Ieper Things to Do Tips by pieter_jan_v

The Menin Gate is the most famous World War I monument, build in a classical style.
This gate carries the names of 54.896 missing soldiers.
Each night at 8PM the Last Post is performed by buglers of the local Fire Brigade.

At this East side of town once there was a gate, but this was demolished to widen the road into the town. So, before the war started at this location there just was a gap in the ramparts.

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Address: End of Menenstraat
Directions: Walk to the East from the market square.
Website: http://www.lastpost.be/mainpage.htm

Every evening since 1928 (with a WWII interruption) at 8PM the Last Post - the traditional salute to the fallen warrior - is played under the Menin Gate.

This daily tribute is performed by buglers of the local Fire Brigade and honours the memory of the soldiers of the British Empire, who fought and died in the immortal Ypres Salient during the First World War.

If you want to witness the Last Post ceremony be at the East side of the Menin Gate at 7.30PM; the buglers will face to the West.

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Address: Menin Gate (East gate of town)
Directions: East of the market square
Website: http://www.lastpost.be/mainpage.htm

Visiting the Flanders Fields museum first brings you to the rebuild Lakenhal, the biggest building at Ieper dominating the Market square.
On the first floor you are introduced to overwhelming war impressions.

The Museum is named after a poem by Canadian military doctor Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, 1872-1918:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Opening times:
April-Mid November: Weekly 10AM-6PM
Mid November-March: Tu-Su 10AM-5PM

Entrance price: Euro 7.50

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Phone: +32-57-228582
Address: Grote Markt 34 - 8900 Ieper
Directions: The museum is situated on the upper floor of the Cloth Hall (Lakenhal) in the centre of Ieper.
Website: http://www.inflandersfields.be/

The old walls around the city are great for a walk with a view.

These walls are amazingly wide at some locations, just because some of the old storage room and living quarters are underneath.

They were build in the Louis the 14th time when Ieper became a Northern French bastion.

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Directions: Around the old city

St. George's Memorial Church was built to honour the thousands of men who died in the 3 battles around Ieper. At the end of the First World War 500.000 men were killed and the Commonwealth War Cemeteries around Ypres mark the areas on which they fell.
Since the end of World War II the Church has also been a memorial to the troops who passed through Ieper in the retreat to Dunkirk.
The church is packed with signs and banners of many regiments.

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Phone: +32-57-215685
Address: Elverdingsestraat 1 - 8900 ieper
Directions: NW of the Market square at 5 minutes walking.
Website: http://netministries.org/see/churches/ch00278

The Saint Martin's Cathedral is an impressive church. Like the Lakenhal is has completely destroyed in the first World War and rebuilded with great care using original stones as much as possible.

In the Monastry garden at the North side of the church there still are many original stones left and restauration is a continuous activity.

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Address: Vandepeereboomplein
Directions: North-West of the Grote Markt, behind the Lakenhal at 5 minutes walking.