Gardens of Heuvelland Kemmel

The Gardens of Heuvelland in Kemmel form an exceptional network of publicly accessible ornamental gardens around the distinctive Kemmelberg, the highest summit of the West Flemish hills. The gardens were created in cooperation with local landscape architects and garden clubs, and each garden has its own theme: a rose garden, a herb garden, an English border and a contemporary garden with native grasses. Walking paths between the gardens offer unique panoramic views across the First World War front line.

Accessibility is partial. The central welcome pavilion at the foot of the Kemmelberg is fully barrier-free and has an adapted toilet. A specifically laid out accessible path of 600 metres connects the reception with the two main gardens: the rose garden and the English garden, both on a slightly sloping but wheelchair-friendly route. The other gardens higher up the hill can only be reached via steeper paths with partial gravel, which is difficult for unaccompanied wheelchair users.

The central car park at the foot of the Kemmelberg has several PRM spaces. The welcome pavilion provides information about the accessible routes and can lend out a wheelchair with wider wheels for those who want to tackle the semi-paved paths more comfortably. A visit to the Gardens of Heuvelland combines particularly well with a trip to the In Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres and the surrounding First World War memorial sites.