Location: Poperinge
Top Things to do in Poperinge
What to do and see in Poperinge, Belgium: The Best Places and Tips
Poperinge (also spelled Poperinghe in the past) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders, Flemish Region, and has a history going back to medieval times. The municipality comprises the city of Poperinge proper and surrounding villages. The area is famous for its hops and lace.
Restaurants in Poperinge
1. Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 221 reviews
Reviewed By FiShep - London, United Kingdom
One of a very many immaculate Commonwealth War Grave Cemeteries in the region, this one stands out for its visitors centre. Lijssenthoek was the site for a number of Casualty Clearing Stations and military hospitals; the visitors centre offers an excellent narrative of medical support and how casualties were evacuated. We spent a good 40 minutes here before we got out into the cemetery! Those buried here form the 3% of casualties that were recovered back to here, and then did not survive. The other 97% did - now there's a statistic worth thinking on when you see the vastness of the cemetery.
2. Talbot House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 264 reviews
Reviewed By Arne S - London, United Kingdom
Touring the many Flanders Battlefields and war Cemeteries is an emotional and often depressing experience. How wonderful it is then to visit Talbot House and experience the many good sides of man. There are already so many TA reviews covering Every Mans Club, Rev. Tubby Clayton and his staff at Talbot House. All I can say is if there ever is a 'must do' experience this is it!
3. Poperinge Town Hall Death Cell
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 131 reviews
Reviewed By Arne S - London, United Kingdom
Visit the Poperinge Death Cell before you visit Talbot House. It is a moving and sad experience whilst Talbot House is totally uplifting. One should leave Poperinge on a positive note because this town deserves that having offered a great respite for so many during WW1.
4. The Hop Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 112 reviews
Center of Belgium Hops and Beers. Discover the history and use of hops. Come and see our Belgium Beercollection with more than 1600 bottles.
Reviewed By GeorginaS152 - Windsor, United Kingdom
After Talbot House our walking group paused to hear about and admire the Hop Museum. Then, most appropriately, we were led to St Bertinus Church, the oldest in Poperinge. In the 9th century this site was a priory of St Omer's Abbey in Northern France. A Romanesque church was built here from C9- C14 AD. This was subsequently destroyed and replaced more than once.
Then in the 15th century, hops came to Poperinge from St Bertinus Abbey in Saint Omer. This trade became huge, filled the gap left by the demise of the wool trade and founded the industry of beer-making for which Belgium is famed.
When we went in, the first thing we saw at the back of the church was an imposing model of the Abbey Church in St Omer, France, which has had connections with Poperinge since the 9th century AD. Whether it was a model for a future building is not clear.
The stained glass windows were striking, the proportions of the church almost cathedral-like in their elegant airiness. There were rows of pristine Seating and the floors shone. It all looked so new. There were no signs that it was a functioning church. Was it perhaps to become a museum?
Our guide explained that, over the warring centuries, many of the precious objects and furnishings had been destroyed, stolen or moved, that was why it might seem sparsely furnished. Efforts were constantly being made to reclaim treasures. He pointed out the wonderfully-carved dark wood pulpit with gleaming roof and cherubs. Apparently this stunning piece had been sent to Paris for safe-keeping during WWI and mot been given back until the 1930's.
There were also glorious, light wood figures when viewed from the front in the nave. But on inspection, they were rough and unfinished at the back, showing they'd obviously been fixed to a wall or in an alcove in a previous life.
The third intriguing feature was a framed display of badges of fallen German soldiers on a nave pillar. Yet more evidence of the parity of esteem that warriors of all nations are given in this welcoming town and community.
So clean, bright and pristine. Is this a work in progress? A museum in the making? Or simply a church taking a very long time to complete? Whatever, for us it was simply the last piece in the jigsaw that is Poperinge - fine buildings, respectful of tradition; with a desire to preserve the best of the old and, at the same time, welcome and absorb the new.
A visit to Poperinge is highly recommended and do allow a day in which to wander and enjoy. We were quite rushed to see as much as we could and didn't allow time for a reflective beer. How sad was that in Pop, home of the liquid of the hop? But we'll be back and have two drinks next time to make up.
5. Rondje Westhoek
6. Guesthouse Escape
Overall Ratings
5 based on 18 reviews
7. Burggraaf Frimoutpark
Overall Ratings
4 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By Modf - Lille, France
Dommage que rien n'ait été pensé pour les personnes à mobilité réduite ce qui aurait été le cas en Grande-Bretagne, d'où je reviens. Oui vraiment dommage car c'est un havre de paix au milieu d'une agréable ville du Westhoek et il n'y a pas de banc pour que les seniors puissent faire une petite halte ou faire un brin de lecture. Ce serait un plus fortement apprécié, je pense, par les personnes du 3ème âge.
8. Poperinghe New Military Cemetery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By SomersetFoxy - Winscombe, United Kingdom
Have visited this area several times and have wanted to visit this very special cemetery for sometime. It is easy to find off the Poperinghe ring road and there is easy parking. The cemetery is beautifully cared for as one would expect. There are 17 soldiers buried here who were shot for "cowardice" and or "desertion" ..if this doesn't make you feel emotional nothing ever will. An experience I will never forget and I have already persuaded friends that this is a place to go to. Also buried here is 1, yes 1, German soldier and many French. I will return.
9. Brouwerij De Plukker
Overall Ratings
5 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By tkbrierley
We stopped by for a tasting on a saturday afternoon (open at 2pm). They do tours but only for groups. I contacted them by email to ask for location etc, and they were very helpful. De plukker is passionate about organic hops and the beers that can be produced from them. We enjoyed tasting their three main beers (small charge per glass) and were given information about the hops and the style of the beers. We purchased boxes of 12 and some large bottles too. Glasses also available although they had unfortunately sold out of pate.
10. Zwembad De Kouter
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By bruneeje - Mouscron, Belgium
Nous avons passé deux bonnes heures dans cette belle piscine. Certes le prix d'entrée de 9 euros n'est pas donné mais elle est équipée de sauna, hammam, piscine à vague, toboggan, jets d'eau... et on peut nager dans un bassin de 25 m. Très bon équipement moderne et fonctionnel.
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