WW1 battlefields

[MissEliza]

We're thinking of visiting Bruges with our eleven year old in the Easter holidays and hoping to combine it with a visit to a WW1 battlefield. Has anyone done this?

We've been to Ypres and did a guided tour - I booked a private one as dd was about the same age and he tailored it a bit. It was absolutely fascinating, if very sad. Will you have a car? The museum in Ypres itself is great.

The Last Post at the Menin Gate is an incredible experience. It makes me feel teary just thinking about it. Every night at 6pm

We did Ypres/Menin Gate etc. Incredible experience.

Thanks for the replies. The private tour sounds like a good idea.

I went to Ypres at about that age. We lived in Belgium for a couple of years as dad was in the army. Saw lots of cemeteries as there were several near where we lived but Ypres is the one I would recommend. You can enjoy the coast and Brugge as well.

We have been to Ypres. As pp said, the Menin Gate is very moving. There's a service there every evening; I think it's at 8pm. We visited the battlefield at Hill 60.

If you've got the time would recommend visiting the German war cemetery at Langemark as it's so different from the Commonwealth cemeteries. With our group it stimulated lots of interesting discussion about the different ways of commemorating war dead.

Stayed in Ypres a couple of times and it is fascinating. We booked a 'private' tour which was really good but also found stuff ourselves. The Irish Peace cemetery was particularly moving.

The Menin Gate ceremony always reduces me to tears.

Is it possible to just go by yourself and just potter around?

I mean that respectfully of course.

Yes, lots of people do it solo. There's some good guidebooks out there and the museums are excellent. If you're there on an anniversary of a major battle you'll need to get to the Menin Gate in plenty of time as it fills up very fast.

Beaumont Hamel on the Somme or Sanctuary Wood

Ypres and surroundings are very impressive!
Start with the museum on the market in Ypres, it’s a must see!

We bought route maps in the museum souvenir shop and it took us on a very interesting trip along many left trenches and other interesting spots.

In fact because I lived in continental Europe on a few hours driving from Ypres, I have visited the area on several occasions and it never failed to impress me.

www.hotelkasteelhofthooghe.be/Engels/Ehome.htm

Stay in this hotel if you dare - it played an important role in the local WWI history and still has remaining trenches in the garden.

Lijssenthoek Military cemetery is where Nellie Spindler is buried- the only woman amongst 10,000 men. She was a nurse who was killed when a shell came through her tent. The museum at the cemetery tells more of her story.