WATERLOO – In the heart of the battleground

This walk follows the traces of the battlefield of Waterloo, from Braine-l’Alleud to Genappe, from Plancenoit to Mont-Saint-Jean. From the Hill with the Lion, you will discover a rolling landscape that looks nothing like the "dreary plain" that Victor Hugo described.... Wellington took advantage of this relief to provide shelter to his troops and make the French attack more difficult. You walk on ground that was trampled on June 18, 1815, by the 35,000 horses of the cavalry and was churned up by the fire of 500 cannons! A terrible battle where nearly 200,000 soldiers fought each other for the future of Europe. Shortly after crossing these fields of remembrance, you find yourself in beautiful scrubland teeming with life. At the edge of the forest, you will discover the Ferme du Chantelet, the farm that served as the headquarters of the commander of the French cavalry, Marshal Ney. It is the precursor to Napoleon's HQ, established in the Ferme Du Caillou. At the end of the walk, you will discover the Ferme de Goumont (or Hougoumont), a fortified farm that was the scene of bloody fighting. Walks from the brochure "20 unforgettable hikes" can be consulted and downloaded here: walloniebelgietoerisme.be/en/3/do/sportsactivities/walking/hikingbrochures