From October 4th to 7th, 2023, Dr. Kamil Ruszała, the PI of the research group "Heritage of War" within the CHSH, conducted a study visit to the "In Flanders Fields Museum" in Ieper/Ypres, Flandria, Belgium.

The purpose of this visit was to explore the museum's operations and gain a broader understanding of World War I heritage in the Flandria region. During the visit, Dr. Ruszała engaged in a multifaceted itinerary, which included a comprehensive examination of the museum's permanent and temporary exhibitions related to the First World War, as well as a temporary display concerning war cemeteries in Flandria. He also delivered a guest lecture and participated in a field trip, all of which provided valuable insights into the functioning of the museum's research center, its resources, personnel, challenges, and ongoing projects. This visit facilitated an exchange of experiences and knowledge between the research groups and highlighted the potential for future collaborations in the field of World War I heritage.

A pivotal moment during the visit was the evening lecture by Dr. Ruszała, titled "Architectures of Remembrance on the Crossroads of Empires." This lecture delved into the Eastern Front battleground, where the Austro-Hungarian, German, and Russian Empires clashed during World War I. Dr. Ruszała discussed how the merging empires influenced the architecture and commemoration of war cemeteries and monuments, with a particular focus on the case of Galicia, a region that transitioned from the Habsburg Monarchy to southern Poland. The lecture also paid special attention to the case of Austrian imperial narratives of war heroism in architecture and their adaptations post-1918 and post-1945. Following the lecture, there was a vibrant discussion on the challenges of preserving the cultural heritage and landscape of the First World War. Additionally, the lecture addressed the recent inscription of Flandria's World War I heritage on the UNESCO list in September 2023 and the prospects of including the heritage of the Eastern Front on the same list. These discussions shed light on the importance of safeguarding historical sites and commemorating the past.

Dr. Kamil Ruszała and Pieter Trogh, a member of the "Heritage of War" research group, conducted extensive field research by visiting historical sites related to World War I. Their visits included:

• Essex Farm Cemetery: the place, where John McCrae is believed to have written the famous poem "In Flanders Fields".
• Vladslo Soldatenfriedhof: A significant German World War I cemetery.
• Langemark Soldatenfriedhof: Another notable German World War I cemetery.
• Saint-Charles-de-Potyze: the largest onr  French cemetery in Belgium.
• Canadian monument 'The Brooding Soldier'.
• New Irish Farm Cemetery, passking by La Belle Alliance and Divisional Collecting Post Cemetery.
• No Man's Cot Cemetery: One of the "31st July 1917" frontline cemeteries.
• Battlefield of Pilkem Ridge: A historical battlefield location.
• R E Grave Wood Monument,
• Craters in the wood of Bellewaerde Ridge.
• Ramparts Military Cemetery.
• Menin Gate Memorial: A well-known war memorial in Ypres/Ieper.

These visits provided invaluable firsthand experience and historical context.

The conclusion of the visit involved discussions about further cooperation, including plans for an expert panel in Krakow and debates on World War I museums. Additionally, preparations for a future conference in 2025 were discussed, aiming to continue the collaborative research on World War I heritage. The visit to the "In Flanders Fields Museum" was an enriching experience that deepened our knowledge and commitment to the preservation and study of World War I heritage.