Easy hikes and walks around Ieper

At first glance, the Helleketelbos seems like a quiet piece of nature, but those who look closely will discover that the ground still bears silent traces of the First World War. During the war, the forest was part of the ‘West Poperinghe Line’ and was used as a camouflaged resting and hiding place for British soldiers who could escape the hell of the Ypres Salient for a while. Especially during the German Spring Offensive of 1918, the area came under artillery fire. Between the trees, irregular, bowl-shaped pits are still visible here and there. They are overgrown remnants of shell impacts, now largely reclaimed by nature. Even outside the forest, the traces of war are subtly present. British army maps from July 1918 show a large military camp with wooden barracks around the Helleketelweg. They disappeared shortly after the Armistice, but the straight roads and property boundaries in the area still recall this military history today. A beautiful example of a place where nature has slowly covered the past, but not completely erased it.

At first glance, the Helleketelbos seems like a quiet piece of nature, but a closer look reveals that the ground still bears silent traces of the First World War. During the war, the forest was part of the ‘West Poperinghe Line’ and was used as a camouflaged resting and shelter place for British soldiers who could briefly escape the hell of the Ypres Salient. The area came under artillery fire, especially during the German Spring Offensive of 1918. Here and there, irregular, bowl-shaped pits are still visible between the trees. These are overgrown remnants of shell impacts, now largely reclaimed by nature. Even outside the forest, the traces of war are subtly present. British staff maps from July 1918 show a large military camp with wooden barracks around the Helleketelweg. These disappeared shortly after the Armistice, but the straight roads and property boundaries in the area still recall this military history today. A beautiful example of a place where nature has slowly covered the past, but not completely erased it.

The cemetery grounds were assigned to the United Kingdom in perpetuity by King Albert I of Belgium in recognition of the sacrifices made by the British Empire in the defence and liberation of Belgium during the war.

A very well-maintained cemetery right by the water.

Ramparts Cemetery, Lille Gate is a British military cemetery for the war dead of the First World War, located in the Belgian city of Ypres. The cemetery is situated within the Ypres ramparts, next to the Lille Gate, and covers an area of 1,871 m².

The Rijselpoort (Lille Gate) is a city gate in the Belgian city of Ypres. It is located in the south of the city center, on the road to Lille. The Rijselpoort is the oldest and only preserved city gate from the fourteenth century, connecting two remaining sections of Ypres's fortifications.

The Peace Bridge graces the unique fortifications of Ypres, the City of Peace. A harmonious combination of art, monument, and bridge. The Peace Bridge is a new memorial that inspires reflection. The Peace Bridge balustrade was artistically embellished with the word "PEACE" in 86 languages, using laser engraving. This reflects the 128 countries that fought here during WWI, speaking 86 languages. The use of durable corten steel evokes the reddish-brown of rusted iron. Elegant lighting creates a moving experience. The Peace Bridge is accessible at all times, offering a powerful artistic and multilingual focal point in the landscape that reinforces Ypres' message of peace and makes a clear statement of universal tolerance!

Two corrections: Contrary to what the original name of this highlight stated, you are not in the Begelen domain (which is located in Gullegem, about 25 km from here), but in the Palingbeek domain. And, contrary to what another user here stated, this was not previously a mining area (in the sense of a mining area), but an area scarred by mines and bombs during the First World War.