The lion statue was cast in sections at the Cockerill foundry in Seraing before being transported to the site.
The mound was built to level the battlefield ground, inadvertently erasing some of the original terrain features of the 1815 conflict.
It is officially known as the Butte du Lion and serves as a symbolic centerpiece for the commemoration of the Napoleonic Wars in Belgium.
The lion's pedestal is inscribed with a single date, June 18, 1815, referencing the day of the battle.
The earth used for the mound was taken from a radius of several hundred meters, significantly altering the ridge where the Allied army stood.
The lion statue is cast in iron rather than stone, which was a technological feat of the industrial era in which it was constructed.
Lion's Mound is a massive conical artificial hill standing 40 meters high, erected to mark the site of the 1815 Battle of Waterloo. Located in Braine-l'Alleud, it commemorates the position of the Prince of Orange during the conflict. The summit is accessed via a steep staircase of 226 steps. At the top sits a 28-ton cast-iron lion sculpture looking toward France. The mound was constructed between 1823 and 1826 using earth excavated from the surrounding battlefield. The site forms part of a broader memorial complex including the Panorama building and the Memorial 1815 museum. It overlooks the original undulating topography of the battlefield landscape. The structure serves as the primary monument for the United Kingdom of the Netherlands' contribution to the victory against Napoleon. It is a protected site managed within the Waterloo Memorial domain.
From the very top, capture the panoramic view of the entire battlefield landscape looking south toward the French lines.
Wear athletic shoes with good grip, as the 226-step climb is steep and can be slippery in damp weather.
Bring a windbreaker, as the summit is exposed and often significantly windier than the base.
Combine your climb with the nearby Panorama rotunda to understand the scale of the battlefield below.
Attempting the climb without water or during periods of heavy rain when the steps become hazardous.
Maintain respectful behavior as this is a war memorial; remain on the designated path to prevent soil erosion.
