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Kemmelberg

Site Introduction

 

At 154m tall, the Kemmelberg is about the highest hill in Flanders. It is built up of a succession of clay and sand layers which consists of a top layer of sand with resistant iron sand stones and silex pebbles sintered together.

This erosion-resistant layer was created when the Kemmelberg area, millions of years ago, was located in a coastal zone with ferrous gravel banks, which later oxidised and solidified. The harder top layer prevented the later erosion of the hill, while softer clay and sand layers in the area disappeared and isolated the 'witness' hill.

The landscape can be characterised as semi-open agricultural with large differences in relief at the top zone that provide impressive panoramic views. Church towers betray the village centres in the area.

The top of the Kemmelberg is wooded and, in spring, the entire area is covered in bluebells. Wood anemones occur in the lower source forest. Despite the extensive landscape destruction caused by the First World War, the Kemmelberg is able to maintain its cultural-historical character.

Bluebells on the Kemmelberg, by Philippe Vercoutter
Photo © Philippe Vercoutter

 

 

Text copyright © Archeo Kemmelberg. An original feature for the History Files: Kemmelberg.