Ibis Waterloo

The Battle of Waterloo-June 18, 1815

by Dabs

The Battle of Waterloo, which changed the course of European history, pitted French emperor Napoleon, who had recently escaped from his 1st exile on the island of Elba, vs. the allied forces of Europe under Wellington which included the British, Belgians, Germans, and Dutch and backed by the Prussian army. After 9 hours and 15,000 men killed in battle, the allies emerged victorious and Napoleon was forced to abdicate again, this time exiled to St. Helena where he spent the rest of his life.

From the top of the Lion's Mound you can see part of the problem that Napoleon's army faced, although not dramatic, the allies held the upper ground and the French faced an uphill battle, compounded by a wet and muddy battlefield.

ULM flying

by Luchonda

I think one of cheapest ways to get into the air.
and feel like a bird
And please notice - my pilot was a small guy - so i look a little bit stronger - and maybe the plane was a little bit smaller too !!
And on top - i had to wear some extra clothes - because it is cold there - high in the magnificent world !!
Pictures are not always showing the truth !! LOL

Wellington Museum

by Muya

The museum is set in a XVIIIth century inn, that was chosen by the English General Staff to be the Headquarters of the Duke of Wellington. This is where he slept on June 17th and 18th and where he wrote his victory announcement.

An interesting visit if you are keen on history, plenty of detailed informations are given to you step by step all along the 14 rooms of the museum, in the main house first, and then in another building across the garden. In there you’ll get everything necessary to understand the battle : wax statues, pictures, objects that once belonged to Napoleon and the Duke of Wellington, maps of the different battles and armies…a really comprehensive museum.
But maybe too difficult to understand for children…

We visited this museum after the Lion Hill, but I suggest you start your visit of Waterloo with the Wellington Museum. Not only because it is the most interesting of them all, but also because it is the only place where you can buy a 12 euros package ticket including all the visits concerning the Battle of Waterloo (Wellington Museum, Last Headquarters of Napoleon, Wax Museum, Visitor’s Center, Panorama and Lion Hill). It seems that some tensions exist between both sites, and this is why they didn’t show us that “1815 Pass ” at the Visitor Center of the Lion Hill… Too bad…

Museum only : 5,00 euros, audio-guide in 7 languages included.

Commemorative monuments of the battle

by Muya

On the road between the Visitor’s Center and the Ferme du Caillou you will see various monuments build in the memory of each nation that fought in the battle of 1815. Some have been build to commemorate a person in particular, such as the Monument Gordon, erected in the memory of Alexandre Gordon, Wellington’s aide-de-camp.
135 of those monuments are scattered in the Waterloo countryside.

Waterloo, all is not what it seems

by TygerLyn

"Into the Lions mouth"

The most interesting thing about Waterloo is, of course, the giant lion that stores the diorama depicting the battle of Waterloo. Waterloo is mainly a typical Belgian small town/large village consisting of cream houses with brown shutters and those neat gardens and sparkling paths and streets that you see throughout Belgium. However, a climb up the steps and into the Lion is worth a visit as you have wonderful panoramic views of the battle field. Also, the diorama is interesting because the battle is not quite as it is written in English history books! Definitely a French bias.

The Wellington Musem in the town centre is interesting too. But for such a major and impoartant part of Franco/Anglo and now European history it is rather sad that more is not made of this rather spiritless pace.