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Welcome on the website from
Camping YPRA (Kemmel - Ieper)

A WARM WELCOME!

In the midst of natural greenery, on the flanks of the Kemmelberg, you’ll find the children-friendly Camping Ypra. Enjoy hours fishing in the stocked lakes in the wooded area. The camping site is animal-friendly, both for your own pet, as well as for the natural “residents”, like the small sheep or horses. The vegetable farmer visits each week and in July and August, the baker comes on his rounds each morning. The site covers 12 hectares and has 300 spaces for permanent pitches, cabins, caravans, campers and tents. There’s a variety of locations for the cabins, from a quiet spot by the edge of the wood, to a place with a fabulous view over the surrounding area.
Camping Ypra has 4 comfortable cabins for hikers, cyclists, motorcyclists and anyone passing through.

Camping Ypra is very well integrated in the landscape. Many trees and beautiful plants decorate the site and are kept with lots of care. The fishing ponds are found in the forest and will quarantee several hours of enjoyable and peaceful fishing. The campsite is a good place for animals. For your own pet as well as for the natural "inhabitants" of the site and her surroundings. There is also a big chance you'll meet the flock of sheep or the horses when they are on the way to or from the stables or pastures.

FACILITIES

modern bathrooms
video surveillance
wireless Internet
shop for ice-creams and cold drinks
pleasant bar met pool table
sun terrace
tennis court
outdoor ping-pong table
mini-golf course
fishing lakes
4 cabins
play garden
washing machine and dryer
pétanque rinks

CABINS FOR HIKERS

Camping Ypra has 4 hikingcabins. Such a cabin is a very comfortable way to spend the night for hikers, cyclists, motorbikers and other travellers. They are very well isolated and have heating, eletricity, kitchen and cooking utensils. The only things you need to bring yourself are a sleepingbag and linen. 4 persons per cabin (5 if you bring your own inflatable mattress). The maximum stay per hut is three nights. No dogs allowed in the cabins.

Showers
Washing rooms, hot and cold water.
Parking place for bike, motorbike or car.

Reservations can be booked at Camping Ypra. But when you'll be doing a hiking or cycling journey it will be easier to make reservations at the main Cabin Reservation Desk.

Reserveringscentrale Trekkershutten:
p/a T.P.A.-Toerisme Kempen
Grote markt 44
2300 Turnhout
Tel.: +32 (0)14 40 82 62
Fax: +32 (0)14 42 88 01

SURROUNDINGS

De Westhoek (translation: the West Part) is the south-western area of Flanders in Belgium. Close to France and the North Sea. The landscape is very varied. Beautiful coastal area's, the so-called polders, agracultural area's, beautiful cities and lovely villages. A description of the Westhoek and all it has to offer would be too extended. For informaltion you can go to the tourist offices or the Bureau Westtoerisme in Brugge.

Link: www.westtoer.be

Click on one of the following items for more information:

HET HEUVELLAND »
RECOMMENDED »
THE GOOD LIFE »
THE MUSIC »
THE HISTORY »
MOUNTAINBIKE- AND HIKING ROUTES »
AERIAL PHOTOS »
BELLEWAERDE PARK »

HET HEUVELLAND

General

The Heuvelland consists of 8 villages: De Klyte, Dranouter, Kemmel, Loker,Nieuwkerke, Westouter, Wijtschate and Wulvergem. The Heuvelland of course owes her name to her hills or "mountains". The highest is the Kemmelberg (+ 156m.) followed by the Vidaigneberg (+ 136m.), the Rodeberg (+129 m.), the Scherpeberg (+125m.) and the lower hillsite (+82 m.)
The village of Kemmel is mainly built around the village green, The Dries. On the edge of the village, in the middle of the communitypark stands a castle, the town hall, called the Warande after a former mayor. The park of 17 hectares has many native trees and plants and ponds and is always worth a visit.

Tourism

On the village green there is a statue called 'the Gaper".
It's is also the nickname of the people in Kemmel.
This is the way they are supposed to have reacted when they saw the Belfry and Cloth Hall of Ieper when they first visited the town in the Middle Ages to sell their products.

Biggest events in Kemmel e.o.:

Ieper Westhoek Rally
Folkfestival Dranouter
The biggest flea market in the area

Landmarks and sights:

The Agracultural Museum - Kemmel
The watchtower on the Kemmelberg (18 meter).
Visitor's centre "De Bergen" - Kemmel
Pool of Peace - Wijtschate
French Monument and massgrave - Kemmelberg
Archeological Museum - Het Labyrint - Kemmel
The Cable railway op de Rodeberg

Fishing Dikkebuspond or the throutponds Kemmel or Westouter.
Horse riding There are 4 routes. Info at the touristsbureau..

At 11 kilometers from Kemmel lies the town of Ieper with the remains of her fortress. During WW1 the city was destroyed completely. After the war the town was rebuild in a fantastic way. The Lakenhallen and the big square are just wonderful.
A visit to the war museum "In Flanders Field" gives an impression of the madness and bloody warfare during '14-'18. At the Menin gate every night at 8 o'clock the traffic comes to a halt and the Last Post is played in honour of all the killed soldiers.

Link: www.ieper.be

THE GOOD LIFE

The Heuvelland knows many pubs and restaurants. The village of Kemmels alone has already about 6 pubs and on the Kemmelberg about 5 restaurants c.q. hotels are situated. Many pubs are more than just a place to have a drink. The Labyrint in Kemmel for instance houses many beautiful and different collections.

Hotel Restaurant "De Hollemeersch" has a small museum called "De Pottekarie". It has a collection of hundreds of antique cooking utensils.
Restaurant "De Alverman" offers, besides a fine menu, a great terrace with a grand view over France. A good place to spend a sunny afternoon or evening.

In Loker the folklovers find their Irish pub, Redmonds, where often live-music is performed. Planned or spontaneous. A good pint of Guinness and one believes he's in Ireland.
On the Rodeberg one can choose from a large number of pubs and restaurants.The pub "De Wulfshille" is named as the smallest pub in Flanders. Mind your head. It's situated next to "The Rabbit" (see: recommended) and the equestrian centre "De Rode Berg". But whatever restaurant or pub you'll be visiting, there is one rule: Don't rush. Sit back and enjoy.
Take your time to try the local apéritif: Picon.

THE MUSIC

"Little Ireland" is one of the names used to describe the Heuvelland. Everyone who is acquainted with Ireland and the Heuvelland will agree to that name. During '14-'18 a lot of Irish soldiers were stationed in the area and they left their inheritance which can still be felt, seen and heard. The love for folkmusic is part of the inheritance. Therefor there are several Irish pubs in the area. One is in Mesen and the most renown Irish pub is in Loker, the Redmonds. On the kemmelberg there is the biggest folkclub of the west of Flanders, called "Den Ekster". Weekly performances by national and international musicians. In restaurant "De Rabbit" on the Rodeberg 5 evenings per week live-muziek (see: recommended.).

And then there is of course the Folkfetival of Dranouter. Years ago the Dranouter pub "De Zon' started it as a garden party. Now it has grown into one of the biggest folkfestivals of Europe. An average number of 70 bands will perform in the three days that this festival will last. In the year 2000 a few of the performing artists were: Lou Reed, Robert Plant and The Chieftains..

For music on CD one can go to Lisa Records in Dranouter. Small but an outstanding collection of folk and worldmusic.

THE HISTORY

On the basis of excavations it is esthablished that the Kemmelburg was inhabited before our era. From the end of the 5th century the area developed itself as an agricultural area. The village green is still a rememberance of such a cattle breeding settlement. Apart from cattle breeding Kemmel, Dranouter and Nieuwkerke also had a textile industry.
Because of te situation of the Heuvelland the region was often confronted with the French armies trying to enroll the area to France.

The darkest page from the history of the Heuvelland will always be World War 1. The dividing line between the Germans and the allied ran through the hills. During the battles for Hill 60, Hill 62, the Mesen hills and the Kemmelberg about 60.000 British soldiers lost their lives.

The second attack on Ieper did cost the lives of 70.000 allied soldiers and 100.000 German soldiers. An explosion of 19 sea mines, placed by the allied under a German camp in the hills of Mesen, resulted in a gigantic crater which is now a protected landmark and carries the name "Pool of Peace". In April 1918 the slaughter on the Kemmelberg took place. For hours the allied were under fire of gasgranates and German planes. These bombardements killed about 5000 French soldiers. The monument on the Kemmelberg is their gravestone.

There are hundreds of military cemetaries in the Westhoek. These are being kept with respect and care by the Commonwealth War Graves Commision.
The Heuvelland still bears the scars of 14-18.

MOUNTAINBIKE AND HIKING

Mountainbikeroutes Regionaal Landschap West-Vlaamse Heuvels

Heuvelland is, as the name suggests, a municipality with many hills and slopes. Ideal, in other words, for mountain bikers. Heuvelland has three routes fully designed for all-terrain bicycles, good for many hours of mountain biking pleasure. Hills, which we call mountains here, like the Kemmelberg, the Rodeberg and the Zwarteberg are defiantly waiting to be conquered. Steep descents, narrow paths, little gems of wood and field trails, and so on: you will find it all along the way.

Would you prefer taking it a bit slower? That too is possible. Recently, the Westhoek Bicycle Network came into being. Using a grid map with numbered routes and junctions, you can explore the region through routes you have selected yourself. Rectangular signs keep you on the right track. No matter which route you pick, the network will guide you to the most beautiful corners of the region on low-traffic and traffic-free roads. You make it as long and as difficult a trip as you like. Shift up a gear and tackle the Kemmelberg or maybe you’d rather go around it? You decide. The bicycle network map is available at the tourist information office in Kemmel.There you’ll also find the map and brochure for two loop bicycle routes: the West Flemish Mountain Route (45 km) and the Schreve Route (46 km) and the thematic cycling-tour The Battle of the Mines (28,6 km).

AERIAL PHOTOS

To the right of this page are different aerial photos of the rolling countryside.

BELLEWAERDE PARK

A day in the park with friends or family? What a great idea! Bellewaerde Park is offering a unique combination of an exciting attraction park and a surprising animal park in a natural green surrounding.

Discover more than 30 rides and 300 exotic animals, spread over the 6 themed areas of the park: Jungle, Mexico, the Far West, India, Canada and KidsPark

Bellewaerde Park is more than an attraction park: it’s also the home of more than 300 exotic animals. Bellewaerde Park pays a lot of attention to those animals. A dedicated team of 6 animal keepers is working full time to look after their health and ensure their care, comfort and happiness.

Bellewaerde Park is the worthy heir to an ornithological park, with a wealth of amazing exotic birds and different mammals. Discovering the animals is not only amusing for the visitors, but also educational! For schools Bellewaerde Park has developed a special program “Exotic Animal Days”. During one hour the pupils are guided backstage where they learn everything about the typical habits in the daily life of the animals.

Link: www.bellewaerdepark.be

Contact

Pingelaarstraat 2
8956 Kemmel
Heuvelland - BELGIUM
Tel.: (+32) 057 44 46 31
Fax: (+32) 057 44 48 81
camping.ypra@skynet.be

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Welcome on the website from Camping YPRA (Kemmel - Ieper)