Kemmel: History and Trails on Kemmelberg

The Kemmelberg walking route offers a specific starting point for exploring the landscape: it begins at the “Het Heuvelland” visitor centre, Sint-Laurentiusplein 1, 8956 Kemmel. Historical themes range from the Cold War Command Bunker to memorial sites from the World Wars. The village’s history and the elevated landscape of Kemmelberg also give Kemmel a multifaceted character.

History and Memorial Sites

The Command Bunker was built in the early 1950s as a command post for an international air defence system. It was subsequently equipped as a command post with extensive modern communications systems, for exercises or in the event of a crisis or conflict. Preserved equipment, installations and fittings bear witness to half a century of tensions between East and West. Its history can therefore be understood both through its original military function and its later communications equipment.

Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery is a British military cemetery with casualties from the First and Second World Wars. The French mass grave, “Ossuaire français,” consists of four mass graves where 5,294 French soldiers rest; 57 of them have been identified. The ossuary commemorates the French presence during the First World War and honours the many French casualties in the 1918 Battle of Kemmelberg. These details combine a specific historical connection with the site’s significance as a place of remembrance today.

The Kemmel American Monument is located near Vierstraat on the Kemmelberg road and overlooks the fiercely contested Ypres battlefield. The Dries, Kemmel’s village square, tells a story from a different era: originally a shared pasture, it later became a site for “kaatsen” in the late Middle Ages, a sport that was very popular at the time. These two examples illustrate the breadth of the area’s history—from medieval village life to the battlefields of the World Wars.

Hiking and Scenery on Kemmelberg

Starting at the “Het Heuvelland” visitor centre, the Kemmelberg walking route follows country lanes and passes through vineyards to the 131 m-high Monteberg. It then climbs steeply to the summit of Kemmelberg. The transition from country lanes and vineyards to the steep final ascent describes the route; when planning, the climb is just as much a part of it as the scenic stretch over Monteberg.

Kemmelberg is 156 m high and is considered the highest point in Flanders. In April and May, lush purple bluebells bloom on its slopes in Heuvelland. The flowers add a seasonal accent to the landscape, while the elevation and climb to the summit define the route’s topography. Those planning their trip around the blooms have a specific timeframe in mind: April and May.

The Belvedèretoren is a protected monument on Kemmelberg. The “Landschap en oorlog: Het Heuvelland 1914-1918” permanent exhibition is also located in the “Het Heuvelland” visitor centre. Its title links landscape and war to the period of the First World War and adds a distinct exhibition focus to the historical themes.

Discover more destinations: Loker, Wijtschate, Nieuwkerke, Dranouter, Westouter.

For the broader travel overview: Heuvelland.