Museum’s temporary exhibition in in flanders fields museum, ypres, belgium

The Republic of Slovenia, The Kobarid Museum and Walk of Peace Foundation presenting heritage of the Isonzo front in Ypres, Belgium

On Monday, 13 December 2021, The Republic of Slovenia presents the heritage of the Isonzo Front in renowned In Flanders Fields Museum in the town of Ypres, proclaimed as the town of peace. The event was held under the patronage of the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Belgium as a part of events during the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and 30 years of independence of the Republic of Slovenia.

Slovenian delegation was warmly greeted in Ypres. During this occasion The Kobarid Museum presents itself with the temporary exhibition “29 months of fights along The Soča”, which will be available to visitors until 9 January 2022. The Republic of Slovenia donated a memorial chair to In Flanders Fields Museum as a remembrance to all fallen on the Western front.

During the solemn event, speeches were held by mayor of Ypres Emmily Talpe, Slovenian ambassador in Belgium Dr. Rado Genorio, Slovenian military attaché in Belgium colonel Aleš Marič and director of The Kobarid Museum mag. Martin Šolar.

The cultural event in Ypres was concluded with the signature of memorandum of cooperation between In Flanders Fields Museum, The Kobarid Museum and Walk of Peace with the goal for further endeavours to reinstate European Walk of Peace.

Already for 30 years, The Kobarid Museum maintains and preserves, the heritage and remembrance on the Isonzo front as well as the Walk of Peace Foundation, which was founded a decade later. Mission of both institutions is a message of peace and absurdity of war. They share the same message with In Flanders Fields Museum and the town of Ypres. Cooperation between museums goes back to first Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2008, when Belgian museum hosted a temporary exhibition “The Great War in the Krn range”.

The exhibition “29 months of fights along The Soča”, which is displayed in The Kobarid Museum from October 2020 on, presents a chronology of the events, causes, battles and consequences of the Great War on Slovenian soil. The exhibition on display in Belgium is bilingual, English and Flemish.

Authentic restored memorial chair from Slovenia is a gift of the Republic of Slovenia to memorial exhibition of chairs in Ypres. Italian alpini used the chair in the rear of the front during the Isonzo front. Chairs in the memorial exhibition present victims of the Western front from more than 100 countries of the world.

Memorandum of cooperation is a confirmation of good cooperation between partners and shows the intention to reinstate the European Walk of Peace along all the former fronts of the Great War. Initiator of the idea is Walk of Peace Foundation with its own memorial trail from Alps to Adriatic and has a lead role in the endeavours to reinstate the European Walk of Peace. European Walk of Peace is an inspiration of historical memory for cooperation and lasting peace in the future.