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Natural Monuments

Polygoon Forest

Natural Monuments

Polygoon Forest

Highlight (Segment) • Forest

Polygoon Forest

Name: Polygoon Forest
Rating: 2

Recommended by 19 cyclists

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Location: Zonnebeke, Ieper, West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

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Top cycling routes to Polygoon Forest

4.7

(28)

201

riders

1. Hill 60 Memorial – Zillebeke Pond loop from Ieper

30.9km

01:54

150m

Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.5

(24)

161

riders

2. Old Leie – Polygon Wood - Lange Dreve loop from Menen

57.7km

03:25

240m

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.5

(19)

137

riders

3. Tobacco Museum – Polygon Wood - Lange Dreve loop from Hollebeke

50.5km

02:59

230m

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Tips

🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

August 27, 2022

Anyone interested in the history of the First World War should definitely visit the Polygon Wood. In the woods, measuring 91 hectares, is the Buttes New British Cemetery. At the car park, children will find a play area where they can romp around. You can also enjoy hiking and bird watching. This forest is one of the most important breeding grounds in the region for birds of prey.

Translated by Google •

Maciou

September 16, 2022

Super wide and well rolling path for gravel.

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🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

August 27, 2022

A former military shooting range becomes a battlefield.

The once beautiful forest has been replanted twice over the years. During the Great War it was transformed into a mud plain with only the Buttes rising above it. The Germans expanded this landscaped hill into a fortified place. The recapture of the Buttes was quite a challenge for the Australians at the end of September 1917, but it was successful. A front cemetery was constructed on this site during the German occupation. In the autumn of 1917 this place was shared with the British war dead. Now 1,422 fallen soldiers are buried there. The forest (... or the place where the forest stood was subsequently replanted). The second time the forest was cut down was during WWII. The trees were then used as beach obstacles (Rommel's asparagus poles) in the Atlantic Wall. After WWII the forest was replanted. Finally, in 1955, the German fallen were exhumed and transferred to a collective cemetery. One German soldier is still buried in this cemetery. Don't forget to visit the front cemetery across the street.
Still a very special place. Today you can still walk in the forest and think about the nonsense of war. Hidden deep in the greenery you will even discover the remains of some bunkers: Scott Post and New Zealand Bunkers

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Details

Informations

Distance 541 m

Downhill 0 m

Weather

Friday 26 December

3°C

-3°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 15.0 km/h

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See rides here

Take Me There

Location: Zonnebeke, Ieper, West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

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Polygoon Forest

1. Hill 60 Memorial – Zillebeke Pond loop from Ieper

2. Old Leie – Polygon Wood - Lange Dreve loop from Menen

3. Tobacco Museum – Polygon Wood - Lange Dreve loop from Hollebeke

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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