Top 9 Natural Monuments around Menen

A particularly poignant anecdote about the Brothers In Arms Memorial involves Australian brothers John and James Hunter. During the Battle of Polygon Wood on 26 September 1917, John was killed in the arms of his brother James. John was buried in a temporary cemetery, but his body was not recovered until 2006 by an archaeological team led by Johan Vandewalle . James returned to Australia after the war, always hoping that he would one day be reunited with his brother. Thanks to DNA testing, John's body was identified and in 2007 he was reburied with military honours at the Buttes New British Cemetery, just a few hundred metres from the Brothers In Arms Memorial . The memorial, which shows James embracing his dying brother John, symbolises the deep emotional impact of war on families .

The Brothers In Arms Memorial is a memorial park in Zonnebeke, which commemorates all brothers and sisters who fought together during the First World War, of whom at least one was killed. The park officially opened on 25 September 2022 and features a life-size bronze sculpture of two brothers, designed by Australian sculptor Louis Laumen. The sculpture shows a brother hugging his fallen brother, symbolising the deep emotional impact of war on families.

The Polygon Forest, also known as Polygon Wood, is a historically and ecologically valuable forest area in Zonnebeke. The forest is located on the Central West Flemish ridge and is an important breeding ground for birds of prey such as sparrowhawks, kestrels and buzzards. The Polygon Forest also houses important war memorials, including the Buttes New British Cemetery and the smaller Polygon Wood Cemetery. These cemeteries are a tribute to the soldiers who died during the First World War. An interesting anecdote concerns the Scott Post and the New Zealand Bunkers, which can still be found in the forest. These bunkers were built by the Germans and later occupied by the Australian divisions in 1917.

Eight memorial gardens were created, each in the shape of a poppy, a symbol of the war. Each garden was designed to commemorate the unique contribution and sacrifice of each country during the Battle of Passchendaele, using symbolic vegetation, modern art and poetry. The following countries were involved: Belgium, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, France, Germany, USA.

The Passchendaele Memorial Park combines recreation and nature with the memory of the Battle of Passchendaele. The park has 8 memorial gardens in the symbolic shape of a poppy. At the request of the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, these gardens are filled by the various nations that participated in the Battle of Passchendaele, with a design that combines modern art, poetry and symbolic vegetation from that country. During the commemoration years, the various gardens were opened. After a visit to the Passchendaele Museum, you can reflect on the horrors of the First World War in a subdued way during a walk in the park. Thematic walks to Tyne Cot Cemetery and the Polygon Forest and a bike ride that connects the WWI heritage in Zonnebeke also depart from the park. Source: https://www.toerismewesthoek.be/nl/flanders-fields/groote-oorlognl/doen/passchendaele-memorial-gardens

The loss of a brother you love cuts through your marrow and is a heavy weight that you have to bear for the rest of your life. This place reflects this perfectly but also gives the feeling that you are not the only one. Brothers in arms until eternity.

A beautiful old forest and an important resting and breeding ground for birds of prey in the region. Wonderful to cycle through.

Go there on 11 of July, always celebrations and activities