Old Monastery

For four years, the monastery is occupied daily by German troops. In the beginning, there are about 1,000 soldiers lodging in every corner of the building. When they depart for the front, the rooms are taken over by new soldiers.
At the start of the war, the classrooms of the monastery are used as horse stables... All classes are suspended and only resumed in September 1915.
Sometimes the monastery is free of soldiers, thanks to a German admiral who has claimed the building as his personal residence.
At the front, it is known as 'le petit chateau' and is therefore, especially in the afternoon, the target of artillery fire. This may be due to the observation post on the roof, where you can still see a lookout platform today.
In the basement, a concrete shelter is being built, in which the nuns count as many as 60 to 70 telephone cables, indicating the importance of this command post.
Especially during the liberation offensive of October 1918, the building is heavily targeted and severely damaged.
"They have never shot so accurately," cheers the people of Leffinge.
Photo: the building and the observation post on the roof are virtually unchanged today (collection Jean-Marie Barra).

Toerisme Middelkerke