Through beautiful Belgium, from Poperinge to Ypres

The starting point of this route is node 33, in the beautiful quiet Westhoek on the edge of Poperinge. It is located in the countryside, yet barely 1 kilometer from the city center. The art and brewery village of Watou, the West Flemish mountains, the amusement park Bellewaerde or Plopsaland, the peace city of Ypres, French Flanders and even the Flemish and northern French coast are nearby. You cycle on a beautiful rural route to Sint Sixtus Abbey. Westvleteren may be less known to most people than other Trappist monasteries, but the beer from this abbey was voted the best beer in the world a few years ago. The Trappist Westvleteren is only for sale in the sales center at the abbey and only after reservation by telephone - so it is worth arranging! You continue to Ypres, through the Heuvelland that stretches along the French border. You cannot ignore the First World War in this region. In those terrible times, Ypres was besieged from three sides, a front that became infamous as the'Ypres Salient\\\', the Ypres Salient. The landscape still preserves the deep scars in the form of bunkers and cemeteries. Everywhere you come across cemeteries of the Allies, the rows of white tombstones still make a crushing impression. But there is more to see in Ypres. Be sure to take a look at the Belle Godshuis museum, with the most beautiful pieces from the rich collection of the Ypres OCMW. Don't miss the painting depicting the Virgin. She is surrounded by the donors Yolente Belle, Joos Bryde and their children. It was painted in 1420, making it one of the oldest paintings in Belgium. In addition to other paintings by old masters, the museum houses some remarkable pieces of furniture such as a unique linen press from the 17th century and the only'tapestry\\\' in Ypres' public possession: a 17th-century altar curtain. Just before the end of the route you enter Poperinge, which is worth exploring. The city center of Poperinge has three large Gothic churches: the Sint-Bertinuskerk, the Gothic hall church of Onze-Lieve-Vrouwkerk with a pointed tower of 70 meters high and the Sint-Janskerk from 1300. Also take a look at the Weeuwhof. These houses, built around a courtyard, are very reminiscent of a beguinage. However, they were intended to house single women and widows (widows), who used to make a living with bobbin lace. Canon Proventier had the court built between 1769 and 1782, the pump in the courtyard mentions the names of the founders. The court now has a social housing function. You will also find several museums in Poperinge to extend your day out. The Hop Museum is located in the city scale complex: hops used to be weighed, inspected and stacked here. In 2006 the museum underwent a true metamorphosis. The existing building was expanded with a spacious annex where workshops, beer seminars, exhibitions and fun children's activities now take place. The Hop Museum is the center for hops and beer. Since this year you can admire the Belgian beer collection: more than 1400 Belgian beers collected in one cabinet.