Low Countries · Farstep pack

Waterloo · the Lion's Mound in 3D

Walloon Brabant · the field of 1815

Braine-l'Alleud, Walloon Brabant, Belgium

The Lion's Mound was raised in 1824 to 1826 on the battlefield of Waterloo, where the Prince of Orange was wounded, from 300,000 cubic metres of the field's own soil. A 28-tonne cast-iron lion stands on top facing France. From the summit the whole field of 18 June 1815 reads at once, though taking the soil levelled part of Wellington's ridge.

Where: Braine-l'Alleud, Walloon Brabant, Belgium
Battle: 18 June 1815
Mound: Raised 1824 to 1826; 226 steps
Lion: Cast iron, 28 tonnes

Walk Waterloo · the Lion's Mound in 3D

A real-time 3D model, built from open elevation data and published measurements. Loads 2.7 MB when you start.

Waterloo · the Lion's Mound

Walk it yourself. Works on this phone.

Part of the Low Countries pack: a one-time unlock in this browser.

Terrain from open elevation data · a 3D reconstruction, not a photograph · tags as in the app

What you'll find in the walk

Gold markers in the scene open these cards.

The lion
Known
A 28-tonne cast-iron lion, paw on a globe, facing France. The mound was raised in 1824-26 where the Prince of Orange was wounded, from 300,000 cubic metres of battlefield soil.
The 226 steps
Known
From the top the whole field of 18 June 1815 reads at once: the French line to the south, Wellington's ridge here, the farm of Hougoumont to the west.
A levelled ridge
Known
Taking the soil for the mound shaved metres off Wellington's ridge and filled the sunken lane. Veterans complained the ground no longer looked like the battle they remembered.

How to visit in real life

The mound and a battlefield museum are south of Brussels, reached by road or by bus from Braine-l'Alleud station. The 226 steps to the lion are steep.

Access, seasons and permits change: check locally before you go.