What war does to a landscape…
Entry point for the walk “Ypres-salient – South”. On this narrow artificially raised ridge, resulting from 19th century excavations for the Ypres-Comines canal, discover how the landscape was mutilated by the war machine. Due to circumstances in the 19th century, the intended canal was never realized. Today you can still discover the scars of the Great War here on this site, better known as 'The Bluff'. This was the only place on the Flemish front where the Allies and not the Germans took the higher positions.
The Bluff is a place on the front where the landscape has suffered seriously.
The Bluf is one of the most dramatic war landscapes in Flanders Fields, with many large and small craters.
A total of 455 fallen soldiers were given their final resting place here, spread across the cemeteries: Hedge Row Trenche Cemetery, Woods Cemetery and First D.C.L.I Cemetery - The Bluff.
The visitors pavilion provides more information through a short film about what happened here during the Great War. You can discover many mine craters, shelters, bunkers and military cemeteries from WWI here. To look for traces of the past, appropriate footwear is recommended. A hiking trail winds around the mine craters and takes you into the bed of the old Ypres – Komen Canal. This experience path makes you think.
You can easily spend half a day to discover all the cemeteries, the South information pavilion, mine craters and the no man's land. Recommendation: Wear sturdy walking shoes if you want to follow in the footsteps of the frontline soldiers.
Spacious parking is provided on Palingbeekstraat or a smaller parking lot at the visitor center in Vaartstraat 7 Zillebeke.