Diksmuide, Belgium then into France

Travelled : 64km
Stay : France- Steenvoorde,  free parking at windmill 1.3km out of town, no services N50.8086 E2.5629
Visited : Diksmuide,  Ijzer Tower Museum

We drove a short distance to Diksmuide and parked with a couple of other motorhomes that looked like has stayed the night at the car park near the Ijzer Tower. 

As the museum was opening at 10am we went for a walk into town making our way to the Grote Markt- the square. There were many impressive buildings in that lovely Flemish style and very well maintained.  As we explored we came across some interpretive panels which gave us an understanding of the towns history and the devistation it had experienced in WWI. 

Free bike pump in the square!

The old fish market.

We then returned to the Ijzer (Yser) Tower Museum. It is a monument to the Flemish dead in WWI. This the second one to have been built on this site as the first one had been blown up in 1946. It is 84m tall and contains 22 floors of displays about the Belgian-German WWI confrontation. This small western corner was saved from occupation because they flooded the low plains/ploders. 

As we descended from the 22 floor we visited the museum, each floor focusing on different parts of the War.

We could even smell poisonous gas.

Underground bunkers.

After 2 hours we headed to Poperinge. We stopped for a quick look around the Grote Markt admiring once again the architecture.  Unfortunately there was amusement rides set up which detracted from the ambiance.  In WWI the town was a transit point and a recuperation centre for Allied troops. 

A statue of an English woman who entertained the troops.

A beautiful wooden pulpit.

Oh! Did I forget to mention that this is hops country!! Belgium beer is one of the best in the world.

Then it was into France we went. We got just over the boarder to Steenvoorde and after a brief walk in the centre we went to park at the old mill and had a quiet afternoon, an early dinner and did a bit of planning for our last 2 weeks. We had thought of the coast until we found out that this weekend is what they call 'le grand depart' ... The first weekend of the holiday season, so the coast is out of bounds for us! Too hectic.