Belvedere is a beautiful domain located in the municipality of Heuvelland, Belgium, on the Kemmelberg hill. This area is steeped in history, particularly related to the two World Wars, and offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside. The domain of Belvedere was once a popular tourist destination in the early 1900s. It was home to a grand hotel, several restaurants, and a casino that attracted visitors from across Europe. However, the outbreak of World War I in 1914 would change everything. During the war, the area around Belvedere was the site of fierce battles between the German and Allied forces. The Kemmelberg hill was an important strategic location, and both sides fought fiercely to gain control of it. The hill changed hands several times during the war, and the area was left devastated by the fighting. After the war, the hotel and casino at Belvedere were never rebuilt, and the area became a memorial to the soldiers who fought and died there. The Kemmel American Monument was erected on the hill in 1937 to commemorate the American soldiers who fought in the area during the war. During World War II, the Kemmelberg hill once again played an important role in the fighting. The Germans occupied the area and used it as a strategic location to defend against Allied forces. The hill was finally liberated by Allied troops in September 1944. Today, the area around Belvedere is a popular destination for visitors interested in exploring its rich history. The Kemmelberg hill offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside and is home to several monuments and memorials related to the two World Wars. The area is also a popular destination for hikers and cyclists, with several trails winding through the countryside. In summary, Belvedere is a beautiful domain with a rich history. Its location on the Kemmelberg hill made it an important strategic location during the two World Wars, and the area is now a memorial to the soldiers who fought and died there. Visitors to the area can explore the many monuments and memorials that commemorate the area’s past and enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding countryside. The Belvédère lookout tower would not be erected until 1888. Tourists climbed the spiral-shaped path to the top of the viewing hill and enjoyed magnificent panoramas. Apart from its dominant position, the Kemmelberg offered few elements of resistance; the French found this small British resistance centre there and called it ‘Cabaret-Bellevue’… A few hundred meters farther on was the Belvédère lookout tower’s observation post, with a hideout under the tower, and a trench down to the north. In the very early hours of 25 April on the Kemmelberg, an inferno erupted out of the morning silence. German batteries fired at target points all around the hill, from the south, the east, and the north-west, bombarding the allied artillery units and the French first lines with gas grenades and brisant bombs for more than two hours, at a rate of one hundred units a minute… This infernal artillery bombardment was quickly decimating all life on and around the Kemmelberg, Monteberg, and Lettenberg. It was followed by another very heavy German bombardment, this time an aerial one. The Kemmelberg’s top did not escape. The Belvédère lookout tower of 1888 was completely destroyed, but the site of the former tower remained in use as a British observation post aimed at the German positions in Wytschaete. A few years after the end of the war, the tower was rebuilt and is now a protected monument. At the time of the attack on the Kemmelberg, Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm II visited the front and followed the attack from an observation post. He triumphantly exclaimed: ‘Die Schlacht ist entschieden. Wir haben den Berg’ (‘The battle is decided. We have the mountain’). The British, anxious to keep their fighting equipment out of the hands of the Germans at all costs, had managed to blow up twenty-five of their own guns. The Germans had now the entire plateau in their possession and approached to within thirty metres of the summit, from the east, north, and south. Around 9:30am, only two French survivors were left when German troops took possession of the Kemmelberg top. The villages of Kemmel and Dranouter also fell into German hands. The attack on the Kemmelberg has historically been considered one of the heaviest attacks of the First World War. The villages and the beautiful landscape of the West-Flemish hills were completely destroyed after five months of war. Kemmel and Bailleul (Belle, France) – closely linked by the First World War – were left utterly devastated by this offensive. After the war, Belvedere was rebuild, it became a restaurant “Belvédère” In 2014, the building and domain were renovated.
Our History
Cultural Heritage
Since
1888
Our History
Belvedere During the World War
During
1900
Our History
Belvedere During the World War
During
1900
Our History
Belvedere During the World War
During
1900
Our History
Belvedere after the War
From
1990’s and 2000’s
Our History
Belvedere after the War
From
1990’s and 2000’s
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