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Wall · Ypres, West Flanders
Vestingen van Ieper
Walls that encircle the centre of Ypres, with moats, bastions and the Rijselpoort, the city's oldest medieval gate. On top of the wall, next to the gate, is the Ramparts Cemetery, a small First World War military cemetery.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Vestingen van Ieper
Ypres is still surrounded by much of the walls that protected it for centuries. The earliest walls are medieval, the Dukes of Burgundy strengthened the defences, and at the end of the 17th century, under Louis XIV, the engineer Vauban redesigned the complex with bastions, moats and islands. Part of the walls was taken down in the 19th century, but the southern and eastern stretches remain standing.
Today the walls form a green belt around the town, with a pedestrian path along the top, trees and the water of the moats below. The wall walk links the Menenpoort, to the east, with the Rijselpoort, to the south, the medieval road gate to Lille, with round towers over the water.
In the First World War, soldiers sheltered within the earthen and brick wall. In the casemates beside the Rijselpoort, British servicemen even printed The Wipers Times, the trenches' satirical newspaper. "Wipers" was how the soldiers pronounced the name Ypres.
On the wall, next to the Rijselpoort, lies the Ramparts Cemetery, begun by French troops in 1914 and used by the Commonwealth until 1918. It contains about 200 graves, mostly British, as well as Australians, Canadians and New Zealanders, on the edge of the moat. No other Commonwealth cemetery lies within the old walls.
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 hour for the stretch between the Menenpoort and the Rijselpoort, including a stop at the cemetery. The longer circuit of the walls takes about an hour and a half.
Best time
From spring to autumn, April to October, when the trees are in leaf and the path dries quickly. At the end of the afternoon the walk finishes very close to the Menenpoort, before the Last Post ceremony.
How to get there
From the Grote Markt, follow Rijselstraat south to the Rijselpoort, about a 10-minute walk. Before the gate, a ramp leads up to the top of the wall; the cemetery is a few metres to the left. The Menenstraat provides access to the eastern section.
Tip
Walk the route on foot, from gate to gate, rather than driving around. In the cemetery speak quietly and do not step on the graves. After the walk, the Rijselpoort casemates are a place to stop and read about The Wipers Times.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Vestingen van Ieper
Can you walk completely around the ramparts?
Not around the entire perimeter, because the north side and part of the west were demolished in the 19th century. The south and east sections, between the Rijselpoort and the Menin Gate, are the most complete for walking.
Who is buried in Ramparts Cemetery?
About 200 Commonwealth soldiers, mostly British, as well as Australian, Canadian and New Zealand troops, killed between 1915 and 1918. French graves from the early months were moved after the war.