Welcome to Ypres
Once a bustling centre of industry ranking alongside Bruges and Ghent, it's now impossible to reference Ypres (Ieper in Dutch) without acknowledging the huge role it played in WWI. After its almost total annihilation, the town was rebuilt to its former specifications – a monumental task – to serve as a memorial to those who lost their lives here in the Great War. Its restored Lakenhalle is one of Belgium's most spectacular buildings.
Top experiences in Ypres
Amazing hotels and hostels
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Ypres activities
Brussels to Flanders and Ypres Private WWI Battlefields Tour
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Vladslo German War Cemetery, Diksmuide, West Flanders ProvinceHere you will see the moving sculptures made by Käthe Kollwitz: "The Mourning Parents" as her son is burried here. We stay close to the river Yser and we see the observation points of the Belgian Army and the Trench of Death. Further to Diksmuide and the Ysertower.Duration: 1 hourStop At: Saint Julien Memorial, Ieper (Ypres), West Flanders ProvinceHere we are confronted with the horror of war: gas. The first two times this was used by the Germans on allied lines in Steenstraat and in St Julien, later the use was general but with terrible consequenes. We stop also at the site John Mc Crae, the Canadian Doctor who was from the beginning confronted with the terrible results.Duration: 1 hourStop At: In Flanders Fields Museum, Ieper (Ypres), West Flanders ProvinceAfter lunch, you have time to visit the in Flanders Fields Museum that is giving you a very good view on the horrors of warfare during WWI. We continue via St Elooi and its craters we stop in Messines for the monument for the Christmas Truce and for New-Zealand. In Ploegsteert we see the commemoration plate for Winston Churchill, who fought here in the first half of 1916Duration: 3 hoursStop At: Hill 60, Ieper (Ypres), West Flanders ProvinceWe make a stop at the pool of Peace, the biggest mine crater in Flanders that is always filled-up with water. Further to HILL 60 where we do a visit of what then was the front line and that stayed well preserved, and to Polygone Wood with the Australian and New-Zealand Monuments. Via Zonnebeke we reach the biggest cemetery of the Commonwealth, Tyne Cot Cemetery. Then we take the direction of the Brooding Soldier, the monument honouring the 2000 Canadians who fell here with the Gas Attacks.Duration: 2 hoursStop At: Menin Gate Memorial, Ieper (Ypres), West Flanders ProvinceBack in Ypres we see the impressive Gate, a small part of the whole rebuilding process of the City. You have the names of some 52.000 man who are still missing in action. We walk together to the Market and then time for dinner. We attend the Last Post Ceremony that always takes place at 8 pm, and this every evening.Duration: 2 hours
3 days on Australian WW1 battlefields starting from Ypres or Lille
ItineraryDay 1: Australians in Flanders; Fromelles, Messines, Passendale and YpresStop At: Museum of the Battle of Fromelles, Fromelles, Nord, Hauts-de-FranceThe museum will explain how these 250 soldiers were found and how they have been laid to rest in Pheasant Wood Cy.Duration: 45 minutesStop At: Pheasant Wood Military Cemetery, Fromelles, Nord, Hauts-de-FranceThe last resting place of the 250 soldiers found in the mass grave of Fromelles.Duration: 30 minutesStop At: Australian Memorial ParkStand near the "Cobbers" statue on the 1st German line and see No Man's Land and the allied lines.Duration: 30 minutesStop At: VC Corner Australian Cemetery, Fromelles, Nord, Hauts-de-FranceThe only exclusive Australian cemetery in FranceDuration: 30 minutesStop At: Rue Pettilon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-FranceAnother burial place where many Australian lay to rest.Duration: 15 minutesStop At: The Ploegsteert Memorial, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut Province, WalloniaOne of the many memorials it stands near Hill 63 where the 1st Australian Tunneling Cie built the CatacombsDuration: 15 minutesStop At: NZ Messines Ridge Memorial, Mesen, West Flanders ProvinceStand on the battlefield where ANZACs launched the battle in June 1917.Duration: 30 minutesStop At: Hill 60See the Caterpillar Crater and the memorial dedicated to the 1st Australian Tunneling Cie.Duration: 30 minutesStop At: Polygon Wood CemeteryViisit the Polygon Wood and the memorial to the 5th Australian Division.Duration: 30 minutesStop At: Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, Zonnebeke, West Flanders ProvinceVisit the very best WW1 museum in Flanders.Duration: 1 hourStop At: Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, West Flanders ProvinceThe largest CWGC's cemetery.Duration: 30 minutesStop At: Ypres Cloth Hall, Ieper (Ypres), West Flanders ProvinceStand on the main square in Ypres see the Cloth Hall, the Cathedral and spend some free time in town.Duration: 1 hourStop At: Last Post ceremony, Ieper (Ypres), West Flanders ProvinceAttend the Last Post at the Menin Gate before heading back to your hotel.Duration: 1 hourMeals included: • LunchNo accommodation included on this day.Day 2: The battlefields of the Arras - Bullecourt areaStop At: Le Memorial International De Notre-Dame-De-Lorette, Ablain-Saint-Nazaire, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-FranceA ring of Remembrance built by the French GovernmentDuration: 15 minutesStop At: Necropole Nationale Francaise de Notre-Dame de Lorette, Ablain-Saint-Nazaire, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-FranceThe French largest WW1 cemetery.Duration: 15 minutesStop At: Lens' 14 - 18 Centre d'Histoire Guerre et Paix, Ablain-Saint-Nazaire, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-FranceSpend some time in a nice WW1 musuem.Duration: 45 minutesStop At: German War Cemetery Saint-Laurent-Blangy, Saint-Laurent-Blangy, Arras, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-FranceSee the difference, compare a German cemetery with the others.Duration: 15 minutesStop At: Canadian National Vimy MemorialA stunning memorial dedicated to the action of the Canadians.Duration: 30 minutesStop At: Carriere Wellington, Arras, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-FranceSee how the armies took advantage of the local quarriesDuration: 1 hourStop At: The Bullecourt Digger, Bullecourt, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-FranceStand in the Australian Memorial park in Bullecourt.Duration: 15 minutesStop At: Bullecourt 1917, Jean and Denise Letaille museumA nice little museum that was made by the local mayor Mr Letaille and his wife.Duration: 30 minutesMeals included: • LunchNo accommodation included on this day.Day 3: The Somme, Villers-Bretonneux, the SJMC, Le Hamel and PozieresStop At: École VictoriaSee the famous school rebuilt with the help of Australian schoolchildrenDuration: 15 minutesStop At: Australian National Memorial near Villers-BretonneuxThe memorial commemorates 11 000 Australian soldiers.Duration: 1 hourStop At: Sir John Monash CentreVisit the centre build by the Australian Government.Duration: 1 hourStop At: Australian Corps Memorial Le HamelStand on the battlefield where Sir John Monash led the battle won in 94 minutesDuration: 45 minutesPass By: Basilique Notre-Dame de BrebièresThe basilica with the Golden Madonna and the Child on the top.Stop At: Lochnagar Crater, Ovillers-la-Boisselle, Somme, Hauts-de-FranceSee one of the Somme mine cratersDuration: 30 minutesStop At: Pozieres Memorial, Pozieres, Somme, Hauts-de-FranceStand near the 1st Australian Division MemorialDuration: 30 minutesStop At: The WindmillOne the strong points captures by the AustraliansDuration: 15 minutesStop At: Tank Corps Memorial, Pozieres, Somme, Hauts-de-Francestands at the place where tanks are used for the first time on 15 Septembre 1916.Duration: 15 minutesStop At: Thiepval Memorial, Thiepval, Somme, Hauts-de-Francethe largest of all these memorial bears the names of 72 000 soldiers.Duration: 5 hours 30 minutesStop At: Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial, Beaumont-Hamel, Somme, Hauts-de-FranceEnding the tour at the New Foundland Memorial Park.Duration: 30 minutesMeals included: • LunchNo accommodation included on this day.