Ieper will continue to implement its ambitious policy to renovate the city ramparts. Footpaths will be rehabilitated using environmentally-sound materials, water circulation on the fortifications will be improved to prevent erosion, enhance visitor comfort and facilitate access for all users to a peripheral section of the fortifications which features valuable landscape elements.

Ypres city council has been placed in charge of a symposium to be held in 2013 on the theme of “borders set in stone”.

The focus of the Walls&Gardens project lies on the Old Military Bakery. This complex of 5 casemates (750 m²) is being given back to the local population. These roomy spaces are incorporated in the body of the remparts and were not accessible to the local population and visitors. The building, close to Saint Jacob’s church in the vicinity of the Menin Gate will now be housing a meeting room, a cafeteria with restroom, an exposition hall and most importantly, an interpretation centre. In this centre locals and visitors alike, will be able to learn about the interconnected history of the city of Ieper, its walls and the specificity of the fortified landscape. Walls & Gardens allowed the city to use the most modern presentation techniques, while taking advantage of the know-how of the project partners.

The interpretation center was opened on April 28th, 2013 by Carl Decaluwé, governor of the province of the West-Flanders.

Another part of the local project is situated immediately above the casemates and concerns the construction of a garden containing local plants connected with the cloth production in Ieper in the Middle Ages. In fact, many of these plants survived in the fortified landscape, but they are now being put together for didactical purposes.

Work is expected to be finished by Summer 2013. The third part of the project is the resurfacing of the walkways on the fortifications with a durable material, improving the permeability of the soil. Besides this, the general objectives of the project are supported and the cooperation with our partners, valued.