The best traffic-free bike rides around Saint-Jans-Cappel

St. Eligius Church: a church with scars ⛪ The St. Eligius Church in Westouter has a history dating back to the Middle Ages. The striking Romanesque octagonal east tower largely survived the devastation of the First World War. The bricked-up arch at the bottom still reveals the origin of the former basilica church. The rest of the church was rebuilt in 1922-1923 to a design by Jules Coomans, in the typical yellow polder brick. Around the church lie the Westouter British Cemetery and an impressive bluestone war memorial. A place where centuries of history and the scars of the Great War meet.

St. Eligius Church of Westouter: a church that remained standing ⛪ The St. Eligius Church of Westouter appears at first glance to be a neo-Gothic church, but a closer look reveals a much older story. The octagonal Romanesque east tower largely survived the destruction of the First World War. The bricked-up arch at the bottom still recalls the medieval cruciform church. After the war, the church was rebuilt in 1922-1923 to a design by Jules Coomans, with the typical yellow polder brick. This was not superfluous luxury, as the church had already experienced setbacks: in 1794, a fire destroyed the building, after which it was extended in the early 19th century. Even today, the war is still palpable here. The Westouter British Cemetery lies around the church, and in front of the church stands an impressive bluestone war memorial. A place where centuries of history and the scars of the Great War meet beautifully.

Bridge closure: The bridge at Fintele is closed to all traffic until October 2, 2026 due to works. New lock gates are being installed, among other things. I came from the Diksmuide direction, had to turn back and continued cycling along Reninge. I haven't seen the situation on the other side yet (whether you can continue to Veurne, for example)

The harbor in Ypres, known locally as "De Kaaie," is actually the Ieperlee, which runs beneath the city of Ypres and becomes visible again there. At the Drie Grachten (Three Canals), the Ieperlee is joined by the Martjevaart canal, which originates in Merkem. Drie Grachten is a hamlet in the west of Merkem where the three canals converge: the Martjevaart canal, the Ypres-IJzer canal (also known as the Ieperlee Canal), and the Ieperlee itself. Drie Grachten is also known for the battles during World War I, in which the French, including the Zouaves, fought against the Germans. After a failed attack on the German outpost at Luigem, the Germans captured a number of Zouaves. They launched a counterattack but hid behind the captured Zouaves to prevent the French Zouaves from firing on them, thinking they were their own men returning. At one point, one of the captured Zouaves reportedly shouted: "Tirez donc au nom de Dieu, ce sont les Boches!" (For God's sake, these are the Boches!). Immediately after the warning, a French salvo erupted, mowing down both the Germans and the captured Zouaves. The Zouaves of Northern France (Union des Zouaves du Nord) continued to commemorate this after the war. Luigem is a hamlet 1 kilometer east of Drie Grachten and 1 kilometer west of the center of Noordschote. The Zouaves (French: zouaves) were a light infantry unit of the French Army, associated with French North Africa.

Nice Statue of Eliane Cossey (Poperinge, 9 December 1902 – London, 1942), known by the nickname Ginger, was a striking red-haired precocious child in the Belgian town of Poperinge during the First World War. The café "A la Poupée", an unpronounceable name for English speakers, on the main square grew under the name "Ginger's" into one of the most famous taverns behind "The Ypres Salient". The appeal of the young diva can be read in various diary excerpts and in the Visitors Book with compliments and drawings. Ginger krijgt eigen standbeeld https://www.hln.be/.../ginger-krijgt-eigen-standbeeld.../

ON 23 JULY 1827, THE FOUNDATION STONE WAS LAID BY THE HIGHLY HONOURABLE COUNT FERDINAND DEBAILLET, GOVERNOR OF THE PROVINCE OF WEST FLANDERS, CHAMBERL OF HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF THE NETHERLANDS, WILLIAM THE FIRST.

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The parish was founded in 1069. Originally, there was a Romanesque cruciform church. Eventually, there was a three-aisled hall church with a crossing tower and an octagonal superstructure. In 1794, the church was destroyed by fire. From 1805 to 1807, the church was restored. The eastern choir was demolished, leaving the crossing tower, particularly its lower structure, to form a portal. On the west side, the nave was extended and a new choir was built. During the First World War, the church was largely destroyed, but the tower was more or less spared. The church was rebuilt in the 1920s under the architecture of Jules Coomans. https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sint-Eligiuskerk_(Westouter)