Brûly-de-Pesche 1940 — Attraction in Couvin

A small museum in an equally small village with a story to tell that needs to be remembered and deserves to be better know.

Not previously a place that I was aware of, it is a testament to the benefits of studying a map ahead of a journey through a region, for it provided a most interesting break.

In the summer of 1940, following the fall of Belgium, it was selected to be Hitler's command centre during the invasion of France, with the villagers given two hours notice to leave. It was only after they were allowed to return six weeks later that they discovered what the commandeered village had been used for.

The museum tells this story, plus the subsequent resistance of the...

This place is where H oversaw the invasion of France. The whole village was evacuated and made in to a HQ. Even an airstrip was constructed. Men of the organisation TOD even made a small park and garden for H. where he could walk in the shade. The seats, tables, bridges are all still there. His guesthouse is now a museum and you can even go inside his bunker. This is a truly historic place. The museum is well put together. Well organised with lots of reading material and audio tours. You can easily spend a few hours here. Incorporated in the museum’s story is the resistance who were based just a few kilometres away...

Don't expect a large command bunker, there is only a small bunker meant as a shelter for a few persons. The bunker was never used as the allies did not know about this place. Some other buildings can be visited and offer interesting information about Hitler's stay and the Belgian resistance. When you also want to visit the Neptunus cave nearby, a combi-ticket can be bought at a reduced price at the tourist office of Couvin (hard to reach at the moment because of...