The Comines-Warneton Circuit 14-18

A moving journey through a region that suffered during the First World War.

At the end of October 1914, the front stopped for a length of about 750 km, from the North Sea to the Swiss border.

The town of Comines-Warneton, located in the middle of the combat zone, has an exceptional historical and memorial heritage. We leave for these places steeped in history. Our tour takes us past the most important cemeteries, memorials and museums of the municipality. The landscape is surprisingly serene and bucolic.

Along the small road that leads to Ploegsteert, we pass a place that has received the name 'Christmas Truce' (Christmas file). This is where German and British soldiers played a football match on Christmas Eve 1914. The site is marked by a recently placed stele and footballs that have been deposited as offerings ...

In addition, the British Ploegsteert Memorial appears on the horizon, with its round temple and Commonwealth military cemeteries. They pay tribute to the British soldiers who died in this region. On the walls are engraved 11,447 names of soldiers and officers who never had a grave. It is an emotional journey that will not leave you indifferent.

Good to know!

Discover the ideas 'Sleeping with your bike' proposed by the Tourist Office of Picardy Wallonia. Stay packages combining bike rides, relaxation and discoveries, with one night in a 'Bicycle Welcome' accommodation. Info: https://www.visitwapi.be

Type of route: RAVeL, towpath, roads with little traffic.

Type of bike: STB (Sport & Touring Bike).

Difficulty: A journey of 38 km. Distance is the main difficulty of this circuit, which passes through an almost flat relief.

Children: From +/- 15 years.

Departure: Chemin du Moulin Soete 21 - 7780 Comines-Warneton (Comines-Warneton Tourist Office), where exit 5 is located. Follow the direction of exit 6 to the city center.

Signage: Follow junctions 5, 6, 27, 4, 15, 2, 23, 3, 25, 29, 24, 13, 4, 27, 28, 7, 9, 6 and 5.

Parking: Places at the Tourist Office.

Difficulty: Medium

Duration: 4 hours.