Ypres - Sint-Maartenskathedraal

Baldwin II the Bald, Margrave of Flanders, fortified Ypres to defend against the Normans with th early 10th century. During the Middle Ages, Ypres was a prosperous Flemish city with a population of 40,000 in 1200 AD, renowned for its linen trade with England, which was mentioned in the Canterbury Tales. Textiles from Ypres could be found in the markets of Novgorod in Kievan Rus' in the early 12th century. In 1241, a major fire ruined much of the old city. During the Norwich Crusade, led by the English bishop Henry le Despenser, Ypres was besieged in 1383, until French relief forces arrived. Ypres became the seat of the new Diocese of Ypres in 1561, and Saint Martin's Church was elevated to cathedral. In 1678, Ypres was conquered by the forces of Louis XIV of France. It remained French and Vauban constructed his typical fortifications.

Ypres occupied a strategic position during the First World War. The neutrality of Belgium, established by the First Treaty of London, brought the British Empire into the war. The Germans surrounded the city on three sides, bombarding it throughout much of the war. To counterattack, British, French, and allied forces made costly advances into the German lines on the surrounding hills. In the First Battle of Ypres (November 1914), the Allies captured the town from the Germans. The Germans´ use of poison gas for the first time in April 1915 marked the beginning of the Second Battle of Ypres. They captured high ground east of the town. Mustard gas, also called Yperite from the name of this town, was also used for the first time near Ypres, in the autumn of 1917. After the war, Winston Churchill proposed to leave Ypres in ruins as a mausoleum,.

Construction of St. Martin started in 1230, and was finished in 1370. There had previously been a Romanesque church in the area, dating from the 10th or 11th century. Ypres was originally part of the Diocese of Terwaan (today Thérouanne), which had been established in the 8th century. In 1553 Charles V besieged the city of Thérouanne, then a French enclave in the Holy Roman Empire, in revenge for a defeat by the French at Metz. After he captured the city he razed it. In 1557, as a result of the war damage to its see, the diocese was abolished. This led to a reform of sees and the bishopric of Thérouanne was split between the Diocese of Saint-Omer, the diocese of Boulogne and the Diocese of Ypres. With this, Saint Martin's Church was elevated to cathedral status, as it became the see of the new diocese.

After the Concordat of 1801 between Napoleon and Pope Pius VII, Ypres was incorporated into the diocese of Ghent, Saint Martin's lost its status as a cathedral. As with many former cathedrals, it is often still referred to as a cathedral by locals.

It was heavily damaged during the First World War. Subsequently (1922–1930) the ruin was cleared and the church was entirely rebuilt following the original plans.