Waterloo 1815 Memorial facts for kids
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| Established | 2015 |
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| Location | Route du Lion, Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium |
The Waterloo 1815 Memorial (French: Mémorial Waterloo 1815) is a special museum complex in Belgium. It's built right on the spot where the famous Battle of Waterloo happened. This amazing place includes a modern museum that opened in 2015, the tall Lion's Mound, the huge Panorama of the Battle of Waterloo painting, and the historic Hougoumont farm. It helps visitors understand what happened during this important battle.
Where is the Memorial?
The Memorial, the Lion's Mound, and the Panorama of the Battle of Waterloo are all located on the northern edge of the Battle of Waterloo battlefield. You can find them along the Route du Lion (Lion's Road), in a town called Braine-l'Alleud.
The Hougoumont farm is a bit further south-west. You can reach it by following a path from the Panorama area.
Around the Memorial, there are many other monuments. These monuments remember different groups and heroes from the battle. Some examples include the Monument to the Belgians, the Monument to the Hanoverians, and the Gordon Monument.
A Look at History
The Waterloo 1815 Memorial site brings together four important parts, each with its own history:
- The Lion's Mound: This large hill was built in 1826. It was made to remember the spot where the Prince of Orange, son of William I (King of the Netherlands), was thought to have been hurt during the battle on June 18, 1815.
- The Hougoumont Farm: This was a key spot during the battle. It protected the Allied army's right side and saw very intense fighting.
- The Panorama of the Battle of Waterloo: This round building was finished in 1911. It holds a giant circular painting that shows the battle in amazing detail.
- The Memorial Museum: This modern museum opened in 2015. It was built just before the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.
The new Memorial was built to replace an older visitor center that was not very exciting. People said its construction was like a "rebirth" for the battlefield site. It helped make the area much more interesting and welcoming for visitors.
The construction of the Memorial cost about 40 million euros. This money was provided by the Walloon Region of Belgium.
Since March 2019, a French company named Kléber Rossillon has been managing the Memorial. This company also manages other important historical sites in France. They aim to attract many visitors to the Memorial each year.
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The Lion's Mound
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The Lion statue on top of the mound
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The round building of the Panorama
What You Can See
The Waterloo 1815 Memorial tells the story of the famous battle where Emperor Napoleon was defeated in 1815. It also honors the 40,000 soldiers who were killed or wounded during the fighting.
The museum covers a large area, about 1500 square meters. Inside, visitors can experience the battle's history through many exciting displays:
- Dioramas: These are 3D models that show scenes from the battle.
- Uniforms and historical objects: You can see what soldiers wore and the items they used.
- Animated maps: These maps show how the battle moved and changed.
- A 3D movie: A large panoramic screen shows a movie about the battle.
- Multimedia displays: Interactive screens help you learn more.
- A treasure hunt: Kids can enjoy a fun activity while exploring.
The museum also displays the skeleton of the "Waterloo Soldier." This skeleton was found in 2012 during an archaeological dig. It likely belonged to a soldier who died during the battle.
When you visit the Memorial, you can also access other parts of the site:
- The Lion's Mound: You can climb this 40-meter high hill for great views of the battlefield.
- The Panorama of the Battle of Waterloo: Step inside the rotunda to see the huge circular painting of the battle, created in 1912.
- The Hougoumont Farm: This fortified farm was a key battleground. Today, it hosts a multimedia show.
Kléber Rossillon, the company managing the site, offers many activities for visitors. These include:
- Immersive experiences: You might see a soldier's camp at the foot of the hill.
- Live scenes: Small performances might happen throughout the day.
- Horse-drawn carriage rides: You can ride from the Memorial to Hougoumont Farm.
- Horse demonstrations: Learn about the role of horses in the battle.
- Activities for kids: Children can try handling replica weapons and learn military marching.
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Dioramas showing Allied troops (left) and French troops (right)
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Marshal General Jean-de-Dieu Soult and General Henri Gatien Bertrand
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The charge of the French cavalry led by Marshal Ney, in the Panorama rotunda
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