A Son of the Rock

The hotel we stayed in in Ypres (or, as it is now named, Ieper) lay right next to this crater formed by the explosion of British mines under German trenches in July 1915. Our bedroom had this view of the crater. The remains of a blockhouse can be seen bottom centre, crossed by the hotel’s shadow.

Back then there would have been no greenery as it would all have been blasted away. Now it is a lovely tranquil spot (if you can ignore its history) where sheep can safely graze.

This is the frontage of the hotel (Kasteelhof ‘t Hooghe.)

Our room was at the side of the hotel. A door from it opened onto the right hand side of the first floor balcony.