Exploring Ypres

Boy was it a cold one this morning! The ground was white with frost as we walked into Ypres for a full day of exploring. In Flanders Fields museum was our first stop, housed in a beautiful cloth hall. The museum is a moving and introspective look at the horrors of war. Ypres was at the frontline during WWI and was completely reduced to rubble by the end of the war. Interactive exhibits, personal items and photographs make it a powerful experience to wander through.

After that sobering hour, we visited St Maarten’s Cathedral, which sits next door. Also reduced to rubble during the war, this has been completely rebuilt. The gothic architecture is breathtaking from the outside, but doesn’t prepare you for how spectacular it is inside. The cathedral has two wings, one housing the altar. The huge vaulted ceiling is supported by massive pillars and the alter is a work of art. Huge stained glass windows reach up to the ceiling, casting the interior in a soft glow.

We left the peace of the cathedral and had a quick pit stop, enjoying some coffee and Belgian fries. They were delicious! By now we were on our way to The Menin Gate. It’s the famous war memorial that bears the names of almost 55,000 men who died in Belgium and have no known grave. I didn’t expect the gate to be so huge; the names are inscribed on almost every visible surface. After spending the morning at the war museum, it was heartbreaking to see. These aren’t even a quarter of the men who died.

Ypres Cloth Hall which houses In Flanders Fields museum

St Maartens Cathedral