Menin Gate Memorial

The Menin Gate Memorial is one of the most iconic and moving landmarks in Ypres, and one of the most visited First World War memorials in the world. Built over the road through which hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers passed on their way to the front, it was inaugurated in 1927 and bears the names of more than 54,000 soldiers of the British Commonwealth who were killed in the Ypres Salient and whose bodies were never recovered. Each evening at 8 p.m., the Last Post ceremony is held beneath the memorial arch by buglers of the Last Post Association, a tradition that has continued every night since 1928 — interrupted only during the Second World War — and remains one of the most powerful acts of remembrance anywhere in the world. The memorial’s classical architecture, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield, is both grand and solemn, with lion sculptures flanking the main arch. Visitors come from across the globe to attend the ceremony, read the inscribed names, and pay their respects. The Menin Gate is a cornerstone of Ypres’ cultural identity and a profound symbol of the city’s enduring commitment to remembrance.