Ypres

Ypres (French, generally used in English;1 Ieper official name in the local Dutch) is a municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the towns of Boezinge, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke and Zuidschote. On January 1 2005 Ypres had a total population of 36,120

Related Topics:
French - 1 - Dutch - Municipality - Flanders - Belgium - Flemish - West Flanders - Boezinge - Dikkebus - Elverdinge - Vlamertinge - Voormezele - Zillebeke - Zuidschote - January 1 - 2005

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.The total area is 130.61 km² which gives a population density of 267.58 inhabitants per km².

Related Topics:
Km² - Population density

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During the Middle Ages, Ypres was a prosperous town with a population of 80,000. It was renowned for its linen trade with England. During this time, cats, then the sign of the devil and witchcraft, were thrown off the cloth halls, to get rid of evil demons. Today, this is commemorated with the Cat Parade, a triennial parade through town, depicting the history of the cat.

Related Topics:
Middle Ages - Linen - Cat Parade

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The area around Ypres was the site of three major battles in World War I. Because of the fighting the town was all but obliterated with much shelling from the Germans. After the war the town was rebuilt with the main square, including the noted Cloth Hall and town hall being rebuilt as much like the original as possible. (The rest of the rebuilt town is more modern in appearance.) The Cloth Hall is today a museum dedicated to Ypres's role in the First World War.

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Ypres these days has the title of city of peace and has a close friendship with another town on which war had a big impact; Hiroshima. The association is regarded as somewhat gruesome due to the undeniable fact that both towns witnessed mankind at its worst; Ypres was the first place where chemical warfare was employed (actually this was at Steenstraete, a small area close by), while Hiroshima was the location for the debut of nuclear warfare.

Related Topics:
Hiroshima - Chemical warfare - Nuclear warfare

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