Hill 60

The basics

The British attack in April 1915 began with the explosion of three mines that blew the top off the hill. Hundreds of soldiers died, and the continued fighting in this area made it impossible to identify or even recover many of the bodies. Tunneling and mining operations were carried out throughout the war by French, British, Australian, and German troops. If tunnels caved in, soldiers who died underground were often left behind because of the difficulty of retrieving them. The remains of many soldiers from both sides of the war are still at this site.

There’s a memorial to the 1st Australian Tunneling Company with a plaque that has bullet holes from World War II, when this area was briefly fought over again. Near this memorial is the 14th Light Division Memorial. The site also holds the remains of several concrete bunkers used by both sides. Visitors can book an all-day tour of the Flanders battlefields, including Hill 60, from Bruges or nearby Ypres.

Things to know before you go

• Although there are natural paths, the site is grassy, and the ground is uneven but primarily flat; there is a walkway made of wooden planks that spans part of the terrain.

• The hill is artificial and was created from soil from constructing the nearby railway line in the 1850s.

• This site is regarded as a war cemetery; visitors should act accordingly.

• A few information panels provide background information, but there is no visitor center or exhibition on site.

How to get there

Hill 60 is located on Zwarteleenstraat in Zillebeke, Belgium, 3 miles (5 kilometers) southeast of Ypres. You can take bus line 89 from Ypres to the Zillebeke Berg 60 stop, but it’s more convenient to get there by car, motorbike, or bicycle. From Ypres, take the main road to the large roundabout on Hellfire Corner and head south toward Zillebeke.

When to get there

Hill 60 is open to the public and accessible at all times; it doesn’t require much time to explore, around half an hour. The best time to visit Zillebeke is from May through September when you’ll experience pleasant temps and almost no rain. On April 25, Anzac Day, the deployment of the Australian and New Zealand troops is commemorated worldwide, with special services taking place in Ypres.

World War I battlefield sites

The region around Ypres in West Flanders is one of the principal areas for World War I battlefield tourism. The Menin Gate is a large structure that serves as the central war memorial in Ypres; it was specifically constructed to honor soldiers who remain missing. The In Flanders Fields Museum is the principal museum about World War I within the Ypres Salient region and is housed inside the landmark Cloth Hall, a must-see for dedicated battlefield tourists.