Heuvelland is a thinly populated rural municipality, in West Flanders. The area experienced many major battles during World War I, as part of the Ypres Salient area, and now has several cemeteries and other historical sites.
Understand
[edit]The front-line in World War I ran through the area of Wytschaete, which was captured and held several times by both sides during the course of the war. The Kemmelberg was important during the Battle of the Lys, and German units maintained a trench system (Bayernwald) within view of Ypres at Croonaert Wood. nthe Bayernwald trenches can be visited as an open-air museum.
In 2025, it was home to 8,000 people.
- 1 Toerisme Heuvelland, Sint-Laurentiusplein 1, ☏ +32 57 45 04 55, [email protected]. Tu-Sa 09:30-12:00 and 13:00-17:00, Su and public holidays: 10:00-16:00; Apr 1-Nov 15: also open M 09:30-12:00 and 13:00-17:00.
Get in
[edit]Heuvelland sits between the small urban centres of Ypres and Poperinge and the metropolitan area of Kortrijk-Lille along the E17 highway.
The area is mainly served by a few roads fanning out from Ypres towards the centres, with the N375 from Ypres to Belle and the N336 from Ypres to Armentières in particular traversing Heuvelland.
Get around
[edit]
For public transport, the nearest Belgian stations are those of Poperinge and Ypres, on the Poperinge-Kortrijk line . Bus services provide connections to these cities.
See
[edit]- 1 French Mass Grave, Kemmel. Many of the French victims were brought back to their country, as a result, not many French graves remain. This cemetery is a mass-grave with many unknown French soldiers. It's on the hill of Kemmel, which was a strategically important hill due to the overview it gave over the area. Under the hill, there's still a military bunker that was operated until a few years ago.
- 2 Spanbroekmolen Crater a.k.a. Pool of Peace. During the Battle of Messines, the British army undermined the German trenches with 24 mines. The Germans could defuse one mine, and 19 mines exploded on June 7, 1917 (the remaining 4 mines did not explode, and are still loaded under the fields). This crater is 11th minefield of the 24, but the best known one. Nearby, there are also other craters visible.
- 3 Island of Ireland Peace Park, Messines. The peace park, and tower, is a memorial to the soldiers of the Island of Ireland. Many who died near Messines.
- Monteberg Winery, Smijterstraat 4A. The vineyard is situated on the southern slope of the Monteberg in the West Flemish Hill Country . In 1996, Jean-Pierre Six planted 600 vines there; later, his children Edward and Katrien took over the vineyard from their father. In 2021, Monteberg had 48,000 vines and an annual production of 50,000 bottles. The winery produces white and sparkling wine.
- 4 Entre-Deux-Monts (wine estate), Rodebergstraat 69 A. In 2004, Yves and Martin Bacquaert planted the first 1,000 vines.In 2009, the vineyard was expanded to 19,000 vines. With about seven employees, Entre-Deux-Monts is one of the larger wine estates in Belgium, with an annual production of around 120,000 bottles of white, red, and sparkling wine. The house has held the BelBul quality mark since 2025.
- 5 Klein Vierstraat (beside the Kemmel French Cemetery). British Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery. 800-900 burials
- 6 Suffolk Cemetery (6 km south west of Ieper town centre, on the Kriekstraat). A Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) burial ground.
- 7 RE Farm Cemetery, near Wytschaete. Burials for 132 British and 47 Canadian soldiers who died in World War I.
- 8 Godezonne Farm Cemetery. Godezonne Farm Cemetery is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) burial ground for the dead of the First World War located in the Ypres Salient on the Western Front in Belgium. 74 British, 3 South African, 1 Australian, and 1 Canadian soldiers are buried here.
- 9 Lijstermolen windmill, Westouter. A windmill on the Rodeberg that stands in a wooded area on the Rodeberg, with the restaurant "Landhuis 't Molenhof" and the Rodeberg cable car nearby.
Do
[edit]- 1 Cordoba Cable Car, Rodebergstraat 75, ☏ +32 473 17 69 04. Sep-Jun: Sa Su 14:00-17:00; Jul Aug: Sa-Th 14:00-17:00; the cable car does not operate in bad weather. The cable car connects the Vidaigneberg with the Baneberg , which are side hills of the famous Rodeberg and Zwarteberg. The route covers virtually no elevation change and offers a view over the West Flemish Hill Country and the vineyards of the Entre-Deux-Monts. On clear days, the Flemish coast or the Yser Tower of Diksmuide is visible. A brasserie offers homemade and local beers, and sandwiches. The cable car and the terrace are not accessible to wheelchair users. €7 per person.