TOURISM ZONNEBEKE GROUP VISITS WWI. Tips for Trips - Zonnebeke

Transcription

1 TOURISM ZONNEBEKE GROUP VISITS WWI Tips for Trips - Zonnebeke 1

2 Table of Contents Discover Zonnebeke Zonnebeke Remembers p 03 Zonnebeke on the Move p 15 Day Programmes p 19 Catering p 29 Pratical p 31 Colophon Editor-in-chief & Coordination: The Zonnebeke Tourist Office Photography: Zonnebeke Tourist Office, Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, Westtoer, The Black Watch Association, Town of Ypres - Tijl Capoen, KLM-MRA, Kris Jacobs Photography, Willy Roets Maps: Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 Design: Magenta, Brugge Printing: Cuvelier Graphics, Ieper Websites: , Zonnebeke Municipal Authority, Langemarkstraat 8, B-8980 Zonnebeke The information dates from November 2017, all information might contain errors and modifications. Dear visitor, We welcome you to Zonnebeke! Our fascinating municipality consists of five traditional villages, each with their own charm and history. This quirky piece of Maritime Flanders, located between Ypres, Roeselare and Kortrijk, offers a plethora of opportunities for young and old, families, group of friends or colleagues and associations. The landscape is filled with memories of the First World War from the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 to CWGC Tyne Cot Cemetery and the many other sites that commemorate 'the Great War'. In this brochure we present our vibrant municipality's group offers with plenty of options. You can choose your own combinations, depending on whether you have just a few hours, half a day or a full day to visit our municipality and region. You can also opt for the ready-made walks or a battlefield tour. The Tourist Office is happy to help you come up with a programme that will suit both you and your group. We would like to welcome you to Zonnebeke! The Zonnebeke Tourist Office 2

3 Discover Zonnebeke Zonnebeke Remembers Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 Tips and Trips - à la carte In Zonnebeke you find yourself in the heart of the First World War s famous Ypres Salient. Passchendaele (Passiondale) symbolises the senseless violence of war. The museum section provides an overview of the five battles of Ypres, including the Battle of Passchendaele. Using historical artefacts, authentic letters, posters and other documents, uniforms of various armies and video clips etc. you get a broad and detailed idea of what life in and around the battlefield must have been like. The interactive elements throughout the museum exhibition ensure that children also get an exciting introduction to this period of history. The visitors trail then continues through the unique Dugout Experience. Here you can discover how the British were living underground in An oppressive experience that creates a disconcerting picture of the miserable and claustrophobic living conditions of the time. The concluding part of the visit is a faithful reconstruction of German and British trenches along which original shelters have been reconstructed. Get a sense of the frightening feeling that came over the soldiers when they were trapped here. A moving visit that will serve to enrich your knowledge of the war sites in the area. We are happy to give you any tips and hints to help you create your own à la carte programme for a unique battlefield tour. PRACTICAL INFORMATION ) Berten Pilstraat 5/A B-8980 Zonnebeke Open: from 1st February until 15th December, daily from until last entry at Entry: 6.50/adult 4.00/student Duration: 120 minutes Tour guide: 60 (max. 25 persons/guide - max. 3 guides/group) The bus driver can drop off and pick up groups in the bus parking area of the museum, but he/ she must then park the bus in Roeselarestraat in Zonnebeke. 3

4 ZONNEBEKE REMEMBERS Passchendaele Memorial Park The Passchendaele Memorial Gardens are part of the The Legacy of Passchendaele masterplan. As part of this project, the two parts of the Zonnebeke chateau grounds were reunited, among other things. Landscape, recreation and education were the guiding principles behind the design of the park area. The Memorial Gardens are an outstanding result of this. Seven gardens in the shape of a poppy, were planted in the area. The goal is to make them into a remembrance garden for nations that fought in the region during the First World War. Every garden will be designed and built by the participating countries and will consist of three smaller sub-gardens, each dealing with the theme of remembrance. They were/will be opened one by one between 2014 and The gardens of the United States, Australia, Germany, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom are already finished. The Belgian garden is currently in the construction or design phase. PRACTICAL INFORMATION ) Kasteeldomein B-8980 Zonnebeke Open: daily from sunrise until sunset Entry: free Duration: 30 minutes Tour guide: 30 - in combination with a guided tour MMP1917 (max. 50 persons/guide) 4

5 KLM-MRA, SI 1072 ZONNEBEKE REMEMBERS Temporary exhibition 1918, The Final Offensive in Flanders The imposing Villa Zonnedaele mansion houses the 1918, The Final Offensive in Flanders exhibition. This temporary exhibition, which consists of 3 parts, tells the story of the last year of the First World War and of the liberation in which the Belgian and American troops played an important role. The main focus is particularly on the liberation of Zonnebeke and Passchendaele by the Belgian troops. The other parts of this serial of temporary exhibitions are based in the touristic centre in Heuvelland (Kemmel) and in the Hippodroom in Waregem. PRAKTISCH Berten Pilstraat 5/C B-8980 Zonnebeke Open: from 21st April until 15th November, daily from until Entry: free Duration: 60 minutes Tour guide: 30 - in combination with a guided tour MMP1917 (max. 25 persons/guide - max. 3 guides/group) ) 5

6 ZONNEBEKE REMEMBERS CWGC Tyne Cot Cemetery CWGC Tyne Cot Cemetery is the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the world. Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors come to this place of remembrance. The cemetery is testament to the extent to which life was lost at the Battle of Passchendaele. Tyne Cot was originally a fortified German position on the Flandern I line where Australian troops later set up a first aid post in October Within a short space of time, a small cemetery appeared. During the period the specialised Exhumation Companies brought here in total almost 12,000 dead from the surrounding fields. The wall behind the cemetery lists the names of another 35,000 without a known resting place. These people were mostly from Britain, Ireland and New Zealand. This monument is therefore the sequel to the Menin Gate at Ypres. Both the cemetery and the monument were designed by Sir Herbert Baker and inaugurated in The centrepiece is the visitors centre which features a panoramic window with a unique view of the old battlefields. Here you also become acquainted with the history and significance of the cemetery, the landscape before and after the Battle of Passchendaele and the personal effects of the fallen soldiers in The content of the visitors centre was renewed over the winter of Don t miss out during your battlefield tour! PRACTICAL INFORMATION ) Tynecotstraat B-8980 Passchendaele parking: Vijfwegestraat Open: Cemetery: daily from sunrise until sunset Visitors Centre: from 1st February until 30th November, daily from until Entry: free Duration: 60 minutes Tour guide: 60 (max. 50 persons/guide) 6

7 Polygon Wood ONTDEK ZONNEBEKE - ZONNEBEKE REMEMBERS HERINNERT Polygon Wood was a military area during the war. On September 26th 1917, the wood was taken by the ANZAC division during which heavy losses were sustained. The CWGC Buttes New British Cemetery can be found in the wood and the monument to the 5th Australian Division stands on the hill. At the edge of the cemetery is the New Zealand Memorial, a special monument to the New Zealanders who went missing in the area in the winter of The smaller CWGC Polygon Wood Cemetery can be found on the other side of the street. Gordon Highlander John Thompson was buried here in Entry: free Duration: 60 minutes Cryer Farm Clapham Junction In this underground German construction, you will discover a unique medical post with pump room, operation theatre and a waiting room for 50 soldiers. At Clapham Junction there are, among other things, monuments to the Gloucestershire Regiment and the 18th Division. They suffered heavy losses at the Battle of Passchendaele. Both sites are located along the historic road from Menin to Ypres, the Menin Road. Entry: 2.50/adult 1.50/student Duration: 60 minutes Tour guide (obligatory): 60 (max. 50 persons/ guide - max. 1 guide/group) Zandvoorde This charming village is located on the spot where the British cavalry elite fought in Several monuments such as the stained-glass window in the church, the Household Cavalry Memorial and the CWGC Zantvoorde British Cemetery remind us of this. After this tragic event, Zandvoorde was in the hands of the Germans until the end of the war. An important witness to this is the impressive commando bunker from Entry: free Duration: 90 minutes 7

8 ZONNEBEKE REMEMBERS s Graventafel The Road to Passchendaele In the middle of the 19th century, the first railway connection between Ypres and Roeselare was built, Spoorlijn 64. During the First World War, it was used for supplying troops and equipment. For the Australians, it was their Road to Passchendaele. It was the only route that was even somewhat accessible in the muddy landscape. This road is the physical connection between the MMP1917 and the CWGC Tyne Cot Cemetery. Entry: free Duration: 90 minutes Tour guide: 60 (max. 50 persons/guide) On October 4th 1917, this high terrain was taken by the New Zealanders. The attack broke down in the Ravebeek Valley. On the 9th and 12th of October, the attempts to break through ended in a bloodbath. The deployment of the New Zealanders is commemorated by a monument. About 50 metres further on, there is a well-preserved British bunker which is freely accessible. Entry: free Duration: 20 minutes Geluveld On October 31st 1914, the Germans were held back here in a bold and heroic manner by the Worcestershire Regiment and the South Wales Borderers. The packed mill, the church and the beautiful castle (private) are significant sites. You can t pass up a visit to Geluveld if you really want to understand the First Battle of Ypres. Entry: free Duration: 20 minutes The Zonnebeke Crypt Fifteen Zonnebeke heroes are buried in the Zonnebeke Crypt: a veteran from 1830, eleven soldiers from the First World War and three casualties of the Second World War. Entry: free Duration: 20 minutes 8

9 Scottish monument This Scottish commemorative monument has been placed at a historically appropriate location. The chosen site is on Frezenberg hill because this is the area where the Scottish 15th Division was involved in a series of bloody attacks on both July 31st as well as in mid-august The site offers a perfect view over the former battlefield where the attacks took place. Entry: free Duration: 20 minutes ZONNEBEKE REMEMBERS Black Watch Corner Monument This statue of a soldier from the Black Watch Battalion, was unveiled in May It stands on the southwestern edge of Polygon Wood, on almost the same spot as the historical Black Watch Corner where a German advance was halted on the 10th and 11th of November The memorial is a permanent tribute to the steadfastness of the legendary Black Watch Regiment and honours the nearly 9,000 officers and soldiers who lost their lives and the more than 20,000 wounded. Entry: free Duration: 20 minutes Passchendaele Village - Crest Farm The Battle of Passchendaele has entered the history books as one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War. There are numerous plaques on the market square. Within walking distance of the market, you will find the Crest Farm Canadian Memorial in honour of the thousands of Canadians who died in the last 800 meters (half mile) to Passchendaele. Entry: free Duration: 30 minutes CWGC Passchendaele New British Cemetery The CWGC Passchendaele New British Cemetery contains 494 named tombstones, seven remembrance stones for the fallen whose proper grave was lost and 1,600 stones for unknown soldiers, divided into sixteen plots. Almost all fell during the Battle of Passchendaele in In 2003, three more unidentified Canadians who were found in the area were buried there. Access to the cemetery is along one of the two shelter buildings, connected by a partition wall with holes, with a view of Passchendaele and the old front. This type of gallery is typical of the design of Major Holden. Entry: free Duration: 30 minutes 9

10 ZONNEBEKE REMEMBERS In Flanders Fields Museum The In Flanders Fields Museum confronts the visitor with the consequences of The Great War. The exhibition, with its captivating video projections, unique sound clips and the latest multimedia applications puts you right into the experience of the life on the front. Every visitor gets a poppy bracelet, with which you can discover four personal stories. Entry: 7.00/adult 4.00/student Combined ticket MMP1917+IFFM: 7.00/person (only for school groups) Duration: 90 minutes Guide: minutes (max. 25 persons/ guide) CWGC Menin Gate Last Post Since 1928, every evening at precisely 20:00, the Last Post is played under the CWGC Menin Gate. The memorial carries the names of almost 55,000 missing soldiers from the erstwhile British Empire. The names listed on the Menin Gate are until August 15th 1917 Those missing from August 16th 1917 until the end of the war are listed on the CWGC Tyne Cot Cemetery Memorial in Passchendaele. The Menin Gate was built on the site of the old medieval gate. The British troops marched along this gate during the First World War to the front in order to defend the Ypres Salient. The Last Post is the perfect ending to any battlefield tour. Essex Farm John McCrae Site In this Advanced Dressing Station John McCrae wrote his famous poem In Flanders Fields. In addition to the cemetery and shelters, you can also visit the canal, which stretches over a distance of 450 metres. High on the canal is the monument of the 49th West Riding Division, which was first deployed here in the summer of 1915 and suffered heavy losses. Entry: free Duration: 45 minutes Entry: free Duration: 20 minutes Tip: We recommended that you turn up under the CWGC Menin Gate at least fifteen minutes before the start of the Last Post. 10

11 ZONNEBEKE REMEMBERS German Cemetery Langemark French Cemetery Saint-Charles de Potyze More than 4,000 soldiers lie in the Saint-Charles de Potyze Cemetery. 600 unknown soldiers found their final resting place in the mass grave. A Breton cross with a pietà of the sculptor J. Fréour grieves over the dead. Entry: free Duration: 30 minutes The Deutscher Soldatenfriedhof (German Soldiers Cemetery) in Langemark, also known as Studentenfriedhof (Students Cemetery) radiates the power of simplicity. In October and November 1914 thousands of young German soldiers fell here in the repeated attacks during the First Battle of Ypres. The Studentenfriedhof name refers to the fact that a large number of students were among the volunteers. Behind the monumental gate rest more than 44,000 soldiers, of which almost 25,000 lie in a mass grave. The visitor centre is the gateway to the cemetery. Here you get an insight into the life of a soldier during the first months of the war. Additionally, the story of the fleeing population and horror of the first gas attacks is told. All this is linked to the emergence and evolution of the cemetery. Entry: free Duration: 45 minutes Belgian Cemetery Houthulst The Belgian Military Cemetery in Houthulst is the final resting place for 1,804 soldiers, of which 1,723 were Belgian and 81 were Italian. Most of the soldiers were killed during the Final Offensive in late It is the second largest Belgian military cemetery. The location at the edge of the Houthulst Vrijbos and the striking star shape gives this place a serene and dignified character. Since 2015, a crypt on the grounds of the cemetery houses the remains of the unidentified victims of war. Entry: free Duration: 30 minutes 11

12 ZONNEBEKE REMEMBERS Talbot House During the First World War, Poperinge was part of a small piece of unoccupied Belgium. Away from the tumult of the Ypres Salient front, the town became the nerve-centre of the British sector. In the middle of the bustling city, chaplains Neville Talbot and Philip Tubby Clayton opened a clubhouse in December For three years, soldiers could go here for a rare moment of peace and relaxation irrespective of rank. Just like in the past, this place is still a quiet stop along the route of the Great War in Maritime Flanders. Entry: 6.00/adult 5.00/student Combined ticket MMP1917+TH: 10.50/adult 7.50/student Vancouver Corner - Canadian monument It was on this site on April 25th 1915 that the Canadians were surprised by the Germans. The fighting was fierce and bloody. The Canadian memorial with the Brooding Soldier, commonly known as the Canadian, is considered one of the finest monuments in the front region. Entry: free Duration: 20 minutes Duration: 90 minutes Hill 62 Hill 62 is a hill that is 62 metres above sea level. It was in German hands in 1916 until Canadian troops conquered the hill. The Canadians sustained many losses here. The monument at the top commemorates the fallen Canadian soldiers. From Hill 62, you can get a beautiful view of the towers of Ypres and you will immediately notice the strategic importance of this hill during the First World War. Entry: free Duration: 45 minutes 12

13 Bayernwald ZONNEBEKE REMEMBERS In what used to be the Croonaert Wood in Heuvelland, a piece of a German trench system can be seen. The German troops conquered this territory from the French in 1914 and named the site Bayernwald. Here you will also find two listening shafts. German soldiers were afraid of British deep mines and could overhear the enemy activity through these passages. Bayernwald was reconstructed based on archaeological research and shows you 10% of the original construction from the First World War. Entry: 2.50/adult 1.50/student Duration: 60 minutes Irish Peace Tower The tower and the Irish Peace Park represent the sacrifice of thousands of Irish soldiers killed during the Great War. At the same time, it is a symbol of reconciliation between all the inhabitants of the island of Ireland. The Peace Park was officially inaugurated on November 11th The construction of the Irish Peace Tower and layout of the park make Messines a mythical place in which the past serves as a guide to the future. Entry: free Duration: 30 minutes The Plugstreet Experience On November 9th 2013, the brand new First World War information centre opened its doors in the heart of the forest of Ploegsteert (Comines-Warneton). Using high-tech gadgets, the centre focuses on the lives of soldiers and civilians using a human, interactive and emotional approach. The positions of the British and German troops in Comines-Warneton between are shown. Entry: 4.00/person Duration: 60 minutes Tour guide: minutes (max. 30 persons/ guide) Hill 60 - Caterpillar This hill is located 60 metres above sea level. Here you can get a nice view of Ypres and the surrounding area. It is one of the few pieces of original war landscape with mine craters, bunkers and shell holes. Several memorials were built, for the Queen Victoria Rifles, the 14th Light Division and the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company among others. On the other side of the train track is the impressive Caterpillar crater with a diameter of 80 metres. Entry: free Duration: 60 minutes 13

14 ZONNEBEKE REMEMBERS Guides The Zonnebeke Tourist Office and the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 have experienced, skilled, high-quality guides. Not just for a tour of the museum, but also for the sites. The guides are assigned based on the language and the type of group. The cost of a guide is 30 per hour, with a minimum booking of 2 hours. At the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, it s a maximum of one guide for every 25 persons. For all other sites, it s a maximum of 50 persons per guide. 14

15 Discover Zonnebeke Zonnebeke on the Move Park walk, guided bike and hiking trails THE LEGACY CYCLE TRAIL The cycle trail is 37 km/23 miles long and introduces you to the monumental heritage of the Battle of Passchendaele. The route starts at the Zonnebeke Tourist Office, crosses the undulating landscape and takes you past several WWI and non-wwi sites like CWGC Tyne Cot Cemetery, Crest Farm, the witch village of Beselare... better get pedalling. Duration: 5 hours Tour guide: 150 (max. 50 persons/guide) THE PIONEER CYCLE TRAIL Along the Pioneer cycle trail (38 km/23.6 miles) you will discover more about the German story. The route runs along a less known, but no less important, wartime landscape. Traces of the German presence can still be found in many places. Here you can discover the rich heritage of war, even across the French border. Both the logistical story behind the construction of positions, as well as the daily lives of the German soldiers are discussed. The cycle trail starts at Zandvoorde town square. Duration: 5 hours Tour guide: 150 (max. 50 persons/guide) 15

16 ZONNEBEKE ON THE MOVE PARK WALK The Zonnebeke chateau grounds (29 hectares/ 71.6 acres) have an extremely rich history. During the park tour, you will discover the story of the Zonnebeke Augustinian Abbey, the heyday of the chateau grounds and the impact the war and reconstruction had on the site. Education and recreation go hand in hand in the newly renovated Passchendaele Memorial Park, with its stately mansion from The main attraction are the unique Passchendaele Memorial Gardens, which are made up of seven small gardens in the form of a poppy. Duration: 90 minutes Tour guide: 60 (max. 50 persons/guide) PICNIC LOCATION The Zonnebeke chateau grounds are a wonderful picnic location. Next to the path from the coach parking to the chateau, besides the library, there is a picnic zone facilitating 56 people. The benches are free to use for both groups and individual visitors. And be honest, is there anything nicer than a lovely picnic in a sunny park? 16

17 ZONNEBEKE ON THE MOVE THE LEGACY HIKING TRAIL Explore our vibrant community with the The Legacy trail. Tyne Cot, the first walk (8.5 km/5.3 miles), leads you to the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the world. The southern Polygon Wood walk (9 km/5.6 miles) takes you to Polygon Wood. Along the way you will discover not only the natural beauty, but also the landscape s many silent witnesses of the First World War. On the third Geluveld walk (4.4 km/2.7 miles) you can enjoy the sweeping landscape and stunning panoramas of the Lys Valley and the border region. Along the way you will learn a lot about the history of this village. The first two walks start at the Zonnebeke Tourist Office. The third walk starts at Geluveld market square. Duration: 3 hours ( Tyne Cot hiking trail) 3 hours ( Polygon Wood hinking trail) 2 hours ( Geluveld hiking trail) Tour guide: 90 ( Tyne Cot hiking trail) 90 ( Polygon Wood hiking trail) 60 ( Geluveld hiking trail) (max. 50 persons/guide) THE PIONEER HIKING TRAIL The Pioneer walk starts at the Zonnebeke Tourist Office and is entirely dedicated to Germany s war story. So you can learn more about the unprecedented construction that took place in this region between 1915 and 1917 and the suffering caused by war on the German side. This route is 11.7 km/7.3 miles long and connects beautiful, unknown places in the hilly landscape to the east of Zonnebeke. Duration: 4 hours Tour guide: 120 (max. 50 persons/guide) 17

18 ZONNEBEKE ON THE MOVE CANADIAN ROAD TO PASSCHENDAELE The Canadian Road to Passchendaele allows you to follow in the footsteps of the Canadian troops who, in 1917, were handed the difficult task of taking the Passchendaele ruins. Along the way, you will learn more about this woeful campaign. After 100 days, they progressed a mere 8 km/5 miles from Ypres. The captured terrain was a lunar landscape. There were an estimated 245,000 Allied soldiers and 215,000 Germans dead, wounded and missing. The Canadians lost more than 16,000 men in this offensive. The cycle trail starts at CWGC Tyne Cot Cemetery in Passchendaele. Duration: 3 hours Tour guide: 90 (max. 50 persons/guide) NEW ZEALAND ROAD TO PASSCHENDAELE The thematic walk New Zealand Road to Passchendaele starts at The Old Cheese Dairy in Passchendaele. On this trail you can explore the New Zealand s 1917 battlefield on foot. New Zealand and Australian troops were assigned the difficult task of taking the high ground around Passchendaele in early October. The roughly 8.2 km/5 miles long trail leads you along the New Zealand Forces Memorial at s Graventafel, the strategically important high ground of Bellevue and the Ravebeek Valley. Duration: 3 hours Tour guide: 90 (max. 50 persons/guide) 18

19 Discover Zonnebeke Day Programmes 2018 EXCLUSIVE 1918, The Final Offensive in Flanders Spring 1918, for more than three years the front is a stalemate, but eventually the Germans break through with their Spring Offensive. Germany wants to do whatever it costs to force for a ceasefire before the Americans deploy their troops in Europe. In April, a fierce battle will be fought for the Kemmelberg, the Germans are approaching Ypres. After very heavy fights, both exhausted sides recline. There will be no truce. The Allies lick their wounds and it is now up to them to end the war. In view of the liberating battle for Belgium, Army Group Flanders is set up, an international force with Belgians, French, Britons and Americans. The Belgian army plays a crucial role in this and liberates Zonnebeke, Passchendaele and the heights northeast of Ypres. There is again a war of movement as in US divisions join the attack at Waregem and thrust to the Scheldt. The Germans must withdraw and on November 11, the Ceasefire will be signed. Follow the tracks that today refer to the landscape of the last days of the Great War with extra attention to the role of Belgian and American troops in PRACTICAL INFORMATION Entry: 6.50/adult 4.00/student Guide for the entire day: 270 (max. 50 persons/guide) Extra guide MMP1917: 60 (max. 25 persons/guide) Lunch: price depends on what you choose Duration: from until Optional: dinner and attending the Last Post KLM-MRA 19

20 DAY PROGRAMMES Scottish monument Frezenberg New Zealand Forces Memorial s Graventafel Discover Passchendaele 1917 From July 31st until November 10th 1917, there was heavy fighting in Zonnebeke. The aim was to capture Passchendaele on the way to the Belgian coast. Thousands of Britons, Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians fought in this bloody battle. It is known as one of the most gruesome battles of the First World War, with more than half a million dead for just five miles of territory. The battlefield tour explores the battlefield from the first line to the ultimate goal: Passchendaele. A name that has since gained mythical proportions. An ideal exploration for those who wish to learn about the course of this battle. PRACTICAL INFORMATION Entry: 6.50/adult 4.00/student Guide for the entire day: 270 (max. 50 persons/guide) Extra guide MMP1917: 60 (max. 25 persons/guide) Lunch: price depends on what you choose Duration: from until Optional: dinner and attending the Last Post 1. Scottish Monument Frezenberg 2. New Zealand Forces Memorial s Graventafel 3. Crest Farm 4. CWGC Tyne Cot Cemetery Crest Farm CWGC Tyne Cot Cemetery 20

21 DAY PROGRAMMES CWGC Passchendaele New British Cemetery CWGC Brandhoek New Military Cemetery From front to hospital You are injured on the battlefield at Passchendaele. What now? Where will you be taken? The battlefield tour follows the evacuation of a wounded soldier from the front line to the field hospital. We also pay consideration to those who unfortunately did not make it. Using the personal stories of famous names such as John McCrae, Noël Chavasse (WWI s only double VC) and Nellie Spindler, we are confronted with the hard and harsh conditions of medical care during the First World War. A sobering confrontation. PRACTICAL INFORMATION Entry: 6.50/adult 4.00/student Guide for the entire day: 270 (max. 50 persons/guide) Extra guide MMP1917: 60 (max. 25 persons/guide) Lunch: price depends on what you choose Duration: from until Optional: dinner and attending the Last Post 1. CWGC Passchendaele New British Cemetery 2. John McCrae Site 3. CWGC Brandhoek New Military Cemetery 4. CWGC Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery CWGC Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery John McCrae Site 21

22 DAY PROGRAMMES German Cemetery Langemark Cryer Farm The story of the other side 1917 Two weeks of artillery bombardment and over four million projectiles fired! Followed by millions of Commonwealth troops attacking their positions. How did the Germans hold out? What s the secret of the German defence? How did the British ultimately fail to reach their goal? With this battlefield tour, we take a look at the strong German defence with concrete bunkers, trenches and a smart approach. This is the story of the Battle of Passchendaele from the other side. PRACTICAL INFORMATION Entry: 11.50/adult 7.00/student Guide for the entire day: 270 (max. 50 persons/guide) Extra guide MMP1917: 60 (max. 25 persons/guide) Lunch: price depends on what you choose Duration: from until Optional: dinner and attending the Last Post 1. Bayernwald 2. German commando bunker Zandvoorde 3. Cryer Farm 4. German Cemetery Langemark Bayernwald German commando bunker Zandvoorde 22

23 DAY PROGRAMMES CWGC Menenpoort CWGC Polygon Wood Cemetery In the footsteps of the Aussies 1917 The most successful phase of the Battle of Passchendaele was mainly achieved by Australian troops who, with a different approach, a little luck and above all perseverance, boldly took the German positions up to CWGC Tyne Cot Cemetery. We follow the advance of these troops using personal stories and historical photographs of legendary places such Menin Road, Maritime Flanders, Polygon Wood and Broodseinde. As it departed from Ypres to eventually hit CWGC Tyne Cot Cemetery where the attack stopped. PRACTICAL INFORMATION Entry: 6.50/adult 4.00/student Guide for the entire day: 270 (max. 50 persons/guide) Extra guide MMP1917: 60 (max. 25 persons/guide) Lunch: price depends on what you choose Duration: from until CWGC Menin Gate 2. CWGC Polygon Wood Cemetery 3. The Road to Passchendaele 4. photo Frank Hurley Bellewaerde Optional: dinner and attending the Last Post The Road to Passchendaele photo Frank Hurley Bellewaerde 23

24 DAY PROGRAMMES Hill 62 Nova Scotia Canadians in the Salient The final phase of the Battle of Passchendaele is considered one of the bloodiest. It was a last and almost impossible attempt to bring the offensive to a successful conclusion: all to capture Passchendaele, an apparently meaningless village on the ridge. For gains of less than a mile wide, the entire Canadian division, who earned their spurs at Vimy, was deployed. Nicknamed storm troops or shock troops the expectations were high. Especially when you look at their actions in Flanders before The battlefield tour takes you to the places where the Canadians earned their stripes and finally went into action during Passchendaele or Passiondale, as they called it. PRACTICAL INFORMATION Entry: 6.50/adult 4.00/student Guide for the entire day: 270 (max. 50 persons/guide) Extra guide MMP1917: 60 (max. 25 persons/guide) Lunch: price depends on what you choose 1. Brooding Soldier 2. Hill Crest Farm 4. Nova Scotia Duration: from until Optional: dinner and attending the Last Post Crest Farm Brooding Soldier 24

25 DAY PROGRAMMES New Zealand Memorial Messines Pool of Peace Kiwis in Flanders 1917 From the uttermost ends of the earth. This is where the New Zealand troops came from to fight in Flanders. In this battlefield tour, we follow this brave little army of migrants and Maori, their commitment knew no limits. After a successful series of actions in Messines and the Battle of Broodseinde, destiny finally struck. On October 12, 1917 they stormed the hills around Passchendaele. The death toll was so great that it is called the blackest day in the history of New Zealand. With 845 dead and 2,700 wounded, they lost one third of their entire force. With the help of personal stories, you get the chance to experience how this small nation made a major contribution to the First World War. PRACTICAL INFORMATION Entry: 6.50/adult 4.00/student Guide for the entire day: 270 (max. 50 persons/guide) Extra guide MMP1917: 60 (max. 25 persons/guide) Lunch: price depends on what you choose 1. New Zealand Memorial Messines 2. Pool of Peace 3. CWGC Tyne Cot Cemetery 4. Polygon Wood Duration: from until Optional: dinner and attending the Last Post CWGC Tyne Cot Cemetery Polygon Wood 25

26 DAY PROGRAMMES German Cemetery Langemark CWGC New Irish Farm Cemetery Aces over Passchendaele 1917 In 1917, fighting was not confined to the ground, it also took to the skies! France had just suffered Bloody April when, just before the summer, the air war hit its peak here. It was the emergence of the three-deckers, firstly with the Sopwith Triplane, followed by the notorious German Fokker Dr.I. At the same time, flying aces earned their stripes flying over Zonnebeke and Passchendaele: Guynemer, Voss, Collishaw, von Richthoffen, Göring, Mc Cudden... the high point of air fighting was at the end of July 1917 over Polygon Wood. These heroes were an inspiration for ground troops. We follow a few aces and their sometimes dramatic fate during the Battle of Passchendaele. PRACTICAL INFORMATION Entry: 6.50/adult 4.00/student Guide for the entire day: 270 (max. 50 persons/guide) Extra guide MMP1917: 60 (max. 25 persons/guide) Lunch: price depends on what you choose 1. CWGC New Irish Farm Cemetery 2. German Cemetery Langemark 3. Guynemer Memorial Poelkapelle 4. CWGC Tyne Cot Cemetery Duration: from until Optional: dinner and attending the Last Post Guynemer Memorial Poelkapelle CWGC Tyne Cot Cemetery 26

27 DAY PROGRAMMES Belgian Cemetery Westvleteren Belgian Cemetery Houthulst Belgians in the Final Offensive of 1918 About a third of all Belgian casualties fell during the Final Offensive and its preceding operations. On this battlefield tour, we follow the Belgian troops from the cantonments to Roeselare. We discuss the infamous battles and places: Lion Belge, De Drie Grachten, Merkem, De Kippe, Houthulst Wood, Passchendaele... All names that long adorned the regimental banners. The role of the Belgians in 1918 is often, unfairly, a forgotten story. With the help of personal stories, dramatic testimonials and remarkable relics, we explore the role of the hardened Belgian soldier during the Final Offensive in addition to other problems the Belgians faced during the First World War. PRACTICAL INFORMATION Entry: 6.50 adult 4.00 student Guide for the entire day: 270 (max. 50 persons/guide) Extra guide MMP1917: 60 (max. 25 persons/guide) Lunch: price depends on what you choose Duration: from until Optional: dinner and attending the Last Post 1. Belgian Cemetery Westvleteren 2. Belgian Cemetery Houthulst 3. Jules De Winde Monument 4. The Zonnebeke Crypt Each battlefield tour can be tailored to the group. It is possible to do the tour by bicycle or motorbike. Jules De Winde Monument The Zonnebeke Crypt 27

28 DAY PROGRAMMES Platoon Experience A unique immersion project in the year 1917! The group takes on the role of an Australian platoon in 1917, stepping in their footsteps along the bloody path which they took to CWGC Tyne Cot Cemetery. Based on real historical evidence, experienced guides take you on an exciting journey. After visiting the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 and an introduction to the events and circumstances in which they tried to survive at the front, we set off along the historic Ypres to Roulers railway track. Each participant is fully equipped with what an Australian soldier would have carried at that time including uniform, luggage and rifle. We take a look at the military story, but personal involvement is the most important aspect. Each member of the group assumes the role of an Australian who was actually serving at the time. Gradually, you learn more and more about the character and in the end, at CWGC Tyne Cot Cemetery, you hear how your soldier finally lost their life. A sobering experience! To stay in character, your lunch will consists of a hot Tommy Tucker meal in a mess tin. Real 1917 soldiers food The approach is interdisciplinary with, in addition to stories, a lot of attention being paid to landscape, literature, art and morality. PRACTICAL INFORMATION Open: from March 1st until November 15th Entry: 37.00/person (participants) 6.00/person (supervisors) 300 (deposit) Included: - entry and guided visit of the MMP guided visit of CWGC Tyne Cot Cemetery - educational framework by 1 or 2 supervisors - personal immersion stories and battlefield walk in authentic gear - warm Tommy Tucker meal Please be aware: max. 50 persons/group and minimum age of participants is 14 years old 28

29 Discover Zonnebeke Catering Breakfast coffee/tea (with refill) and pastry 4.50/person coffee/tea (with refill), pastry and 2 rolls with ham and cheese 7.50/person Warm Meals chicken filet with mushroom sauce, croquettes and mixed salad 15.00/person Flemish beef stew with chips and mixed salad 16.00/person pork tenderloin with pepper cream sauce, croquettes and mixed salad 16.00/person baked salmon with white wine sauce, chips and mixed salad 16.00/person always starts with a fresh soup of the day the group choses one main course drinks not included extra coffee/tea (no refill) possible 1.00/person Tommy Tucker menu fresh soup of the day - Passchendaele Pie - coffee/tea (no refill) with Tommy Cake 14.00/person no drinks included, except coffee/tea with dessert Snacks farmhouse bread with Passendale Classic, ham and mixed salad 11.00/person farmhouse bread with Passendale Classic, cooked ham, Zonnebeke fingers and mixed salad 12.00/person farmhouse bread with a variety of 5 cheeses and mixed salad 12.00/person Passchendaele Burger and mixed salad 12.00/person Drinks supplement soft drink or lager 2.00/person soft drink, lager or Passendale beer/the Great Beer Passchendaele 3.00/person drink of your choice (tip: Rex Artus) 4.00/person table water, one glass of house wine and coffee/tea (no refill) after the meal 7.00/person only in conjunction with one of the above meals Tearoom coffee/tea (with refill) 2.50/person coffee/tea (with refill) and cake 5.50/person coffee/tea (with refill) and 2 fresh pancakes with sugar 6.50/person coffee/tea (with refill) and Zonnebeke Sun Tart 8.50/person coffee/tea (with refill) and Witches Ice Cream Cake 9.00/person Coffee/tea (with refill) and Witches Tart 9.50/person 29

30 CATERING An overview of our regional products: Passchendaele Pie: Tommy Tucker (stew with potatoes, vegetables and corned beef) wrapped in puff pastry a WW1 recipe Tommy Cake: cake with rum, a WW1 recipe Passendale Classic: golden, creamy cheese (20+) in natural white crust with a soft texture and full flavour Zonnebeke fingers: quality dried pork sausage (Duroc d Olives), dried for 48 hours and then lightly smoked over a sawdust of beech and oak, with an dash of Provencal herbs Passchendaele Burger: fresh pork burger with a bun, Passchendaele Sauce (own recipe) and vegetables Passendale beer: amber beer (5.5%) brewed with different kinds of malt and fermented in the bottle, only available in The Old Cheese Dairy in Passchendaele The Great Beer Passchendaele: a delicious, blonde thirst-quencher with first-class fermenting and a crisp finish (5.2%) Rex Artus: amber tripel (8.5%), fermented in the bottle with floral and fruity notes, made according to an original Beselare recipe Zonnebeke Sun Tart: shortcrust pastry tart filled with a banana mix, a fine layer of biscuit, whipped cream and yellow marzipan Witches Ice Cream Cake: ice-cream cake with hand-made farm cuberdon and vanilla ice cream finished with a cuberdon jelly and a bewitching marzipan Witches Tart: French pastry with custard, gelatin fruit (apple or cherry), whipped cream and biscuit 30 Passchendaele Pie

31 Discover Zonnebeke Practical Information GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS - GROUP RESERVATIONS The published prices are merely indicative for groups of twenty or more and are valid until the end of The Tourist Office reserves the right to change prices due to rate changes, adjustments to the cost of third party services or to correct any typographical errors in this brochure. 2. Prices do not include transportation. All the excursions and packages mentioned take place using your own coach or car. 3. A reservation must be requested at least four weeks in advance. 4. After sending your reservation request (letter or ), you will receive a confirmation with all the specific arrangements. 5. We ask that you indicate the expected number of participants when you make a reservation request. Please communicate the exact number of participants, in writing, at least one week before your visit. If no adjustment is made to the number originally specified, and the group turns out to be smaller than initially specified, you will still have to pay for the number originally specified. Changes may only be made twice. 6. Cancellation is free of charge provided that the Tourist Office is notified in writing at least 10 days before the reserved excursion date. Those who cancel with less than 10 days notice will be sent a bill of to cover the cost of cancellation. For cancellations on the day of the excursion, the full amount will be invoiced. 7. Please arrive punctually at the agreed meeting point. Groups must telephone to inform our office of any delay. Please call +32 (0) If the group arrives late, yet still wants to complete the entire tour, and when this is also possible for the guide, the following surcharges will apply: delay of: 1-15 min.: min.: min.: min.: After a wait of one hour we no longer guarantee the excursion can go through, but it will be invoiced. 9. The Municipality of Zonnebeke and designated tour guides shall not be held responsible for accidents or damage to participants or third parties, nor for the performance of third parties included in the package. 10. A legitimate complaint must be submitted in writing to the Tourist Office no later than eight days after the date of the excursion. 31

32 Information and reservations Tourist Office Berten Pilstraat 5/A B-8980 Zonnbeke t 0032 (0) e reservaties@zonnebeke.be w Toerisme Open Open daily from until Closed during the week of Christmas and New Year s. How to get here Zonnebeke is accessible via the A19 motorway, exit 3 - Beselare /Zonnebeke or exit 4 Ieper centrum. There are several buses from the train stations in Ypres, Menen and Roeselare: 84: Ieper Geluveld Beselare Geluwe Menen Moeskroen 89: Ieper Zandvoorde Komen 94: Ieper Zonnebeke Passchendaele Roeselare OOSTENDE De Lijn buses information: t 0032 (0) E40 VEURNE DUNKERQUE Dial-a-bus in West Flanders: t 0032 (0) BRUGGE CALAIS E40 GENT DIKSMUIDE ROESELARE N8 POPERINGE ANTWERPEN E403 E17 ZONNEBEKE IEPER KORTRIJK A19 LILLE BRUSSEL