Memorial Waterloo 1815 1 hour

OUR GUIDES CAN ACCOMMODATE UP TO 25 VISITORS.  FOR LARGER GROUPS, GUIDES WILL BE ADDED AS NEEDED.

In brief:

The visit of the Memorial Waterloo 1815 is a key visit during which the guide will give you both a detailed and high-level vision of the battle within its 19th century European context.

It will be done in three parts:

1. A lively overview of the causes and consequences of this battle (the how and the why) as well as the details of the days of June 16 and 17 which led to it
2. The climb to the top of the Lion Mound, the monument commemorating the Allied victory
3. An explanation of the Panorama, a gigantic fresco celebrating the 100th anniversary of the battle

This tour could then continue with audio-guide in the Memorial Museum.

The site:

The Lion of Waterloo : is a monument 40 meters high, erected between 1823 and 1826 by the King of Holland at the presumed place where his son, the Prince d'Orange, was wounded on June 18th. The mound is surmounted by a colossal lion symbolizing the Allied victory.  It is accessed by a staircase of 226 steps.

The Panorama : a UNESCO Heritage Nominee, this huge circular building houses a gigantic fresco, painted in 1912 to celebrate the first centenary of the battle. The canvas (110 meters long and 12 meters high) is a spectacular representation of a key moment of the battle: the charge of French cavalry and the Allied resistance around 4:30 p.m.

The Memorial Museum : can be visited by audio-guide (allow 1h to 1h30). Built for the 200th anniversary of the battle, the museum offers a beautiful immersion and rich historical illustration of the period spanning from the French Revolution to the Battle of Waterloo. For more details, see: Visit to the Memorial Museum

Our visit:

The Lion's Butte : The guide will take you up to the summit and tell you about the battle, the strategic importance of the topography, the position and deployment of the troops in the fields all around, the charges of the French cavalry, the allied squares, the strategy of each belligerent, the strengths, the errors, the setbacks, the anecdotes, the monuments ...

The Panorama : the guide will lead you through the diaroma, wrelating it to the reality of the battlefield, which will allow you to appreciate the historical importance, and the pictural and heritage of this amazing recreation.

And history in all this? The guide will take the time to explain to you, either with the help of maps or outdoors, what led Europe to this terrible battle and why it took place in Belgium. The first days of the campaign, ie the days of June 15, 16 and 17, will also be discussed.

: Timetables, tariffs, accesses

: Ticket to this site

: This site is wheelchair accessible (except for the Panorama and the Lion Mound).

: Route du lion 1815, 1420 Braine l'Alleud http://waterloo1815.be/

: Please bring appropriate clothing for the outdoors.

Our four-legged friends are not allowed in the sites

Unless short of time, we recommend taking the 1:30 tour, to allow for better comprehension and an easier tour.  The 1h tour suits those who have limited time, or who do not wish to climb the Lion Mound.