Lion de Waterloo

The Waterloo Battlefield Estate, an exclusive montgolfiere.be site

It is one of the most beautiful launch sites in Brabant, located in the heart of the Waterloo battlefield.

The Lion’s Mound is famous throughout the world. It stands atop a cone of earth 40.5m high that the Kingdom of the Netherlands built from 1824 to 1826 at the presumed location where the Prince of Orange was wounded, on the territory of Braine-l'Alleud. It conceals a brick masonry column, essential to support the weight of the Lion, which itself rests on a 4.5-meter stone pedestal. At the top of a staircase of 226 steps, you can enjoy the magnificent view over the entire battlefield site.

28 tons of cast iron were required to manufacture the statue.

Our hot air balloons take off at the foot of the mound, an exceptional location that will allow you to discover an extraordinary panorama over the battlefield and the memorial.

The Waterloo 1815 Battle Memorial was inaugurated in May 2015 as part of the commemoration of the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo. As the Walloon Region wished to preserve the integrity of the battlefield, it was built underground.

Today, this museum offers visitors more than 2,000 m² of exhibition space.

In the entrance hall, the gigantic model of more than 30 m² presents the forces present on the morning of the battle.

The visit continues through the museum, passing through a succession of rooms, before following a large “uniform gallery” featuring more than 70 soldier mannequins leading to the cinema room.

In total darkness, like the night before the battle, visitors discover a 3D film lasting around twenty minutes. It brings the events of June 18 back to life through augmented reality thanks to ground vibrations and 3D technology.

The site also includes the Panorama, a listed circular building housing a giant fresco (12.5m X 110m) painted for the centenary of the battle and inaugurated in 1913.

The visit continues with the ascent of the Lion’s Mound, built ten years after the battle of June 18, 1815, between 1824 and 1826 by the Crown of the Netherlands.

After a walk of approximately 15 minutes across the battlefield, visitors discover the Hougoumont Farm, the authentic site of terrible assaults on June 18, 1815.

If you take off from here in a hot air balloon, it is the perfect opportunity to spend the day there and enjoy a meal at the foot of the mound.

A place of remembrance, the Waterloo Battlefield Estate offers its visitors the opportunity to experience history up close, with the whole family!

Brussels Ring Road (Brussels-Mons motorway), exit 25 "Lion de Waterloo", access via the Chaussée de Nivelles, free parking.

Park in the free Lion's Mound car park. On Google Maps: "Parking de la Butte du Lion".