Ypres 2016 - Ramparts Walk

A wander around the Ramparts of Ypres starting from the centre of the city......

Ypres

Ypres dates back to Roman times and grew to be a prosperous city becoming a major market place for the textile trading. Building of the Cloth Hall began in 1200, being completed 100 years later.

Ypres - Cloth Hall

Construction of St Martins Cathedral commenced in 1230 and completed in 1370.

Ypres - At Martins Cathedral

As the prosperity grew, canals were built to improve trade routes and to protect the city defences were constructed . By 1390 high walls with turrets surrounded the city. The defences were adapted as weaponry developed. Around 1680, French engineer Vauban transformed the ramparts with frontal fortifications and bastions. The Austria Habsburgs took over Ieper in 1713 and scaled back development to save money.

Ypres defences 1775

In 1794 the French took control of Ieper, but relinquished the city to the Dutch after the defeat of Napoleon in 1815. The Dutch strengthened the walls to a thickness of 2-3 metres and built a bombproof ammunition store. In 1830 a revolution led to the founding of an independent Belgium and no further work on the ramparts was undertaken.

In 1914, Ypres became a strategic focus during World War One and the Salient that grew around the city was the scene for five major battles and the loss of thousands of lives.