Ypres

Ypres (Flemish Y’peren), a Belgian town of West Flanders, on a fertile plain 30 miles SSW. of Bruges by rail, and 8 from the French frontier. Ypres was at one time one of the most important manufacturing towns in Flanders, the number of inhabitants in the 14th century being 200,000, and the number of looms 4000. Its staple manufacture was Diaper (q.v.). The only remnant of its once flourishing manufacture is the Cloth-hall (Les Halles), standing in the great market-place, in a rich style of Gothic architecture, and surmounted by a stately square tower or belfry, with a clock and chimes. It was built 1230-1342, and restored in 1860; a part was added in 1730. There are fine frescoes in the great hall, and many statues on the outside. One of the wings is now used as the hôtel-de-ville. The cathedral of St Martin is a fine Gothic edifice (1221-1350), with an altar of Carrara marble, a richly carved pulpit, and a picture doubtfully attributed to Van Eyck. The chief modern manufactures are thread and lace. Pop. 16,137. Ypres is a very old town, its origin dating from the 9th and 10th centuries. In 1688 it was strongly fortified by Louis XIV., and in the great European wars was frequently subject to sieges. Jansen (q.v.) was Bishop of Ypres.