Bastogne
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Bastogne (Bastenaken) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Luxembourg in the Ardennes. On January 1st, 2004 Bastogne had a total population of 14,070 (6,976 males and 7,094 females). The total area is 172.03 km² which gives a population density of 81.79 inhabitants per km².
Bastogne is also the midpoint of the famous Liège-Bastogne-Liège classic bicycle race, one of the biggest events in the professional cycling calendar.
Bastogne played a major role during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. On December 21, 1944, the German Army surrounded the city, trapping the American 101st Airborne Division. By the time the Germans retreated from Foy, a village 5 km outside Bastogne, January 14, 1945, they left behind a completely destroyed city.
External link
- Bastogne official site (http://www.bastogne.be/htm/frameset_tour.htm) (in French)
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