Waterloo Belgium Attractions Help You Relive The History
Waterloo Belgium attractions are one of the most popular reasons travelers and tourists come to Brussels.
Located just south of Brussels, Waterloo Belgium attractions offer a number of things to see and do both in the city center and just south of the small commune.
Perfect for history buffs who want to learn first-hand about the famous battle where Napolean 'met his Waterloo.'
Waterloo Belgium Tourist Office
When you reach Chaussee de Waterloo, on your immediate right corner (next to the church), you'll see the Waterloo tourist office. There you can get information about the area, about Waterloo Belgium attractions, and have questions answered by English-speaking representatives.
St. Joseph's Church
Next to the Waterloo Belgium Tourist Office is St. Joseph's Church/Royal Chapel in Waterloo. With its distinctive green dome and lantern tower, you can't miss it. Consecrated more than 300 years ago in 1690, the chapel was restored in 1844 and again in 1968. It remains open during the day for the faithful to pray and the curious to visit. You are welcome to step inside and wander through the small building. Make sure you see the beautiful oak wooden pulpit, rumored to be made by Antwerpian Van Hoof.
Wellington Museum
Another of the more popular Waterloo Belgium attractions is located across the street from the church. The Wellington Museum was formerly the command center of the Duke of Wellington, commander of the Allied forces who fought Napolean's army. In the museum you'll find documents, engravings, arms and authentic souvenirs relating to the battle.
In addition, you'll learn the role of the seven nations which took part in the combat. You'll also find a series of illuminated diagrams explaining the successive stages of the battle. We recommend visiting this museum before going to the battlefield.
The Wellington Museum is located on Chaussee de Bruxelles, 147. It is open year-round (except on December 25 and January 1) from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm. From April 1 to September 30, the museum open longer: from 09:30 am to 6:30 pm. For more information, see: www.museewellington.com
Click here to learn more about the Grand Place Guide.
Battlefield Attractions
Getting There
To get to the battlefield attractions from Waterloo central, take the 'W' bus south to the Butte de Lion. (Make sure you are on the church side of the street. Otherwise, you'll head north to Brussels.) Once you arrive near the Butte de Lion, you'll have a short walk to the attractions.
The Battlefield Visitors Center
Visit the Visitors Center first to get information and tickets for the attractions. Currently, a combined ticket costing 12 euros includes entrance to the: Battlefield Tour, Butte du Lion, Panorama, Spectacle Audiovisual film, plus the Musee de Cire. See below for descriptions of each attraction.
Make sure you stop back by the Visitor's Center and check out their souvenirs including post cards, books, mugs and T-Shirts, children's toys and other items.
Open Daily:
March: 10 am-5 pm
April-September: 09:30-6:30 pm
October 09:30-5:30 pm
November-February: 10:30 am-4:00 pm
The Butte du Lion
Definitely the most visually stunning of all Waterloo Belgium attractions is the Butte du Lion just outside the welcome center. You can take a memorable climb up the 100-meter high mound. Built by local women in a bucket bridgade with soil taken from the battlefield, the monument is topped by a 28-ton concrete lion, hence the name 'Butte du Lion' or 'Hill of the Lion'. This is a great place to take photos of the sweeping fields and pastures that were once the site of the great battle. Individual ticket: 2.50 euro
The Panorama of the Battle
Get an artist's perspective of the battle in the Panorama building adjacent to the Butte du Lion. This circular naturalistic painting, by Parisian artist Louis Dumoulin, is on a canvas some 110 meters in circumference. It is accompanied by a soundtrack of battle noises including blaring bugles and cannon fire.
Individual ticket: 5.00 euro
One member of our website audience wrote to us with her perspective on the panorama: "I found the painting absolutely mesmerising. I'm not usually into paintings but the perspective of this artwork amazed me. I couldn't get over the fact I was looking at a painting and not actually over the battlefield it was so realistic - like looking out of a window."
Le Caillou
About four kilometers south of the Butte du Lion on the Chaussee de Bruxelles if Le Caillou, a two-story brick farmhouse where Napolean spent the night before the battle. Containing momentos such as Napolean's army cot and death mask, the museum is a memorial to the defeated emperor and his war-weary army. Due to its distance from the more popular Waterloo Belgium attractions, it is low on our priority 'to-do' list. You'll have to walk or find other transportation as there is no tour bus that takes you there. Ticket: 2.00 euro
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