Information about this scheme

The coming of the centennial memorial of the First World War makes Ypres a pilgrimage town for families from all over the world that lost an ancestor in the Great War. The city of Ypres wanted to preserve the remnants, the best preserved in Belgium, and renovate the infrastructure. The reconversion of the ‘Kazematten’ complex, beneath the ramparts now provides an information desk, restaurant, sanitary facilities, a meeting room for 100 people, an exhibition space and other multi-purpose spaces. The development of  physical axis that support alternative routes for pedestrians and cyclists has been achieved by constructing an extra bridge between the surrounding area and city centre allowing pedestrians and cyclists to enter the city safely.  This is the first step in opening up the ramparts and making the monuments accessible via different routes. By reconverting the Kazematten vaults into something useful and accessible, the community of Ypres and visitors can now enjoy and rediscover this important historical space that was closed for several decades.