Lion's Mound Travel Guide

Rising 40 meters above the Waterloo battlefield, the Lion's Mound (Butte du Lion) is a striking monument to the historic 1815 battle. King William I of the Netherlands commissioned the mound to mark where his son, Prince William of Orange, was believed to have been wounded. The Prince was hit by a musket ball on the shoulder during the battle.Constructed from 300,000 cubic meters of earth taken from the battlefield itself, the mound dramatically altered the landscape. Victor Hugo famously wrote that the Duke of Wellington remarked, "They have altered my field of battle!" after seeing it. A climb of 226 steps leads to the summit, where a 28-tonne cast-iron lion statue keeps watch. Sculpted by Jean-François Van Geel, the lion is the heraldic symbol of the Netherlands, embodying courage. One paw rests on a globe, signifying the restored peace in Europe.The Lion's Mound is the centerpiece of the Waterloo 1815 Memorial, which includes a visitor center, the Hougoumont Farm, and the Panorama. From the top, visitors can survey the battlefield, imagining the troop movements and strategies that unfolded. The site offers a fascinating glimpse into a pivotal moment in European history.