 The French Staff looking at the map by Muya | Reviews and photos of Waterloo attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Waterloo sightseeing. Waterloo Map |
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If you want to climb to the top of the Lion's Mound (Butte de Lion) for a view over the Waterloo battlefields, stop by the visitor's center, part with 2.50E and be prepared to climb up 226 stairs to get to the top. There's a small plaque at the top of the mound diagraming where Napoleon and Wellington's armies were and, of course, a rather large lion statue.
The mound was not there on June 18, 1815 during the Battle of Waterloo, it was constructed between 1824 and 1826 by Dutch women carting baskets of soil, the Dutch ruled Belgium at the time of Waterloo. It was built on the spot where William (Guillame) of Orange, later King William II of Netherlands, commander in chief of the first corp of Wellington's army, was wounded. It is dedicated to the soldiers that died that day. Leave a Comment
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If you're planning on visiting Waterloo, you'll want to stop by the Visitor's Center first as tickets to the other attractions are sold here. You can get a combination ticket that gives you access to all the major sights at Waterloo, I think it was 12E, or you can buy tickets to everything separately.
The major sights are located right near the visitor's center and include the Wellington Museum, the film at the visitor's center, the Panorama de la Bataille, the Lion's Mound (Butte de Lion), the Musee de Cires (wax museum). We only visited the Lion's Mound, if we had more time we probably would have also visited the Wellington Museum. Leave a Comment Address: Chaussee de Bruxelles 218Directions: Located about 5 km outside of the city center, if driving you will see the Lion's Mound and the visitor's center is located right in front of it
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I takes 226 steps and some huffing and puffing to enjoy a splendid view over the entire historic site.
This hill was built to commemorate the Prince of Orange who was wounded during the battle. The construction started in 1824 and was finished two years later. The lion was brought to Waterloo via waterways and carriages. The statue weighs 28 ton and the hill is 43m high. Leave a Comment
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In 1815 the Duke of Wellington, commander of the Anglo-allied army, set up his headquarters in the village of Waterloo.
These quarters have now become a museum. It tells the story of the events leading up to Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo.
Weapons, uniforms and documents can be seen in the museum, as well as a magnificent series of illuminated maps which recount the different phases of the battle.
The museum is situated in the city centre of Waterloo, approximately 5 km away from the 'Lion Hill'. Leave a Comment
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Inside the visitor's centre there is an audiovisual spectacle about the battle.
The spectacle consists of 2 differents parts.
During the first part, you are given an explanation about the strategic points of the battle and the movements of the different armies.
The second part offers a 20 minutes' movie which tells the story of present-day children who are playing at the battlefield and who suddenly find themselves in the middle of the battle. Very well done! Leave a Comment
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These are the fields on which the battle took place. In fact the 'Lion Hill' of Waterloo doesn't stand on the territory of Waterloo, but in Braine l'Alleud, close to the border with Waterloo. The battle took place on most of the surrounding fields.
On the 18th of June 1815, 191.300 soldiers fought one of the most decisive battles in the history of Europe. A total of 48.500 men fell or were severely wounded. Leave a Comment
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To imagine what the battle looked like, you can visit the Panorama. It is a huge circular painting of 110m circumference, that gives you a vivid view of the attacks of the French cavalry.
As a visitor you stand on a central platform and find yourself in the middle of the battle, surrounded by the infantry and cavalry of both armies.
It was painted by Louis Dumoulin. Leave a Comment
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The place to go when you arrive on the site of the Lion Hill is the Visitor’s Center, where you can buy your entrance tickets. You can choose between a single access to the lion for 2.50 euros or a combined visit for 8.50 euros (free for kids under 7 years old). The combined ticket enables you to enjoy five activities: the Lion Hill itself, an audiovisuel show followed by a movie (inside the visitor’s center), the Panorama museum and the Wax Museum. Of course, each building has a side room with a souvenir shop...
The audiovisual show presents the different armies and spots of the battle on a map. Different little lamps are lit up according to the army or location that is spoken about.
The movie shows a bunch of kids playing in the Waterloo countryside and brought back to the time of the battle. A good way to involve children. Quite well-done !
Opening time :
april to october from 9.30 am till 6.30 pm,
and november to march from 10 am till 5 pm
The visitor's center is at the right on the picture, at the left is the Panorama museum Leave a Comment Address: Hameau du Lion, Route du Lion 315 – 1410 WaterlooPhone: 02 385 19 12Website: www.waterloo1815.be
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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. Leave a Comment Address: Chaussée de Bruxelles 147 - 1410 WaterlooDirections: In the center of Waterloo
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According to the guidebooks, there is a reenactment of the Battle of Waterloo every 5 years which prompted my husband to exclaim that he'd really like to see that. June 2005 was the last one so it appears that June 2010 will be the next one, I guess by then I'll probably be ready for some more Belgian waffles ;-)
Here's a link to an article from the BBC about the last one held in 2005. Leave a Comment
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on September 12, 2006
on July 26, 2003
on October 20, 2005
