December 44

17/10/2020

Museum December 44

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The museum was established in La Gleize, in a historic building where the first aid center of the Waffen SS unit, commanded by Obersturmbannfuhrer Jochen Peiper, was stationed during the war. The museum is entirely dedicated to the Battle of the Bulge.

It is believed that while the Americans won the Battle of the Bulge at Bastogne, the Germans lost it at La Gleize. 800 surviving soldiers under Peiper, surrounded by US troops, abandoned 135 armored vehicles, including the largest tank of World War II, the Royal Tiger. Today, this tank is the most valuable exhibit of the museum established in 1989. 69-tons Royal Tiger is the only tank in Europe that participated in the fighting for the Ardennes and is on display where it fought.

Over 5000 artifacts related to the Battle of the Bulge have been collected on 1000 square meters of the museum. Lots of weapons, uniforms, maps, radio stations, war documents and private letters. The exhibitions describe not only the fights, but also the war crimes committed by German soldiers who shot civilians and prisoners of war. The largest massacre took place in the town Baugnez. The Germans shot 87 American prisoners there, leaving their bodies in the snow. The direct responsibility for this crime was borne by Obersturmbannfuhrer Jochen Peiper, who was sentenced to death after the war, later changed to fifteen years in prison. A monument commemorating this event stands in Baugnez.

Address:
Rue de L'eglise 7 b
4987 La Gleize

Opening hours:
monday-sunday
10.00-18.00

Ticket price:
7,5 Euro

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The fuel Eldorado

15/9/2020

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Martelange-fuel Eldorado

Martelange is a small village on the border between Belgium and Luxembourg. At a distance of about 1,8 km, the road from Brussels to Arlon here marks the border between two countries. One side of the city belongs to Belgium, the other to Luxembourg. Due to the fact that fuel taxes in the Principality are much lower, all stations are here only on the Luxembourg side.

There are eleven petrol stations in a distance of less than two kilometers. Fuel price lower than in Poland. Diesel 0,956 Euro/liter. Many drivers traveling in southern Belgium and going to northeastern France often refuel in this city.

21 on August 1967 a tragedy happened here. A tanker truck carrying 40 thousand liters of liquefied gas crashed as a result of brake failure. The explosion that followed killed 22 people and injured 54 more. 13 houses were completely destroyed.

Martelange. Belgium / Luxembourg. Petrol stations at the border.

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Atlanticwall in Belgium

27/10/2019

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Raversyde Museum

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Atlantic Wall is a system of fortifications built by the Germans during World War II in the occupied territories. It stretched over 3862 kilometers, from the French-Spanish border to the northern ends of Norway. Strongest fortified part Atlantic Wall was in the Calais area, much weaker fortifications were built in Normandy.

Along the Belgian coast, the Germans created fortifications to protect the ports of Zeebruge and Ostend (operating bases of German submarines). Fortifications in Ostend are one of the best preserved parts Atlantic Wall. Today, the site houses the Raversyde Museum, which is one of the main historical attractions on the Belgian coast. The museum consists of two parts. The first is thematically related to the First World War, the second part concerns the Second World War.

The Raversyde Museum is a place where history and nature meet

In the open space there are over 60 bunkers, observation and artillery stands connected by two kilometers of open or underground corridors. The Raversyde Museum has the only surviving German coastal battery from World War I, the Aachen battery. It consisted of cannons, observation bunkers and living quarters for soldiers.
During the three-hour tour, we can admire not only wonderfully restored military exhibits, but also beautiful views of the beaches of Ostend. As the slogan of the Raversyde museum says, it is a place where history and nature meet. That this part Atlantic Wall, together with the equipment, it has survived in such good condition, is due to Prince Charles, who after the death of his father, King of Belgium Albert I, took care of this place, not allowing the destruction of this area, which is a great witness to the history of World War I and the First.

View from the Raversyde museum in Ostend. Belgium.

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Ostend

26/10/2019

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Festival of sand sculptures in Ostend.

The summer festival takes art to the beaches of Ostend, where sculptures are created by 40 artists from around the world. The material to be processed is sand and a spatula is a chisel. In 2019 year the theme were dreams. The sculptures were from 2 to 6 meters high. The sand for the sculptures was brought on 240 trucks. In the year 2017 on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the existence of Disneyland in Paris, the sculptures depicted figures of iconic Disney fairy tales.

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Art-Deco in religious architecture

28/9/2019

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The fifth largest temple in the world

National Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Brussels

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Her story begins in 1880 a year. On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of Belgium's independence, King Leopold II decides to make the Koekelberg Plateau a royal district.

Initially, inspired by the Sorbonne district in Paris, he wanted to build a National Pantheon here, but when the project received little support, the monarch proposed to build a national sanctuary.
The cornerstone for the construction of a new, monumental temple was laid by the king in 1905 on the occasion of the seventy-fifth anniversary of Belgium's independence. The construction of foundations began according to Pierre Langerock's project prepared in 1903, which envisaged a huge building in the neo-Gothic style.

Bazylika Najświętszego Serca w Brukseli. Belgia.

World War I exhausted the funds of the kingdom, and the architectural taste changed. The resignation from the Langerock project forced the search for an architect who will design the temples again. Finally, an art-deco design was made by Albert Van Huffel, an architect from Ghent. In 1919, Cardinal Mercier dedicated the church to the victims of war. In 1930, the construction of the apse began, which was opened for worship in 1935. It is also the date of death of Albert Van huffel, who was replaced by engineer Paul Rome. After the outbreak of World War II, work was suspended again until September 1944.

The temple was consecrated in 1951 by Cardinal Van Roey. In 1952 year, Pope Pius XII granted the new church the title of Minor Basilica. 11 November 1970 a great celebration crowns the end of the basilica's construction.

The National Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Brussels is the fifth largest church in the world and the largest in the art-deco style. The building is made of reinforced concrete covered with brick, terracotta, and various types of marble, parquet and blue stone. In both towers there are five bells: Ulrich, Gabrielle, Isidorus-Maria, Joseph, and the great bell of peace Balduinus. The impressive dimensions of this monumental temple are as follows:

Central nave - 164 meters
Transept- 107 meters
The galleries are located at an altitude of 10 meters
The top of the vault is 29 meters
The top of the dome is 90 meters
Outdoor gallery - 50 meters

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Spa-Francorchamps-f1

18/9/2019

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Track length:
7.004 km

Stand capacity:
70.000 viewers

Participating in the festival, which is undoubtedly the F1 race at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps track in Belgium is an amazing experience. This is one of the few tracks where F1 races have been taking place for decades. In 1939 a spectacular steep curve was built, which is a showcase of the Spa track. The difference in altitude here is as much as 17%. This place was christened the name Raidillon, but in the minds of the fans the name Eau Rouge was adopted. After this change, Spa Francorchamps became the fastest racing track in Europe next to Monza. Many competitors consider this track to be one of the most demanding in the entire F1 calendar.

Most wins: Michael Schumacher 6

During the weekend various races take place on the track. Here we have the Porsche Supercup series, Formula 2, and Formula 3. On Sunday, an hour before the race on the track, or rather thirty meters above the track, Franky Zapata appeared, who flew 7 kilometers on the Flyboard Air. He paid tribute to Antoine Hubert, a Formula 2 driver who had died tragically the day before at the Spa-Francorchamps race. Before the F1 race there was a minute of silence on the track in memory of this 22 year old driver.

Spa-Francorchamps founded: 1920

A lot of Polish fans appeared in the stands, who came to cheer Robert Kubica, our only driver in F1. His eight-year struggle to return to the top, after a terrible accident, is proof that nothing is impossible. It's enough to have extraordinary determination, will to fight and faith that it can succeed. Only so much and so much. This is Robert Kubica, for many not only an extraordinary talent, but also an example of how you can fight for dreams. At Spa-Francorchamps I fulfilled my dream, I saw Robert Kubica, the universal driver, the most outstanding Polish representative in motorsport.

Lap record:
Valtteri Bottas 1:46. 286

Race Distance:
308.052 KM

Of course, Dutch supporters dominated the stands. Dressed in characteristic orange t-shirts, they cheered on their idol, the wonderful Max Verstappen. For them it's almost a home race. The ticket prices show that it is an expensive sport. The cheapest ticket costs 140 euros. After adding the parking price, buying a commemorative pendant, fries and a drink, 200 euro was made. It's for tickets without seating, on a grassy embankment. The price of seated tickets is an expense of several hundred euros. Despite these costs, it's really worth going to Spa-Francorchamps for the F1 weekend. After all, it is the queen of motorsport.

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War Memorial on Cointe

28/7/2019

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Cointe Hill

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The International Veteran Congress of the First World War, which took place in Rome in the year 1925, chose Liege as the place where a monumental monument commemorating the cooperation of Allied soldiers and the suffering of peoples during the war 1914-1918 was to be created.

The monument designed by Joseph Smolderen from Antwerp stand on the Cointe hill, in a place visible from every Liege point. This monument consists of a religious part, or Church of the Sacred Heart, whose construction began on 21 June 1925 year, and the civilian part, or 75-meter tower, which began to appear in September 1928 year. The inauguration of the opening took place on 21 July 1937 year.

In the crypt there are monuments of Belgian, French, Romanian and Spanish soldiers, while on the square surrounded by pillars there are Italian, Greek, Polish, English and Russian monuments. Every August 15, on the the Polish Army Day, Polonia fold the flowers at the Polish monument at Cointe Hill.

For decades, this magnificent monument, exposed to heroes, has grown into the Liege skyline, became one of symbols city. However, the passage of time has strained the structures of both buildings. The civil monument was renovated, there was money for it. The church has been closed for years. There are no funds for renovation. There is a danger that this magnificent monument will share the fate of churches that were demolished or desacralized in Liege. Church of St. Antoni, who ceased to be a place of worship in the 1977 year, today serves as a place of vernissages, the church of St. Cross closed for years (apparently, funds have already been accumulated about 20 million dollars for renovation), the church of St. John the Evangelist, closed due to the threat of collapse. Hundreds of years of history that is not remembered.

Church of St. John the Evangelist, Liege.

Recently, information appeared that the temple will be sold. Among the main buyers are the Dutch millionaire Arthur Paes. Admiring how he restored the Le Fy castle in Esneux, one can hope that the magnificent church on Cointe will also be renovated. However, it will no longer serve as a place of worship, but as a socio-economic or economic-cultural object.

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Seaside tram

29/6/2019

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The longest tram line in the world

67 kilometers long - 68 stops
143 minutes of travel- 3 millions of travelers

The tram route runs through the entire Belgian coast. It makes it the longest tram line in the world. Along with the stops located further from the beaches, deep into the towns, its length is 67 kilometers. It connects all coastal towns, reaching from Knokke-Heist, located at the Dutch border, up to De Panne, the furthest-fledged Belgian resort next to the French border. The entire route counting 68 stops is covered in 143 minutes. Trams leave from stops every 15 minutes.

The building in De Hann, where the tram stops, was designed in the 1902 year, in style belle époque, by Brussels architect D. Dhaeyer.
Every day, from the route along the beaches, a special tram removes sand deposited by the wind. The tram line has been in existence for more than 130 years. Her first episode was created in 1885 a year and connected Ostend and Nieuwpoort. The first route was shifted inland; some sections of this original connection still exist today. Annually, a tram line along the Belgian coast carries around 3 million passengers. Its creation has greatly contributed to the development of thirteen resorts in ten towns located on the Belgian coast:

Knokke Heist-Zeebrugge-Blankerberge-De Hann-Bredene-Oostende-Middelkerke-Nieuwpoort-Koksijde-De Panne

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Father Damian

29/5/2019

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Brother of lepers, missionary who devoted his life to serving the needy

Father Damien, or rather Jozef de Veuster, is an extraordinary man whose life's work was helping the lepers. He was born on 3 January 1840 year in the Belgian town Tremelo as one of seven siblings. Like his older brother and sister, he joined the convent. He chose the most difficult path to holiness. A path full of sacrifices and risks. The desire to serve the needy led him to the kingdom of Hawaii, and more precisely to the island of Moloka'i, which was a home-place of seclusion- for patients infected with leprosy, then an incurable disease.

He started his mission on 10 may 1873 year coming to the Kalaupapa settlement, inhabited by 600 lepers. Building new homes, schools, churches, and hospitals gave the inhabitants hope. He became their confidant and priest, sometimes a nurse, doctor or gravedigger. His mission, which lasted in 1873-1889, ended his death. In recent years he has been helping, although he was already infected. He died on 15 April 1889 year among friends, calm about the fact that his work would be continued by the Franciscan nuns who came to the island.

His work echoed widely in the world. The sacrifice with which he served the sick was something special. On 4 June 1995 year, father Damian was beatified by the Holy Father John Paul II. 11 October a guide 2009 Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed him a Saint. Grave brother of lepers, how often Damian's father was called, he is in the crypt, under the chapel of St. Antoni, in the Belgian city of Leuven.

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Citadel in Namur

18/5/2019

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Citadel in Namur

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is a great example of mastery of military architecture. This one of the greatest citadel in Europe has a diversity that evokes the era from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.

Terra Nova

The first fortifications were built here by the Celts, the next by the Romans. In the 937 year, the Namur Count replaced the Roman ruins with wooden fortifications. The stone castle was built in 1235-1245, then, in the fourteenth century, it was expanded.

Citadel received the present form in 1631-1675 during the reign of the Dutch. This part of the fortress has been named Terra Nova to distinguish it from the smaller fort built in the neighborhood La Médiane, which was built in 1542-1555 during the reign of Emperor Charles V.

In the 1692 year, the citadel was taken by the French. It was then that Sebastian Vauban, a French military engineer and architect at the court of the French King Louis XIV, rebuilt the citadel in Namur, making it one of the most powerful fortresses in Europe. The twilight of the citadel's power came during the First World War, when it took a few days for the Germans to get it. During the Second World War, the fortress was seriously damaged as a result of bombing. A parachute unit was stationed here until the 1977 year.

The citadel built on the 10 hectares has been recognized as the unique heritage of Wallonia. This magnificent building dominates the Port du Grognon, the place where the rivers Meuse and Sambra meet, and where there is a statue of King Albert I on a horse. This king, valued by the Belgians, died while climbing the rock of the Grand Bon Dieu, near Marches-les-Dames on the Meuse River.

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Sanctuary in Banneux

15/3/2019

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Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Poor
In Banneux

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The shrine in the small Banneux, located about 20 kilometers from Liege, is one of the main places of worship in Belgium. It was here that Our Lady appeared to eleven-year-old Mariette Beco eight times. Revelations lasted from 15 January to 2 March 1933 year.

During the apparitions, Our Lady always presented herself as the Mother of the Poor and asked her to build a chapel in this place. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Poor is a place of pilgrimage of hundreds of thousands of people who come here to confide in the Mother of God with their suffering, pain and desires.

On the walls of the chapel and in several places in the sanctuary there are tables, on which the faithful express, in many languages, thanks to Our Lady for intercession and healing. In the 1949 year, the Vatican recognized the revelations at Banneux. John Paul II ended here his pilgrimage in the Benelux countries, which he held in 1985 year.

In the Banneux Sanctuary there are: the Chapel of the Apparitions, the Chapel of the Mission, the Church of the Virgin of Poor, the Chapel of St. Michael the Archangel, the Way of the Cross, the belfry of Konrad Adenauer and, in the place of the apparitions of the Holy Mother, a wonderful spring. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Poor is surrounded by a beautiful landscape park.