The Lion’s Mound (Butte du Lion). Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium

The Lion’s Mound is an impressive artificial hill built between 1820 and 1826 by order of King William I. It marks the spot where the Prince of Orange (later King William II) was unhorsed by a musket ball during the Battle of Waterloo, and it also stands as a memorial to the Battle of Quatre-Bras.

Rising 43 meters high, the mound was created using soil taken from various points across the battlefield. At its summit stands a bronze lion, its right paw resting on a sphere— a powerful symbol of victory and restored peace.

A staircase of 226 steps leads visitors to the top, where a panoramic view opens over the vast battleground where more than 300,000 soldiers once clashed.

Today, the Lion’s Mound is part of the Waterloo Battlefield Memorial complex and remains one of Belgium’s most iconic historic sites.

Admission is paid.