Several members of my family are keen war historians and when I told them I was going to pop into Belgium during a trip to Luxembourg, they told me that it was an absolute must that I looked into Bastogne. It was a name slightly familiar to me from high school history lessons, but I had to read up on it to remember it was a key part of the Battle of the Bulge towards the end of World War Two.

Even for those not particularly interested in war (that includes me), a stop in Bastogne is worthwhile. The town itself is sweet, built around a historic old centre with quaint cafes (which I can assure you sell a good hot chocolate!). Just outside the town you’ll find the Bastogne Historical Centre which includes an impressive star-shaped memorial building, and you can climb up on top of it for views across the Belgian countryside. The museum itself is probably most interesting to war buffs.