Waterloo Battlefield

The Waterloo Battlefield lies in Walloon Brabant, about 20 km south of Brussels, and marks the site where Napoleon was defeated on 18 June 1815 by the Duke of Wellington's Anglo-allied army and Blücher's Prussians. Getting there takes 30 to 60 minutes. The most direct option is bus W, which runs roughly hourly from the Rond-Point Schuman area in Brussels and stops at the memorial site, costing a few euros. Alternatively, visitors can take a train to Braine-l'Alleud and continue by bus or taxi, for about €5 to €12 in total. The site is spread across open farmland, so some walking is required. The central attraction is the Lion's Mound, an artificial hill 41 metres high topped with a bronze lion, built in 1826 and reached by 226 steps. From the top, the whole battlefield spreads out below. At the foot of the mound, the Panorama of the Battle of Waterloo, a circular painting from 1912, and the Memorial 1815 visitor centre explain the campaign through exhibits and film. A combined ticket covers the mound, the Panorama and the memorial. Further afield, historic farms such as Hougoumont and Le Caillou, and Wellington's headquarters museum in Waterloo town, add context for visitors with more time. A sensible day begins with an arrival at the memorial site around 10:00, climbing the mound first before it gets busy, then visiting the Panorama and the Memorial. Lunch is best taken in the town of Waterloo, which has cafés and restaurants, or at the visitor centre café. The afternoon suits a walk to Hougoumont farm or the Wellington Museum before an early evening return. The site is best from April to October, when the grounds are open for walking and the weather is more reliable, and reenactments take place around the June anniversary. Expect to spend €40 to €70 for the day.