Waterloo — The Forgotten Plans

Your quest for the forgotten plans begins at the base of the Lion's Mound in Braine-l'Alleud. Erected between 1824 and 1826 by order of King William I of the Netherlands, this 40.5 m high mound offers a panorama of the Waterloo battlefield, where the Prince of Orange was wounded on June 18, 1815. As you ascend the 537 steps to the 28.5-ton lion statue, you scan the horizon for clues. The Panoramic Museum, inaugurated in 1912 at the foot of the mound, provides essential visual context to understand the troop movements of this decisive day for the Napoleon 1815 Circuit.

Continue your investigation towards Hougoumont Farm in Braine-l'Alleud, a key site where 1,500 British soldiers resisted 12,000 French for 10 hours on June 18, 1815. The château, rebuilt in 1816 after the fire that killed 400 occupants, and its North Gate, broken by French axes but closed in time, are strategic points for your search. This private property, open to the public since 2013 with a memorial inaugurated in 2008, is a testament to the defenders' tenacity. Here, you search for traces of intercepted messages.

Your journey then leads you to La Haie Sainte Farm in Braine-l'Alleud, held by 400 soldiers of the King's German Legion until 1815. Lost around 6 PM due to lack of ammunition, this 18th-century farm, restored in 1908 with a commemorative plaque placed by King Edward VII, was a strategic point for Napoleonic artillery 500 m from the Chaussée de Bruxelles. It is here, in this private property with a small museum occasionally open, that crucial information could have passed. You decipher messages hidden in the restorations, looking for clues about troop movements.

The Gordon Monument in Braine-l'Alleud is your next stop. Erected in 1888 in memory of Lieutenant-General Sir Alexander Gordon, who died from his wounds on June 18, 1815, at Caillou Farm, this 12 m high blue stone obelisk was inaugurated by King Leopold II. Restored in 1996, it bears the inscription 'To the memory of Lieutenant-General Sir Alexander Gordon'. This historic monument of Belgium, on the Braine-l'Alleud-Waterloo road, is a place of remembrance and memory, but also an observation point where secret communications could have been exchanged, leaving cryptic marks for your investigation into Walloon heritage.

Your exploration of Wallonia's heritage concludes at the Old Golden Lion Inn, formerly Bodenghien, in Waterloo. This 18th-century inn, a post-battle gathering place in 1815 and architectural testament to the typical Brabant Walloon stepped gables, offers a glimpse into life after the conflict. Located on Rue de la Station, near Waterloo city center and restored in the 20th century, it has witnessed countless stories. By visiting Waterloo, you have traced the crucial stages of an event that marked history, and although the plans remain elusive, you have discovered the battle's intensity and the role of emblematic locations. Your archivist mission has allowed you to understand the scope of the Napoleon 1815 Circuit, and to experience an interactive visit to Waterloo.

Your archivist mission ends at the Royal Chapel of Saint-Joseph in Waterloo, erected in 1843 at the site of Major Henry de Heuglin's death on June 18, 1815. Blessed on September 19, 1843, by the Bishop of Namur, this neo-Gothic chapel, funded by European subscriptions, contains a plaque listing 12,000 names of fallen soldiers. Classified as a historical monument in Belgium since 1955, it represents the human cost of that day. By exploring this site, you understand the price of victory and the impact of decisions made by figures like Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, and Napoleon Bonaparte. Your Waterloo treasure hunt has allowed you to unravel the threads of a complex history, revealing the secrets of the Waterloo battlefield and the monuments of Wallonia.