WW1 Flanders Fields: Tyne Cot Cemetry, ST. Julien, Hill 62, Ypres and The Menin Gate

Culture and History tour in Ypres

Tour Price : 260,- Duration : +/- 5hrs Languages: Dutch, French, English, German

Meet your own private guide at your hotel (or any other pre-arranged location). First, we drive towards Passchendaele to visit the world-famous Tyne Cot Cemetery. Afterwards, our leisurely drive along some of the country roads brings us to Sint Juliaan (Saint Julien) and the Canadian Monument “The Brooding Soldier” (Saint Julien Memorial).

The imposing 10 meter-high granite statue reminds us of the first ever gas attack during WW1. Here we have time for a picture. Not far from here there’s yet another Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery where, probably the youngest soldier of the Great War, was laid to rest. We make a brief stop there to see his grave. It’s a relatively short drive then to our next interesting destination just outside the village of Zillebeke: HILL 62. HILL 62 at a superior level (of only 62 meters) was chosen as an ideal point for observation. Here we visit the Sanctuary Wood Museum Hill where you have the opportunity to walk through the trenches and craters, and to view hundreds of objects and original pictures documenting life and death during WW1.

The museum collection contains equipment removed from the battlefield in the vicinity of Sanctuary Wood. On entering the museum through the café visitors will be in a room with display cases on tables in the center of the room. Many interesting photographs are arranged on the walls. In this room there is also a large and rare collection of three dimensional photo images inside special viewing boxes. These 3D photographs were produced after the war and are absorbing and absolutely fascinating to look through (please note that some of the 3D photographs may contain images unsuitable for younger children).

Afterwards we continue to the city of Ypres that was completely destroyed during the Great War. Ypres stood in the path of the German’s planned sweep across the rest of Belgium. Its strategic importance is reflected in the fact that it was surrounded on three sides and bombarded throughout much of the war by the German forces. Here we stop to view the Menin Gate, an impressive memorial to the missing erected and unveiled in 1927. Its large “Hall of Memory” contains the names of almost 55.000 missing soldiers! Every evening, at 20:00 hours, a ceremony takes place conducted by local members of the Fire Brigade and buglers sound “The Last Post” (see our Last Post evening tour). We stop in the heart of the historical and fortified city of Ypres where there’s time to view the cloth halls, browse around for souvenirs our even visit the “In Flanders Fields Museum” if you like. We depart from Ypres at +/- 18:00 hrs (6 PM), drive back to your hotel and goodbye to your driver / guide.

OPERATES FROM: Your hotel in Bruges or any other location, fully licensed transportation with your professional driver / guide can be arranged as a “package” from any city in (or outside) Belgium. Transportation = Deluxe sedan (max 4 guests) or deluxe minibus (max 7 guests).

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