The Historic Cities of Flanders are now among Europe's most popular short break destinations. They share a historical and cultural heritage to which the Grand Squares, magnificent guild houses, awe-inspiring cathedrals and many other monuments bear proud witness of a wealthy and influential past. The numerous smaller squares, cobbled street, churches and beguinages let you feel days gone by with an intimacy all of their own.
There is a lot more to Flemish cities than just architecture and history. You can also while away time looking around a flea market, visiting an art gallery, or just sitting on a cafe terrace watching the world go by.
The cities take enormous pride in their architectural heritage and yet each has a unique personality. One of the advantages of Flanders is that everything is close at hand, even on a short break you can easily get to know more of Flanders than you would ever imagine!
Stretching for 67 km from Knokke-Heist in the East, right along to De Panne in the West, the Flemish coast has something to offer everyone. Whether you prefer activity holidays, shopping or just lazing on a beach, you are sure to find something to amuse you, whatever the season.
The Flemish know how to have a good time. Festivals, exhibitions and feasts are part of daily life in the historic citites of Flanders. From local parades, carnivals, processions, pageants steeped in medieval history to international festivals, there is always something going on.
Ypres, once one of the great Flemish cloth towns, has at its centre the Grote Markt, dominated by the Cloth Hall, with its 70 metre high Belfry. Most of the building, along with most of Ypres, was destroyed during WWI but has since been rebuilt to its original form. The In Flanders Fields Museum, situated in the Cloth Hall, is a starke and authoritative reminder of the turbulent series of events that took place during WWI.
Ypres now symbolises the senseless suffering which took place during World War I. The town is home to the world famous Menin Gate which is inscribed with the names of almost 55,000 British and commonwealth soldiers who died on the Flanders battlefields and who have no grave. The Last Post is sounded each evening at 20:00 in honour of all those lost.
|
|
|
