The monumental highlights of Ieper is a short overview of interesting and historical sites to visit. The city of Ieper is located in the Westhoek (translated: wester corner), in the southwest corner of Flanders in Belgium. One of most popular sites to visit is the In Flanders Fields Museum which tells the story of the First World War in Ieper Salient. Are you curious what Ieper looks like? Check out the virtual picture tour of Ieper, were I have selected the best pictures I have taken when visiting historical Ieper.
Table of Contents
A very short history of Ieper
The oldest records mentioning Ieper go back to the 11th century. At first the city was named after the river Ieperlee. Three churches and the city wall were built in the 12th century and Ieper became the third most important city for Flanders, after Ghent and Bruges. Ieper was known for the textile (clothing) industry. In the early 12th century textiles from Ieper were even sold at the annual fair in Novgorod in Russia.
The 15th and 16th centuries were marked by economic decline and the number of inhabitants in the city decreased. The Saint Martin’s church became a cathedral. In that period Calvinism in and around Ieper had a large growing following. In the 1588 the iconoclasm broke out. The Calvinists seized power from Ghent in 1578 and lasted until 1584 when the city was taken by the Catholic central authorities.
At the beginning of the 17th century, Ieper experienced a period of rest. The population increased and the city was expanding. In the 17th and 18th centuries Ieper became a border town because it is closely situated to the French border. At first Ieper was living under the Spanish rule and later it was conquered by the French troops of Louis XIV in 1678. To make the story more confusing: The Spanish conquered Ieper again in 1697 and later in 1713 it was ruled by the Austrians and again taken by the French in 1794.
First World War
Ieper was completely destroyed during de First World War. For the entire duration of the First World War, Ieper was surrounded on three sides by German troops. The British defenders called this arch the Ypres Salient. The Germans failed to capture the city. Despite the four large scale battles that cost the lives of 500.000 soldiers, Ieper was never conquered by the Germans.
The city was restored to it’s pre-war state, largely funded by German repair funds. The reconstruction took more than 40 years. Ieper, even today, plays an important role in commemorations of the First World War. The city is the center of commemorations of the war, especially for the United Kingdom. The landscape around Ieper is dotted with more than 170 military cemeteries.
Market Square
The Grote Markt or market square gives the city its medieval look. The architecture of the buildings is a replica of what it looked like in the Middle Ages because the city was entirely destroyed during the First World War. The Grote Markt is the centre of Ieper and the most iconic landmark is the Lakenhalle.
Lakenhalle
The Lakenhalle is listed as UNESCO World Heritage site. The original Lakenhalle (Clothing Hall) is built between 1230 and 1304 and it was one of the largest buildings north of the Alps. The 70 metre high belfry was built in 1250 to show the power of the bourgeoisie. The entire building was destroyed by artillery during the war and later reconstructed.
In Flanders Fields Museum
The In Flanders Fields Museum narrates the invasion of Belgium during the First World War. The museum is located on the second floor of the Lakenhalle. Visitors receive a bracelet with a microchip and you can select your preferred language for the tour. At the start of the tour you can pick four individuals who have witnessed the war. Throughout the museum you can read about their personal stories during and sometimes after the First World War. Visitors of the museum can visit the Bell Tower of the Lakenhalle (extra fee). From here you have an amazing view of Ieper, the Menin Gate and surrounding fields.
Saint Martin’s Cathedral
The Saint Martin’s Cathedral is named as cathedral by locals but it became a church in the beginning of the 19th century. The tower of the church is 102 metres tall. The construction of the gothic church started in 1230 and they finished it in 1370. The church was also heavily damaged during the war and was rebuilt after the original plans. Only the spire of the tower is higher than the original. Look out for the beautiful detailed tomb of Count Robert III of Flanders. He is known as The Lion of Flanders.
Menin Gate Memorial & Last post ceremony
The location of the Menin Gate Memorial was chosen because hundreds of thousands men passed through it on their way to the battlefields. The Memorial Gate commemorates soldiers from forces of the United Kingdom, India, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand (Commonwealth). The name of the soldiers are engraved on the walls of the Menin Gate. Most soldiers are buried in unknown places around Ieper and do not have a grave.
The Menin Gate Memorial opening was in 1927 and the citizens of Ieper wanted to express their gratitude to the soldiers who had given their lives for Belgium’s freedom. Every evening at 20.00pm the Last Post Association closes the road which passes through the gate and sound the Last Post. The Last Post is held every day since 1927, except for the occupation by the Germans in World War II.
Saint Peter’s church
The Saint Peter’s church is dedicated to Saint Peter and is built in the 12th and 13th century. The original church was built in a Romanesque architectural style. In the late 15th century and early 16th century the church was rebuilt in a gothic architectural style. Only the vaults of the church were spared after the war. The architect Jules Coomans reconstructed the church and integrated the remains of the walls in the new church and replaced the gothic structure of the tower with a Romanesque tower.
Fortress route
Do you fancy a walk? Follow the fortress route and admire the beautiful green places when you walk on the ramparts. Along the route the info panels inform you about the 10 centuries of history of the fortress landscape, birds in the area and the city. The length of the route is 4.5 km and takes around 1.5 or 2 hours.
Paint garden
When you start at the Menin Gate Memorial and go south you will find a plant garden. In this garden are plants that have been used to dye the cloths that were made in Ieper for centuries. The plants are grown in the dye/ paint garden. The garden is located in front of the Saint Jacob’s church. The flowers of chamomile were used for the colours orange and yellow, greenweed was also used for orange and yellow, the roots of the ox tongue were used for red and pink, the leaves of woad were used for blue and wild reseda for yellow. In the 19th century the dye plants were replaced by chemical dyes.
Ice cellar
The ice cellar used to be a public freezer. The cellar was filled with ice blocks in the winter and the inhabitants of Ieper used the cellar to preserve fish and meat. The ice was also used for medical purposes to alleviate pain. The ice cellar was less public than you think and only accessible for churches, hospitals and rich citizens. The cellar is open for guided visits only.
Hoornwerkpark
The Hoornwerk parc is located on the other side of the canal and accessible via the Poternebrug. The parc is a natural landscape with flowery meadows, an orchard and pools were frogs, salamanders and birds like to hang out.
Brewery de Kazematten
The population of Ieper sought shelter in three underground souterrains during both wars and the souterrains were named the Wooden Horse. During the First World War the British troops used the casemates as hospital, command post, shelter and dormitory. Since 2014 the casemates are used by the brewery De Kazematten. The beers Wipers Times 14 & 18 are brewed in the old souterrains. You can only visit the brewery with a reservation.
Lille Gate
The Lille Gate is the only gate in the city with the original 14th century structure and rooms. The small gate was perfect to strictly control everyone who passed the gate. Individuals carrying goods had to pay taxes before entering Ieper.
British cemetery
After the Lille Gate is the British cemetery located between the canal and the rampart. The cemetery has graves of 158 British soldiers, 10 Canadian, 11 Australian and 14 New Zealand, including 10 Maori, soldiers. Most of them died during the transfer from the front to the hospitals in the city. A few graves belong to unknown soldiers.
Railway station
On the west side of the city is the Ieper Railway Station. A part of the fortification was destroyed to make space for the station and the connection to the station. Ieper was only accessable by road and not easily accessible by public transport. The development of the station in the 19th century gave a boost to the local economy.
Boulevard
Next to the Railway station the city created a new residential area. The houses and buildings in this neighbourhood were built in an eclectic style and attracted wealthy property developers and citizens.
Places to visit in Belgium
Another amazing place to visit in Belgium is Diest. It is a small place in Flamish Brabant but a great city to walk around in when you have the time. Consider it as a half-day trip. Don’t forget to visit the Begijnhof (Beguinage) in Diest. Would you like to spend your day in nature and be surrounded by heath and forests? Pick one of the 25 trails at the Kalmthoutse Heide, the cross border park in Belgium and the Netherlands. The national park is 20-minutes away from Antwerp. Check out the virtual picture tour of the Kalmthoutse Heide and warm yourself up for a full day of hiking.
Amazing places to visit in Antwerp
Check out the monumental highlights in Antwerp or step into the world of the famous baroque painter Pieter Paul Rubens. Visit the Plantin-Moretus Museum and find out more about the well-known printers family. Discover how eight generations lived and worked in their private house, courtyard and ateliers. In de same street as the Maagdenhuis museum, de Lange Gasthuisstraat, is another museum: Mayer van den Bergh Museum. He was a private art collector and his entire collection includes more than 3000 objects. Another interesting article is about historical and unique theatres and cinemas in Antwerp.
Antwerp is also known for the monumental churches in the city. Visit the Sint-Andries church in the fashion district of Antwerp or admire the Rubens paintings at the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Cathedral. The Sint-Carolus Borromeus church is located at the baroque Hendrik Conscience Square. The church and the square are a famous and well-visited landmark in the city of Antwerp.
