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Museum · Ypres, West Flanders
Passchendaele Memorial Museum 1917
Museum about the 1917 Battle of Passchendaele, in the park of the castle of Zonnebeke. It has an underground shelter and reconstructed British and German trenches.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Passchendaele Memorial Museum 1917
The Passchendaele Museum, formerly known as the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, is on the grounds of the castle of Zonnebeke, in the middle of the former battlefield, about seven kilometres east of Ypres. The renovated museum opened in April 2004, on Anzac Day, a day of remembrance for Australian and New Zealand soldiers.
The focus is the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as the Battle of Passchendaele, fought from July to November 1917. It left hundreds of thousands dead and wounded for an advance of only a few kilometres through the mud, until the village of Passendale was taken by the Canadians.
The most striking part is the reconstructed underground shelter, which shows how the British came to live beneath the earth in 1917, with bunks, command posts and narrow corridors. On exiting, reconstructed British and German trenches, with their dugouts, complete a route of more than 750 metres.
In the former presbytery, the Passchendaele research centre has a library and reading room. Signposted walking and cycling routes start from the museum and lead to Tyne Cot Cemetery and other battle sites around Zonnebeke.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About one and a half to two hours for the museum, the shelter and the trenches.
Best time
In the morning or early afternoon, to combine with Tyne Cot Cemetery. The museum often closes for a few days at the end of December and the beginning of January: check before you go.
How to get there
It is on Berten Pilstraat, in the centre of Zonnebeke. By car, it's about a fifteen-minute drive from Ypres along the road heading east. By bicycle, allow about half an hour.
Tip
Wear clothing that can handle damp conditions: part of the route is outdoors in the trenches. The underground shelter has narrow corridors and low light.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Passchendaele Memorial Museum 1917
Are Passchendaele and Passendale the same place?
Yes. Passendale is the modern Flemish spelling of the village; Passchendaele is the older form, which gave its name to the 1917 battle.
Are the museum and Tyne Cot close to each other?
Yes, a few kilometres from each other, both in the municipality of Zonnebeke. There are waymarked walking and cycling routes linking the two.
Is the underground shelter cramped?
The corridors are narrow and low, like the actual shelters of 1917. If you feel uncomfortable in confined spaces, you can go straight to the open-air trenches.