Reflections of Peace – Belgium 2026 – 6 days

Itinerary

1. Arrive in Lille; transfer to Ypres

   We meet at London St. Pancras and board our Eurostar train to Lille. On arrival we transfer to our hotel in Ypres. This afternoon we visit the In Flanders Fields Museum, located in Ypres’ striking Cloth Hall. This modern museum offers powerful insights into the First World War, providing essential historical context through personal stories, artefacts and immersive exhibits. Then we take a walking tour through the heart of Ypres, a town painstakingly rebuilt after its wartime destruction. We pause at St. Martin’s Cathedral, an impressive neo-Gothic reconstruction, and finish at the Menin Gate, where the names of more than 54,000 missing soldiers are inscribed. After dinner, we return to the Menin Gate to attend the Last Post Ceremony. This daily act of remembrance, performed by local buglers since 1928, is a profoundly moving tribute to the fallen of the Commonwealth forces and a moment of shared silence and reflection.

2. Ypres Salient Battlefields

   Our day begins at Essex Farm Cemetery, where the evocative poem “In Flanders Fields” was penned by Canadian doctor John McCrae. A tranquil and poignant site, it captures the emotional weight of the war’s human cost. We continue to Langemark German War Cemetery, a sombre resting place offering a stark and sobering contrast to the Commonwealth cemeteries - an important reminder of the shared suffering on both sides. Next, we visit Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world. Over 11,000 soldiers are buried here, and its scale and serenity leave a lasting impression. After lunch, we explore the Passchendaele Memorial Museum, which vividly recreates the horrors of trench warfare through immersive exhibits and reconstructed dugouts. We then visit Polygon Wood, a peaceful area once fiercely contested and the nearby Buttes New British Cemetery, where the stillness of the trees belies the brutal battles that took place here. For those who wish, there is an optional visit to the Hooge Crater Museum, which includes preserved trenches and an extensive private collection of battlefield relics. Back to Ypres for dinner.

3. Visit Messines and Ploegsteert

   We begin at Messines Ridge, scene of the dramatic mine explosions of 1917. Highlights include the Irish Peace Tower and the New Zealand Memorial, marking the contributions of soldiers from both nations. We continue to the Island of Ireland Peace Park, a moving tribute to Irish soldiers of all backgrounds and beliefs. At Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing, we honour more than 11,000 soldiers with no known grave. Nearby, the Plugstreet 14-18 Experience offers engaging exhibits on daily life at the front. We’ll visit the Christmas Truce site near St. Yvon, where in 1914, enemy soldiers shared a moment of peace and even played football. Return to our hotel in Ypres for dinner.

4. Day trip to Mons

   After breakfast, we set out on a guided walking tour of Mons, a city deeply marked by the events of the First World War. Our route begins near the City Hall, where the first British troops marched through in 1914. We continue to the Belfry of Mons, a UNESCO World Heritage site offering striking views and wartime significance. The tour also includes the impressive Collegiate Church of Saint Waudru, with its Gothic architecture and connections to the city’s spiritual heritage. After lunch, we travel just outside the city to the peaceful Saint-Symphorien Military Cemetery - one of the most poignant WWI sites in Belgium. Here lie both British and German soldiers, including the first and last British soldiers to fall in the Great War, symbolising the tragic arc of the conflict. We conclude the afternoon with a visit to the Mons Memorial Museum, where moving exhibits trace the human stories behind the war, including the experiences of soldiers and civilians during the German occupation. The museum offers a deeper understanding of Mons’ wartime role and legacy. Return to the hotel for dinner.

5. Visit Arras and Vimy Ridge

   Today we visit the Vimy Memorial, one of the most striking and significant sites on the Western Front. Located within a vast commemorative park, the memorial honours all Canadian soldiers who served during the First World War and especially those who died in France. We’ll explore the Visitor and Education Centre, offering insight into the Canadian experience of WW1 and spend some time at the monument itself, a soaring and solemn tribute to the fallen, set atop the ridge where the pivotal 1917 battle took place.

6. Visit Poperinge

   We travel to Poperinge, a behind-the-lines town during the war. At Talbot House, once a haven of rest and camaraderie for soldiers, we gain insight into daily life and the pastoral care offered by army chaplains. Nearby, we visit the Poperinge Death Cells, a stark and sobering site where soldiers awaited execution - offering a powerful reflection on the harsh realities of wartime discipline. There is time for quiet reflection or a final walk through the town before we transfer to Lille for our homeward journeys.

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