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Ypres, WWI

Bell

Penultimate Amazing
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Sep 9, 2006
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I want to visit the Menin Gate and the In Flanders Fields Museum this summer. For me, it's about a 4 hour drive. I plan on driving there on a Saturday, visit the Menin Gate, stay overnight, and visit the museum on Sunday, before heading back home again.

Any forumites interested to visit there with me? I have no date set, so anything is possible.
 
It's actually only an hour longer for me (according to Google maps), which rather surprises me. I would be up for it at the drop of a hat. I suspect my better half would be alittle intransigent. When or if you set a date, I will propose it to her.
 
On the map it looks like the triple midpoint between Amsterdam, London, and Paris.
 
Unfortunately I can't.
But I have been there before with my father in law.

If you have time left. Visit the delightful small museum Hooge Crater in Hooge (just take the road to Menen from Ypres. It's on the left of the road, about 2 km past the roundabout and opposite Sancuary Wood Cemetary).
If you have visited that museum go about 400-600 meters back towards Ypres and turn left into the Canadalaan, towards the Canadian Cemetary.
There is another museum, which amongst other things still has some original trenches and even some original tree stumps in place, cut short by shell fire during the Great War.

Both musea have some interesting and sometimes really NFSW collections of stereoscopic photographs.
 
Rat said:
It's actually only an hour longer for me (according to Google maps), which rather surprises me. I would be up for it at the drop of a hat. I suspect my better half would be alittle intransigent. When or if you set a date, I will propose it to her.
Click to expand...

Great! I'll let you know.
 
erwinl said:
Unfortunately I can't.
But I have been there before with my father in law.

If you have time left. Visit the delightful small museum Hooge Crater in Hooge (just take the road to Menen from Ypres. It's on the left of the road, about 2 km past the roundabout and opposite Sancuary Wood Cemetary).
If you have visited that museum go about 400-600 meters back towards Ypres and turn left into the Canadalaan, towards the Canadian Cemetary.
There is another museum, which amongst other things still has some original trenches and even some original tree stumps in place, cut short by shell fire during the Great War.

Both musea have some interesting and sometimes really NFSW collections of stereoscopic photographs.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, Erwinl. Sounds very interesting.
 
You're planning a European vacation?

I also want to visit Verdun, but maybe next year.
 
A little short notice this year, but next year I want to hit up some of the battlefields for the centennial, plus Neuve Chapelle (research).
 
Planning a visit to Belgium next year.The Ardennes 1944 battle sites are the main destination, but also planning on taking in Waterloo and some of the WW1 sites.
 
I'm 20 mins away from the Menin gate every Sunday, my parents live nearby. I sometimes work just 1 km away from there. Never really went to the museums, so I'm interested.
 
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dudalb said:
Planning a visit to Belgium next year.The Ardennes 1944 battle sites are the main destination, but also planning on taking in Waterloo and some of the WW1 sites.
Click to expand...

I did that in 2002, following the route of Kampfgruppe Peiper. Malmedy is...sobering.
 
Bell said:
I want to visit the Menin Gate and the In Flanders Fields Museum this summer. For me, it's about a 4 hour drive. I plan on driving there on a Saturday, visit the Menin Gate, stay overnight, and visit the museum on Sunday, before heading back home again.

Any forumites interested to visit there with me? I have no date set, so anything is possible.
Click to expand...
Tyne Cot cemetary is close by and worth seeing too.
The Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate is very powerful, it had me in tears.

I've visited a quite a bit of the WWI lines in Flanders and was fortunate enough to see the Verdun region a few years ago.
BTW, I heartily recommend the Holts Battlefield Guides.
 
soetkin said:
Tyne Cot cemetary is close by and worth seeing too.
The Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate is very powerful, it had me in tears.

I've visited a quite a bit of the WWI lines in Flanders and was fortunate enough to see the Verdun region a few years ago.
BTW, I heartily recommend the Holts Battlefield Guides.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. Yes, I already have the Holts' Normandy and Market-Garden battlefield guides. Great books.
 
soetkin said:
Tyne Cot cemetary is close by and worth seeing too. The Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate is very powerful, it had me in tears.

I've visited a quite a bit of the WWI lines in Flanders and was fortunate enough to see the Verdun region a few years ago.
BTW, I heartily recommend the Holts Battlefield Guides.
Click to expand...

Hear, hear!
Not only is it powerful, because of the sheer amount of crosses there, but you can look at the valley on front of the cemetery and see how little (none) cover there was for the allies (forgot whether they were British, Australian of Canadian) to advance. Straight into the firing fields of the three pill boxes that make up the front part of Tyne Cot cemetery.

Langemark (the main German cemetery) is also powerful. Looks deceptively small, until you notice that each and every stone on the ground covers the bodies of eight German Soldiers (and usually it only says 'here lie eight German Soldiers'). Or until you notice the small 'garden' in the middle, which contains the bodies of 25.000 German soldiers.
 
Thank you, Erwinl. I'll put Langemark on my list as well.
 
Ypres and the Menin gate are very much places I hope to visit, but at the moment we're planning for a trip to the Somme in July (our 2nd visit). I would add to the recommendations for the Holt's battlefield guides. The Somme one has proved invaluable, although I'd say double (at least) the time they advise spending at each stop!
 
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