Ypres
Ever since the 16th century, the city of Ypres has been the scene of numerous battles. None came at bigger cost than those during WW1, when hundreds of thousands lost their lives within an area of 25 square kilometres.
Ypres is home to the most visited memorial on the Western Front, the Menin Gate. This memorial commemorates the names of British and Commonwealth soldiers who died on the Western Front without their bodies ever being recovered for burial. This site was chosen because many passed through the gate on their way to the trenches.
Today, Ypres is a pleasant, conservative city with all its important buildings rebuilt after its complete destruction during WW1. Ypres’s Cloth Hall – itself painstakingly rebuilt following the war – now houses the ‘In Flanders Field’ Museum which focuses on the experiences of the soldiers, nurses, refugees and children who lived through the war. The Grote Markt (Great Market) in the city centre is where you will find a selection of fine shops, including the famous Belgian chocolate shops. Wander through the attractive cobbled streets and perhaps sample one of the welcoming pavement cafés.
