The Lion Mound was built using 300,000 cubic meters of earth taken from the battlefield itself, altering the original topography of the site.
The 110-meter long Panorama painting was restored in 2015 to include new sound effects and light projections.
Hougoumont Farm, the site of fierce hand-to-hand combat, underwent a major restoration completed in time for the 200th anniversary of the battle.
The cast-iron lion atop the mound weighs 28 tons and was transported in sections by canal and wagon.
The battlefield's original landscape was intentionally modified by the Duke of Wellington to improve his line of sight and artillery placement.
During the construction of the mound, soil was removed from the very spot where the Prince of Orange was injured, lowering the terrain by several meters.
The Waterloo Battlefield site is anchored by the Butte du Lion, a 40-meter high artificial hill constructed between 1823 and 1826 to mark the location where the Prince of Orange was wounded. The Mémorial 1815 museum offers an immersive experience beneath the mound, utilizing 4D cinema and panoramic displays to depict the events of the June 18, 1815 battle. Visitors can explore the Panorama, a circular building housing a 110-meter long painting by Louis Dumoulin created for the 1912 centennial. The site complex includes the Hougoumont Farm, which served as a crucial defensive position for Wellington's forces. The battlefield encompasses significant historic structures like the Ferme de la Haye Sainte and the village of Waterloo itself. The site operates as a historical memorial managed by the Waterloo Destination organization. It provides context on the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte by the Seventh Coalition forces. Walking paths connect the various memorial sites across the open agricultural fields that define the historic landscape.
The summit of the Lion Mound offers a 360-degree vantage point of the entire battlefield landscape.
Wear sturdy walking shoes to comfortably navigate the steep ascent of the Lion Mound and the surrounding field paths.
Check the official website for scheduled historical reenactment demonstrations which occur periodically throughout the year.
Allocate time to walk the distance to Hougoumont Farm, as it provides a clearer understanding of the battle's tactical geography than the museum alone.
Do not attempt to see the entire site in under two hours; rushing misses the immersive museum context which is essential for understanding the field.
Open daily, though the site may have reduced operating hours or closures during the mid-winter months.
Respect the memorial nature of the site; avoid climbing on historical walls or fences and stay on marked trails in agricultural areas.
