A small cemetery by World War I standards, but the medical facilities behind it on the Yser Canal,…read morethe British Advanced Dressing Station (ADS), are its most unusual feature. A line of crude, cold bunkers faces away from the canal and the line of advance of the 1915 German Army. It is difficult to imagine doctors working in near-caves like these - but no more difficult than imagining a civilization that would descend to the lunacy of the Western Front. The ADS saw its worst action in the Second Battle of Ypres, on April 23rd, 1915, when the German Army attacked for the first time under a cloud of poison gas.

This is where John McCrae wrote the poem''In Flanders Field''. There are many places to visit in…read morethis area but this stands out as one of the most important because of it's legacy. The CWGC look after here , as they do all over the world, but this is especially poignant. http://www.cwgc.org

This is another of those preserved areas where the reminders of the war have been left to help us…read morenever forget. A few years ago there was a movie released called 'Beneath Hill 60' a out how the Australias and New Zealanders dug tunnels underneath the German lines, packed it full of explosives, and detonated it. This is where the events of that film took place. As well as a huge crater, you also find a couple of bunkers here, and one of the things about the bunkers, especially the German ones, is that they were really, really, really well made. In fact people still find it incredibly difficult to remove them. Anyway, like many of the other places scattered around here, this is also one of those places to pause and reflect.

These are the only trenches left intact from the Battles of Ypres in World War I. They are a grim…read morereminder of how millions of soldiers lived and died during the four years of the conflict. The farmer who preserved the (British/Canadian) fortifications passed them on to his grandson, who still operates a private cafe and museum on the grounds. The museum is a bit hokey, but the trenches themselves are certainly real enough. And what an odd name for the place - it was anything but a sanctuary, and within a few days of the conflict's start, any wood had been completely blown to bits.

A great place to visit & experience the Ypres salient battle field. Trenches & tunnels to explore…read more A museum full of artefacts & photographs including old slide boxes to view. It is also strewn with old shells. It's 10 euros to enter. There is a cafe for coffee & snacks. The only problem is the the 15 cats that have free rein & their associated smell within the cafe area.

There is a story that we were told in High School about how on Christmas Day 1914 the Germans and…read morethe English decided to stuff this whole killing each other, climed out of the trenches and started playing a game of soccer. One of the main reasons this happened was because all the commanding officers went home for christmas, but when they returned and discovered that the men were playing soccer with each other instead of killing each other they had an absolute fit. Anyway, this is where that game was played, and there is even a memorial, as well as some trenches, to remind us that most wars are started, or even continued, by ordinary men, but rather the generals and the politicians who sit miles away in their comfy rooms while us ordinary folk slug it out for little to no reward.

I didn't come down here on the tour, but rather searched for it the morning we were heading off to…read morego for a drive around France. Mind you, they can be a little difficult to locate namely because it is hidden away in an industrial area to the north of Ypres. The trenches appear to have been rebuilt and one of the reasons is that the sandbags have actually been made out of cement. While it isn't as fancy, or as authentic, as some of the other places around here, it is still worth checking out if you are like me and like checking out trenches.

This is a truly unforgettable experience. Buglers from the Last Post Association have been…read moreperforming the Last Post ceremony every night at 8pm since the monument was built in 1927 (save the WWII occupation). * The ceremony starts promptly at 8pm. If it's a busy day (Friday, Saturday, or summer) I recommend getting there at 7 if you want a good view * It's woth it to take some time to tour the gate afterward - you'll be humbled by the sheer number of soldiers who were killed in WWI whose remains were never found.

This landmark is powerfully symbolic and a must-see if in Ieper. Inside the cylindrical passage are…read morestone panels inscribed with the names of missing soldiers who died during nearby engagements but whose bodies were never found. The highlight of this site of course is the moving Last Post ceremony that honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice in battles near Ieper. The buglers create a solemn atmosphere and the ceremonial speeches, for the most part given in English, are quite appropriate. It is an emotional event and should not be missed, particularly for those who have a personal connection of some sort with loved ones or relatives who might have been part of the battles around Ieper. Get there early for the 8 PM ceremony as it can be very crowded.