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Ypres/Ieper

The Ypres Salient

1914-1918 Reference

Remembering

Interpretations

About the site

In spite of the fact that Ypres (Ieper) was almost completely demolished by the end of the First World War it contains numerous buildings and sites of special historical interest. Memorials to honour the war dead of Belgium and Britain were built in the town during the reconstruction in the 1920s and 1930s.

Ancient Ramparts, Moat and Gates

Originally the town was protected by earthworks. As the town grew more wealthy the fortifications were modified to keep out prospective invaders. The oldest part of the ramparts still surviving is near the Rijselpoort (Lille Gate) which dates from 1385. Major work was carried out by Sebastien Le Prestre, Seigneur de Vauban (1633-1707), the famous French military engineer, at the end of the 17th century.

(Photo courtesy of Ieper Tourist Office)

Cloth Hall (The Lakenhalle)

The magnificent building for the commercial centre of the medieval city, the Lakenhalle or Cloth Hall, was begun in 1200 and finished 100 years later. It is situated in the heart of Ypres (Ieper) at the Grote Markt (Market Place).

(Photo courtesy of Ieper Tourist Office)

First World War British Memorial: The Menin Gate

The Menin Gate is one of four British and Commonwealth Memorials to the missing soldiers of the First World War who were killed in the Ypres Salient and who have no known grave. Every evening at 20.00 hours members of the Ieper volunteer fire brigade sound Last Post and Reveille under the arch of the memorial gate.

Hear an original recording of Last Post at the Menin Gate and find out more information about the Menin Gate Memorial.

St. George’s Memorial Church

St. George's Church was built as a memorial to British and Commonwealth troops who lost their lives in the Great War. It is also a living church, serving the needs of a local congregation and many hundreds of pilgrims who have been visiting the battlefields of Flanders since war ended in 1918.

The foundation stone of St. George's was laid by Field Marshal Lord Plumer in 1927. Two years later the Bishop of Fulham dedicated the completed church and opened it for worship. Since 1962 the Chaplaincy of St. George's has been linked with that of St. John's, Ghent. St. George's is within the jurisdiction of the Church of England's Diocese in Europe.

The photograph (right) shows the newly built church in 1929.

St. George's Church is located on Elverdingsestraat, near to St. Martin's Cathedral. For information and details of special services and events visit St. George's Memorial Church.

Street Map of Ypres/Ieper

A street map of Ypres/Ieper (pdf file) is available to download from the Ieper Tourist Office website and click on Sights and museums map.

Ypres/Ieper Tourist Information

For a full list of special interest sites see our page for the Ieper Tourist Office.

next>> Armistice Day Events in Ieper

Acknowledgements

Useful link: The Marshal Vauban website by Chris Jones

Copyright Joanna Legg & Graham Parker © 2001 All rights reserved