Explore the beautiful Zonnebeke

The Zonnebeke Castle Estate is the ideal base for exploring the region as a cyclist or walker. Discover what role Zonnebeke played during the First World War and explore the area.

Hiking in Zonnebeke
Park your car in parking lot 2 and for information about the Zonnebeke area, go to Zonnebeke Tourism, which is located in the same building as the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917. The museum is located in an environment that was one large battlefield during the First World War, and was subsequently rebuilt. You can explore this landscape further by bike and you will really understand why this hilly landscape was so important.

Zonnebeke during the First World War
Many battles took place around Zonnebeke during the First World War. In the then church of Zonnebeke was an underground shelter for British soldiers, which was opened to the public for a short time in 2017. After the First World War, the refugees who had fled returned and the municipality started rebuilding. Architect Huib Hoste played a large part in the reconstruction of the village. For example, he designed the plans for the Church of Our Lady. This church is considered to be the first modern church in Belgium.

The area around Zonnebeke
The walk takes you north of Zonnebeke, towards Passchendaele. This is where the Tyne Cot Cemetery is located, the largest British military cemetery in the world. Then you walk back to where you started: the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917. The museum is located in the castle park of Zonnebeke.