Memorial Waterloo 1815, Wallonia, Belgium

4.5 (1.649 reviews) Tuesday: 9:30 AM - 7:30 PM Spent 2-3 hours Ranking #1 in Wallonia Historic Sites • History Museums

Surprisingly Good Experience

Buried at the foot of the Lion's Mound, the Memorial of the battle of Waterloo 1815 enables you to to experience one of the most turbulent times in our History... as if you were there. Dive into the heart of the battle, in a multi-sensory experience, full of special effects, the only one of its kind in Europe! 1815 m² of immersive journeying in a narrative set design which focuses on the experience of the battle! The Panorama is an impressive fresco with a circumference of 110 m and a height of 12 m, made in 1912. The painting puts you at the heart of the battle thanks to an impressive sound system. The Lion's Mound offers a unique view of the battlefield after a memorable ascent of 226 steps! As last authentic witness of the battle, the Barn of Hougoumont features a brand-new scenography made of 4 exhibition rooms as well as an impressive multimedia show.
Wallonia review images

Address

Route du Lion 1815 Champ de Bataille de Waterloo, Braine-l'Alleud 1420 Belgium

Mobile

+32 2 385 19 12

Website

http://www.waterloo1815.be

Email

[email protected]

Working hours

Monday : 9:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Tuesday : 9:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Wednesday : 9:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Thursday : 9:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Friday : 9:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Saturday : 9:30 AM - 7:30 PM
Sunday : 9:30 AM - 7:30 PM

Current local date and time now

Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 1:14

User Ratings

4.5 based on (1.649 reviews)

Excellent

58%

Good

31%

Satisfactory

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Reviews

5SnowyShasta 5:00 PM Jun 4, 2022
Well done museum with lots to see
We spent about three hours at the site, and felt like that was an adequate time although we could have stayed longer. We bought the combo ticket and ended up visiting the Lion's Mound first since there was an upcoming demonstration of the historical cannons happening right then. We did things in reverse order (Lion's Mound, then Panorama, then Memorial Museum) and I'd probably ideally recommend the opposite, but we still had a great time. The cannon firing was interesting, and the hike up the stairs to the top of the Lion's Mound was worth it for the closeup view of the Lion and the views out over the Belgian countryside. The panorama is also worth a visit. We spent our last couple hours inside the museum and still didn't listen to all of the audio included with our guide, but we enjoyed the visit and got to see everything we wanted to. The 3D movie towards the end was also interesting, worth our time, and gave a good overview of the battle. We ran out of time and energy, so didn't make it to the Hougoumont Farm, maybe next time. Definitely recommend a visit here if you're in the area!
4Richard P 5:00 PM Nov 10, 2022
Surprisingly Good Experience
My expectations were pretty low, so I was quite surprised at how good the experience was. The memorial is comprised of a very good museum located underground, a large cylindrical building housing a terrific diorama, and a man-made hill that provides a great perspective of the battlefield. An interpretive audio program is available through their website (accessible through their on-site Wi-Fi). However, you have to bring your own device and your own headphones or earbuds (or simply hold your device up to your ear). It generally worked well, except for the movie where it didn't work at all, but I can see the system being a challenge for a family with children who don't have their own devices. It's a mighty steep staircase up the side of the hill, but the view is worth the effort. I definitely recommend a visit.