Ieper aka: Ypres

I went here on a history trip in year 9, and it was honestly one of the most eye opening experiences I’ve had. You learn all about the amount of people who died in the war, but until you go there you never really appreciate it. We visited some of the trenches (which were quite daunting to go in – they were all dark and we couldn’t see anything) and we visited the grave yards – I’ve never seen so many graves together and it really was quite a shocking experience. It was really good though, and I appreciate it all a lot more now.

You should go here if you have interest in the first world war. There are still original trenches and there’s a war museum. You get to visit both British and German cemetries and see the vast comparison, one is very light and beautiful and one is hidden away and shadowy, it’s a very sad trip but you will learn all sorts of facts about the war, such as how horses would get pulled up to the neck in mud in the vast rain. I suggest getting a tour bus from England and crossing the ferry, it is a sad but very wonderful day.

Though you can’t really tell when you first arrive, there was nothing left of Ieper after WWI. It’s said that a rider sitting on his horse could see right through to the other end of the city.

To really grasp what happened at Ieper, first go to the museum in the main square. It has a really good, if somewhat frightening collection of information, artifacts, bits of films etc… Once you understand what happened, visit some of the countless graveyards and memorials. It’s shocking really how many there are littered around the pretty countryside.

Definitely worth a visit.

I went to visit because we studied WWI in history, and its truly a beatiful place, hard to imagine the atrocities the occured there almost 90 years ago

It’s actually called Ieper now…
I visited the war cememtaries with my English class for our war poetry module. It was possibly the most moving experience of my life, the cemetaries are so serene and removed from the rest of the world.

I loved this place. I know it’s unusual but it’s so full of culture and its really beautiful!

i went to ypres on a cross-community trip, between protestants and catholics in Northern Ireland and Ireland. The reason they chose ypres is because, even though they had political differences, the soldiers of WW1 fought and died together there. Because so many irish men( and british) died, there are alot of memorials. The last post was a tear-jerker, and is a tradition that has lasted ever since the end of the first world war. Also, Hill 62 is emotional, and you must see the island of ireland peace tower, as well as the ulster memorial. it is a really beautiful and peaceful place.

Ypres (or Ieper as it is known in Flemish) was a stunningly beautiful and peaceful place. I visited on ANZAC Day 2003 and the townspeople were so friendly and supporting of the visitors on this special day.

The moving Last Post ceremony is conducted every day of the year at the Menin Gate. This is as a memorial to WW1 Allied soldiers who fought and died in the surrounding area of this delightful town. There are some 55,000 names on the walls of the Menin Gate – these were Allied soldiers from all over the world who have no known grave.

Had a great time in Ypres ! Stayed at the Rum Jar B&B there, Peter, our host was Great !! He showed us some trenches from WW1 & we visited the Menin Gate for the nightly Remembrance Ceremony honoring the soldiers that are missing and gave their lives for our freedom. Very sad but beautiful at the same time.

The reason I went was because I was studing WWI in history. A rather lovely little town, lots of chocolate, but somewhat depressing. Still, the houses in Belgium sure are better than the ones in London. Heh, Belgium is strange but cool.