The Lions Mound (Butte de Lion) and the battlefield view.
La Haie Sainte
Sunday I went to Waterloo. It was a bit of a trek - had to catch a bus about 20 km to the sight of the famous battle, but made it alright. In 1822 (7 years after the battle) apparently women brought soil from around the area and over a two year period (by hand) erected this 40 m mount called Butte de Lion. This is where the Prince of Orange was wounded in the battle. From it you can see the battlefield, including La Haie Sainte, which was one of the three farmsteads that Wellington used as part of his defences. La Haie Sainte was the only one the French actually took that day.
The photos are of the mound, then one of the battlefield from the top of the mound. Across this section is where Marshall Ney let cavalry charges for two hours against the British squares.
Then I wandered down the road towards Charleroi to the site of the farmhouse La Haie Sainte - here are some signs commemorating the successful french assault (the only one).
Lastly, on my return to Brussels I took a photo of the Manneken - pissing (pissing boy) - the simple of Brussels (don't ask me why he is pissing or why it's the symbol - but the Belgians are all strange!).
The pissing boy!Off to Ypres tomorrow for two days.
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