Location: Ypres
Ypres was founded on the cloth trade in the Middle Ages, but it is mainly known for its role in the Great War. It was occupied by the German army for just one night and, on 14 October 1914, fell under the control of Allied Forces. Some five million British and Commonwealth soldiers passed through here on their way to the fierce battles of the Salient. The town was reduced to rubble by constant bombardment but it has been fully restored, from the chocolate box houses to the majestic cloth hall in the centre of the Grote Markt. The Menin Gate, originally a mediaeval gateway to the town, was also rebuilt and is perhaps the most famous Commonwealth memorial in Flanders. Since its reopening in 1927, the Last Post has been played every night, apart from a short break during the Second World War. As the bugle plays, the town falls silent and few will remain untouched as they contemplate the thousands of names engraved on this impressive stone archway.

Ypres is also an excellent location for exploring other sites of Western Flanders such as the Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the world, and the town of Poperinge where soldiers came to rest behind the front line. In Poperinge you will find Talbot House, known as Toc H after the army signal code used in the war; it is one of the most evocative sights that remains from the Great War as it was here that a soldiers’ clubhouse was set up. More than half a million soldiers visited Toc H where they could borrow books, play the piano and visit the chapel, which has remained untouched since 1918. Also worth a visit is the Sanctuary Wood Museum in Zillbeke near Hill 60, where stretches of trenches remain in their original state.

Travel options:
• self-drive by SeaFrance, P&O Ferries or Eurotunnel
• Eurostar™ to Brussels, onward by local train

Museums: In Flanders Fields Museum
Since its opening in April 1998, over one million visitors have flocked to Ypres and its award-winning museum, and it’s easy to see why. Situated in the impressive cloth hall, this unique museum allows the visitor to experience many different accounts of the war through original films of wartime Ypres. But it also adds a human dimension, bringing history to life through extracts from the songs sung by the boys in the fields, stories and an impressive collection of private letters and telegrams donated by families who lost loved ones in the fields of Flanders. 

Each guest is also given the character of a real-life soldier and, through interactive audio-visual displays around the museum, is encouraged to follow his life story at different stages of the war. Learn of the Christmas truces of 1914, the first gas attack and the experiences of soldiers stranded in no-man's land. A truly moving and memorable experience.

Please note that the In Flanders Fields Museum is closed from 1 December 2010 until 31 January 2011.

Our short break includes:
• either return channel crossing with SeaFrance to Calais
• crossings by P&O Ferries or Eurotunnel also available (supplements apply)
• or return standard-class travel from St Pancras or Ebbsfleet International by Eurostar™ direct to Brussels and onward to Ypres by local train
• two nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation
• entrance to the In Flanders Fields Museum