iain mchenry Posted 23 December , 2007 Share Posted 23 December , 2007 Just some important traffic/works info for those visiting in the new year. There are going to be some major works taking place on the Grote Markt (Town Center). There is a plan on-going to replace the cobble stones in the town center. It is taking place in 5 stages. Two stages are complete. The third stage begins on the 14th January. From the corner of Lille Street (opposite the fountain) across to the junction of the town square and St Jacobs Street, that is the street leading to the Novotel, will be closed from 14th Jan till March 08. That is the road that is in front of the Sultan Hotel, Regina hotel, Cyper resataurant etc. I am not sure where the next two phases of work will take place in the square. It seems to take about 3 months to complete a phase of work so there will be traffic disruption for the next 9 months or so. I am not sure what traffic deviation is going to be put in place. The speed limit for the center of Ypres will change very shortly. The area from the Market Place up to the Lille Gate and from across the road in front of the railway Station across to the Menin Gate will all become a 30 Kmh zone (dropping down from 50 Kmh) The Shell Hole Bed and Breakfast once owned by John and Christine, on D'Hondstraat is now closed. They have moved on. Another Bed and Breakfast is to be opened on the spot. It will be known as the "Acacia". I have heard that the new owner intends to try and have 5 bedrooms up and running by May with a further 3 in June. Who the owner is, what style the B and B will be, and the contact details, I do not know. If any local members on this site have any more info about the above then please add. All the best to all for Xmas and New Year. Iain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabine72 Posted 23 December , 2007 Share Posted 23 December , 2007 Iain, Fron this january the first it is 30 km an hour in nearly all the streets in the centre. For the first stage of works around the square, the only way in will be the diksmuidestraat, and then park your car on the square. From rijselstraat I thing you'll be able to go to the neermarkt I'm sure during that stage they will change some one-way direction streets or they will make it possible to enter the square from the meninstraat en still leave by st jacobstraat. It was in the newspaper a few weks ago and I'm sure it will be back in the newspaper before the 14th of january. as soon as I find out something I'll post it in here. kind regards sabine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 23 December , 2007 Share Posted 23 December , 2007 Is there any town in Europe that messes about with its main central square more than Ieper? This must be the fourth or fifth time there have been major works there in the last 20 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iain mchenry Posted 23 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 23 December , 2007 Chris, From what I have been told, the cobbles are replaced every three years. Regards Iain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 23 December , 2007 Share Posted 23 December , 2007 Why? Are they cheaply made cobbles imported from a plastics factory in China? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick D Posted 23 December , 2007 Share Posted 23 December , 2007 Ypres is to me an example of what a market square could be ! My market town (City) of Durham is way behind, although cobbled it compares badly. I wonder what the Ypres authorities see as being 'wrong' with their cobbled square. Mick D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frie Posted 23 December , 2007 Share Posted 23 December , 2007 until now, The Flemish Region is owner of those streets. The Flemish Region will be no longer the owner but the town council of Ypres will be, BUT the town council asked reparation of those streets before they become owner of those streets. And it is a reparation, not replacing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabine72 Posted 23 December , 2007 Share Posted 23 December , 2007 Hello, Reparation indeed, every 3 years , the intentation of the town is that they want it to look like it was in the old days before the war only, now there are busses and vans and lorries and a lot more cars then in the early 1900's. it looks ok with the cobbles but practical is something else. I guess Ieper wants to look like bruges. sabine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frie Posted 23 December , 2007 Share Posted 23 December , 2007 The most important changes were made in the 60's -and again in the 90's. Now with a speed limit of 30km there will be less damage from the lorries and busses... And Chris yes, in the last 20 there were a lot of changes, but road by road... And reparations every 3 year, that's exaggerated, only some minor reparations... in the 90's there was a new project for traffic, but some shop-owners on the square could change the the project... Next year the town of Ypres will get those roads FREE from the Flemish Region but after reparation by the Flemish Region. The town of Ypres asked for reparations before taking over the roads. That's why there are reparations now................ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlotte cardoen-descamps Posted 23 December , 2007 Share Posted 23 December , 2007 Ian, According to their website the new hotel which is on the spot of the former shell hole B&B is going to be in running order from February onwards. Apparently the new owners are not aiming at WW I enthousiasts but try to attrackt cycling tourists. You can have a look at their accommpodation at http://www.acaciahotel.be/ Best wishes, charlotte Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salientpoints Posted 23 December , 2007 Share Posted 23 December , 2007 Looks the same at the moment, even using the pictures I took when I built John's website...hmmm do I get royalties? Merry Christmas! Ryan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick D Posted 23 December , 2007 Share Posted 23 December , 2007 I bet they get cycling WW1 enthusiats ! Mick D (I'm one) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Rumsey Posted 4 February , 2008 Share Posted 4 February , 2008 Hows the re-cobbling working out? I will be in Ypres on Wed 6 Feb. Is it reasonable or ghastly. (Please bear in mind I live about 2 miles from the M25 so traffic congestion is an everyday part of life). Seriously any up to date info on do/donts would be welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted 4 February , 2008 Share Posted 4 February , 2008 I'd also be grateful for an update. Particularly of interest is how to get a coach from the square to the dropping-off point at the Cathedral! Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Best Posted 4 February , 2008 Share Posted 4 February , 2008 I'd also be grateful for an update. Me too! Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyHollinger Posted 4 February , 2008 Share Posted 4 February , 2008 Those bicycles rent for $10 (roughly) a day!!! That's amazing. Their purchase price can't be over $300. It seems a bit much ... why don't people just pop the bike on the back of the car or whatever ... Still it would be cool to cycle from place to place ... kinda rough for the guide, though, isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Tucker Posted 4 February , 2008 Share Posted 4 February , 2008 Me too! Chris Me too Alan aka Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabine72 Posted 5 February , 2008 Share Posted 5 February , 2008 Hello, The cobblestones are replaced, but the road will be open again at the beginning of marsh. When you enter ypres by the menin gate you arrive at the square, but cann't turn left into the st jacobstraat where novotel is., you cann't park on the square but only can turn right and leaving the centre by the korte torhout straat.( new courthouse) then you turn left into the lange torhoutstraat and then left again, at the crossing left again and you are in the dixmuidestraat. If you want to park your car on the square you have to enter town by the dixmuidestraat. the parking between the cathedraal and the cloth hall you can reach by the elverdinge straat or by the dixmuidestaat ( turn right the last straat before you arrive at the square. Novotel you can reach by turning left if you just passed the menin gate and then second right (next to st jacobchurch). only when school starts and ends I find it busy. hope it helps kind regards sabine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Rumsey Posted 5 February , 2008 Share Posted 5 February , 2008 Thank you Sabine. I will take account of your information on my visit tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salutor Posted 5 February , 2008 Share Posted 5 February , 2008 I have just found this thread and would like to say thanks for the heads up as we will be in Ypres from 10th March for 3 days. On another note, can anyone help with car parking in Ypres. We are staying in the Novotel was wondering if there was public parking available nearby? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 5 February , 2008 Share Posted 5 February , 2008 I've not stayed there, but I think the Novotel has its own parking. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salutor Posted 5 February , 2008 Share Posted 5 February , 2008 It does indeed Ian, it is just my mean streak showing itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 5 February , 2008 Share Posted 5 February , 2008 For shame! Just be warned that I parked my car all innocently in the square in Peronne and they built a market around it. (They have a market in Ieper on Saturdays too.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sabine72 Posted 6 February , 2008 Share Posted 6 February , 2008 Hello, In the newspaper this morning, The plans are changed, the side of the square that takes you to the rijselstraat will be open on 16/02/2008. that is 2 weeks earlier. 2 days later the work on the cobblestones near the busstop will start. so no more entering town by the dixmuidestraat then. kind regards sabine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Best Posted 7 February , 2008 Share Posted 7 February , 2008 Thanks Sabine, I could have lost my reputation with my mates next week but for this heads up. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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