Waterloo

The battle of Waterloo took place during the Belgian campaign on 18 June 1815. It was a decisive defeat for the French armies against the Anglo-Dutch armies of Wellington and the Prussian armies of Blücher, leading to the fall of the Empire and forcing Napoleon into exile. The fighting did not take place on the territory of the municipality of Waterloo, but on the territories of the current municipalities of Lasne, Braine-l'Alleud and Genappe.

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However, Wellington wrote the dispatch announcing the victory of the coalition from his headquarters at Waterloo, thus establishing the name of the battle. The Memorial of the Battle of Waterloo 1815 is a unique site in Belgium. It is both a memorial and a historical museum. 205 years after the battle that saw the final defeat of the French Emperor, followed by his exile to St. Helena where he died on 5 May 1821, the site of the Battle of Waterloo has changed.

The Lion's Mound sits enthroned on the plateau with the Panorama at its side. The memorial, an underground building, was completed in 2015. An exciting 2000 m2 tour with a narrative, multi-sensory scenography, including multiple special effects and immersive sets has been set up. Through uniforms, historical objects, animated maps, an original 3D film, a treasure hunt and multimedia animations, the public discovers the history of the battle.