ Building to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites.

 

For more information on the museums and other military sites in the Province of Liege (click on “A region of discoveries” in the left menu, then click on “Museums and exhibitions” at the top). We particularly recommend the visit of the “Remember Museum”, very close to Henri-Chapelle, owned by two passionate people, Marcel and Mathilde Schmetz, also known as M&M’s :
http://www.paysdeherve.be/uk/frameset_principal_accueil.htm

The town of Bastogne, famous during the Battle of the Bulge, is situated in the Province of Luxemburg. Here are different links on the very numerous places to visit in the area:

http://www.si-bastogne.be/index.php?lg=fpdb/sibasten&page1=b-visites.htm&page2=b-c-archi.htm&rep=b-visites

http://www.ftlb.be/en/ardenne/bastogne.php?paysid=4

The famous Mardasson on the hills around Bastogne:
http://www.ftlb.be/en/attractions/musee/fiche.php?avi_id=220

The stones of the “Liberty Way”, starting on Utah Beach:
http://www.ftlb.be/en/attractions/musee/fiche.php?avi_id=1696

The wood of Peace :
http://www.ftlb.be/en/attractions/musee/fiche.php?avi_id=1702

Bastogne Historical Center :
http://www.ftlb.be/en/attractions/musee/fiche.php?avi_id=177

List of all the military monuments in the Ardennes:
http://users.pandora.be/dave.depickere/Text/bbmonuments.html

 

Also check the site for CRIBA (Center for Research in the Battle of the Ardennes):
http://www.criba.be/index.php

There are other military cemeteries in the area: of special note to AWON members is the proximity of the Ardennes American Cemetery and memorial to the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial. It is 14 miles from the Ardennes Cemetery. Another one is the Netherlands American Military Cemetery at Margraten, only 5 miles from Henri-Chapelle.

For more information, see:
http://www.awon.org/memorials/netherlands
http://www.awon.org/memorials/ardennes

 

Belgium has typical Northern European weather, and can be cold and rainy and a few hours later be sunny and warm. It is best to check the weather forecast before departing the United States. Choose Liege. A web site with a 5-day forecast: http://weather.yahoo.com/regional/BEXX.html

 

Pack for the weather at the time of year you are traveling. Consider packing a raincoat and small umbrella so that you're prepared for showers. Comfortable walking shoes are a must. Dress can be casual throughout Belgium. However, for more formal dining, women should consider a dress or skirt, and for men a jacket and tie.

 

State Department Bulletins: Be sure to check before you make travel plans. See: http://travel.state.gov

 

Belgium is part of the European Economic Union and uses Euros as currency.

Daily exchange rates are available over the internet. ATMs are available, so there is no need to bring traveler’s checks. Credit cards are accepted everywhere, with the occasional exception of American Express. It is best to ask before purchasing or dining which credit card is accepted.

A currency converter can be found at: http://www.xe.com/ucc

 

To come. Any AWONer who's been to the Ardennes Cemetery and who has Travel Tips to offer should send them to Henri-Chapelle Stager Régine Villers: Click Here!

 

Ardennes American Cemetery in 1946.