Page 134 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

132  BEY OND BRUSSELS

0 Waterloo of the battle of Waterloo. The
admission price includes entry
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on 18 June 1815. It pitted to the Butte du Lion and
Napoleon and his French army against the Duke of Wellington, Panorama de la Bataille (below),
who was in command of troops mostly drawn from Britain, which are on the same site, and
Germany and the Netherlands. The two armies met outside also to nearby Hougoumont
Farm, where some of the most
the hamlet of Waterloo, to the south of Brussels. The result ferocious fighting took place,
was decisive. The battle began at 11:30am and just nine hours re-imagined here in another
later the French were in full retreat. Napoleon abdicated and dramatic multimedia exhibit.
was subsequently exiled to the island of St Helena, where he
died in mysterious circumstances six years later. Today, the
battlefield is one of the biggest European historical and
cultural sites, and one of the best preserved. The best place
to start a visit is at the Musée Wellington, some 5 km (3 miles)
from the battlefield, in the centre of Waterloo.

E Musée Wellington E Mémorial 1815
Chaussée de Bruxelles 147. Tel (02) Route du Lion, Braine l’Alleud, N5, 5km
357 2860. Open Apr–Sep: (3 miles) S of Waterloo. Tel (02) 385
9:30am–6pm daily; Oct–Mar: 1912. Open Apr–Sep: 9:30am–6:30pm
10am–5pm daily. Closed 1 Jan, 25 daily; Oct–Mar: 10am–6pm daily. & 0
Dec. & 9 This interactive display with its
∑ museewellington.be
blood-curdling soundtrack The Butte du Lion viewed from the
The Waterloo Inn, where the immerses visitors in the events Waterloo battlefield
Duke of Wellington spent the
night before the battle, has been Brussels
turned into a museum, its rooms Waterloo
packed with curios alongside Town Centre N5
plans and models of the actual 1 Musée Wellington
battle. One of the more quirky
exhibits is the artificial leg of 2 Eglise St-Joseph Waterloo Waterloo
Lord Uxbridge, one of 3 Mémorial 1815
Wellington’s comman ders. His 4 Butte du Lion RO
leg was blown off during the 5 Panorama de la
battle and buried in Waterloo. Bataille CHAUSSEE DE BRUXELLES
After his death, the leg was sent 6 Napoleon’s Last
to join the rest of him in England Headquarters
and, as recompense, his relatives
sent his artificial one back Mont-
to Waterloo. St-Jean
N27
R Eglise St-Joseph
Braine
Chaussée de Bruxelles. l'Alleud ROUTE DU LION
Tel (02) 352 0910. Braine
Across the road from the Musée l'Alleud CHAUSSÉE DE NIVELLES
Wellington is the church of
St-Joseph, which was originally RO
built as a royal chapel at the end CHAUSSEE DE CHARLEROI
of the 17th century. Its dainty, Hougoumont
Farm
elegant cupola pre-dates the
battle, after which it was
extended, with the newer
portions containing dozens N5 Plancenoit
of memorial plaques and Key
flagstones dedicated to those Motorway
British soldiers who died at Major road
Waterloo. Several of these CHAUSSEE DE
plaques were paid for by Minor road 0 kilometres 1 BRUXELLES
voluntary contributions from Railway
ordinary soldiers in honour of 0 miles 1 Charleroi
their officers.
For keys to symbols see back flap

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