Flanders Battlefield Tour
#1
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Flanders Battlefield Tour
Have you taken a day tour of the Flanders battlefield, Tyne Cot, Talbot House, the German cemetery, that you would recommend.
We’re staying in Ypres for two nights and will go to the Menin Gate Last Post in the evening.
We’re staying in Ypres for two nights and will go to the Menin Gate Last Post in the evening.
#2
Join Date: Aug 2013
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I would not recommend that British fellow who gave us a tour, who was a bigot.
We stayed at http://www.hotelkasteelhofthooghe.be/Engels/Ehome.htm
It was quirky and out of town, but the grounds had WWI craters, trenches, and bunker on the grounds.
We stayed at http://www.hotelkasteelhofthooghe.be/Engels/Ehome.htm
It was quirky and out of town, but the grounds had WWI craters, trenches, and bunker on the grounds.
#3
Join Date: Jun 2007
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18 month ago we took a tour with Patrick of https://www.2xplore.be/
It was my wife and 2 daughters, 20 & 25. He brought the battles and operations alive through pictures and his story telling. To see the landscape today, and then he would flash a picture of the same place in mud and misery. We started in front of the WW1 museum in Ypres, although he can customize to your needs.
He is a former Belgium paratrooper; you can tell he has done many briefings and is well spoken. Highly recommend. My daughters say it was one of the best days of our trip to Belgium, and we had some pretty good ones!
We also stayed 2 nights in Talbot House, if you can swing that it is highly recommended. I apologize for not remembering the house cats name who is a star, watching him climb a fire escape ladder was something. The docent staying was an author of several WW1 books and was super nice and helpful. Pulled up my Great grandads Canadian Army records in a minute...very interesting. His body was never recovered, just like many others.
It was my wife and 2 daughters, 20 & 25. He brought the battles and operations alive through pictures and his story telling. To see the landscape today, and then he would flash a picture of the same place in mud and misery. We started in front of the WW1 museum in Ypres, although he can customize to your needs.
He is a former Belgium paratrooper; you can tell he has done many briefings and is well spoken. Highly recommend. My daughters say it was one of the best days of our trip to Belgium, and we had some pretty good ones!
We also stayed 2 nights in Talbot House, if you can swing that it is highly recommended. I apologize for not remembering the house cats name who is a star, watching him climb a fire escape ladder was something. The docent staying was an author of several WW1 books and was super nice and helpful. Pulled up my Great grandads Canadian Army records in a minute...very interesting. His body was never recovered, just like many others.
#4
Original Poster
We rented an apartment right in Ypres. I had looked at Talbot House, but we’d prefer to stay within walking distance of Menin Gate.
I emailed Patrick on Sunday, and again on Wednesday and haven’t heard back from him. That’s why I’m looking for an alternative.
I’ve had others recommend him, but I’m nervous to book online if he’s not responding to emails.
I emailed Patrick on Sunday, and again on Wednesday and haven’t heard back from him. That’s why I’m looking for an alternative.
I’ve had others recommend him, but I’m nervous to book online if he’s not responding to emails.
#5
I have always just been through the area with a rental car, but I can offer a photo report about Ypres.
Ypres with the blood wiped away | Any Port in a Storm
And I have also been though many battlefields and cemeteries of northern France.
http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com/thread/7297/world-war-cemeteries-pas-calais
I have even been to the Chinese cemetery, which is very tricky to find.
The Chinese cemetery of Nolette and a bit of Le Crotoy | Any Port in a Storm
Ypres with the blood wiped away | Any Port in a Storm
And I have also been though many battlefields and cemeteries of northern France.
http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com/thread/7297/world-war-cemeteries-pas-calais
I have even been to the Chinese cemetery, which is very tricky to find.
The Chinese cemetery of Nolette and a bit of Le Crotoy | Any Port in a Storm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Check out the German cemetery if you get a chance. A very different design and feel than the Allied ones. Seeing the pictures of Hitler visiting, and that he is standing exactly where you are at that moment, very striking image.
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#10
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We are planning on going to a German Cemetery, Langemark probably.
i went into Patrick’s website and the link to booking tours doesn’t work, so it doesn’t look good.
Can we reasonably do this on our own, or should we persevere in finding a guide?
i went into Patrick’s website and the link to booking tours doesn’t work, so it doesn’t look good.
Can we reasonably do this on our own, or should we persevere in finding a guide?
#11
Join Date: Jun 2007
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A good guide ties it all together. My 2 daughters would not have been so interested without Patrick's great narration. My wife and I are both prior military, and really appreciated how he laid out various tactics and overall strategy.
Usually we skip guides and go our own way. To be driven around in this case was well worth it.
#14
We did Patrick's tour and my husband thinks he might have gone active duty once again. We didn't have a car and he was a wealth of info. Do see the Brooding Soldier, St Julien. It is surrounded by pine trees sent from Canada. That was the first place that the Canadians were gassed. The inventor was Fritz Haber, a Jewish scientist. Ypres is beautiful. So glad you are staying there. The museum had a nice cafe and gift shop. I bought so many poppies. I went to the church on a Sunday and they were singing I will follow him like in Sister Act.
#15
Join Date: Feb 2003
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Ypres has the In Flanders Fields museum which is a good place to start. Within a hour's driving radius you can find restored trenches, shell craters, and lots of cemeteries and memorials. I'd ask at the museum for a little help if you are concerned. We got by without a guide quite well. Enjoy your trip
#16
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We’re picking up the car in Lille at noon, so we’ll do the museum when we get to Ypres and pick up info and lots of poppies there. Then we have a full day to drive around.
Ive been wanting to go to Ypres and Vimy for a long time.
Ive been wanting to go to Ypres and Vimy for a long time.
#17
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Macross, are you thing of Saint George's church in Ypres? We were very lucky, it was night and 2 weeks past 11 November, and the church exterior was still draped in a wreath of poppies extending from the roof to the ground alongside the entrance. Many hand embroidered seat cushions dedicated to various units.
A very fitting end to our touring day.
The brooding soldier is definitely worth seeking out.
Patrick definitely looked cut and as if he could roll back to active duty no problem, whereas my wife and I can roll to the bakery/beer garden no problem. And have done so many times with great success!
SM- Enjoy your trip. 'Beneath Hill 60', is a movie about the big mines that were blown up under the German trenches, in an effort to start a Allied breakout and end the war. Very good depiction of the trenches and the craziness of the mining project; it's an Australian production, and their mining industry provided the film makers with a lot of support. We enjoyed it.
A very fitting end to our touring day.
The brooding soldier is definitely worth seeking out.
Patrick definitely looked cut and as if he could roll back to active duty no problem, whereas my wife and I can roll to the bakery/beer garden no problem. And have done so many times with great success!
SM- Enjoy your trip. 'Beneath Hill 60', is a movie about the big mines that were blown up under the German trenches, in an effort to start a Allied breakout and end the war. Very good depiction of the trenches and the craziness of the mining project; it's an Australian production, and their mining industry provided the film makers with a lot of support. We enjoyed it.
#18
Just another visual aid: Vimy Ridge memorial | Any Port in a Storm