Ramparts Cemetery & Lille Gate

Ramparts Cemetery, located beside the Lille Gate on the southern edge of Ypres, is the only Commonwealth War Graves Commission burial ground situated within the ancient walls of the city. The cemetery was begun by French troops in November 1914 and subsequently used by Commonwealth forces from February 1915 until April 1918. It contains 198 Commonwealth burials, of which 188 are identified. Set atop the historic ramparts overlooking the tranquil waters of the Majoorgracht moat, the cemetery offers a setting of quiet dignity that many visitors describe as one of the most moving in the Salient. The Lille Gate itself, one of the original medieval gateways into the city, adds to the historical depth of the site. The grounds are meticulously maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and are freely accessible at all times. A folder at the cemetery entrance lists the names of those buried, inviting a personal connection with each individual. The combination of a serene waterside setting, intimate scale, and the authentic medieval architecture of the Lille Gate makes this an especially memorable place of remembrance in Ypres.