Champ de bataille de Braine-l'Alleud — Attraction in Braine-l'Alleud

Very interesting and important historical place with very well arranged museum dedicated to Napoleon's last battle - here you can find not just very detail information about the battle itself, but also information about what was happening before (all the way from French revolution) and after (brief feedbacks and information) Napoleon's defeat. Many historical items and souvenier shop can be found in museum building, where is recommended to use a headphones for prepared presentations in order to better understand the events from battle itself and French history around that time. The concrete visual Waterloo battle you can experience through short movie with 3D effect (you will have to use an enclosed 3D glasses for that) in special room although I did not find it so interesting as I was missing the more strategic and tactical showing of the battle, and at the same time there were many details of the battle also missing, which in fact are very important components in order to better understand the battle and final outcome - the other parts of museum are much more interesting in that way, so if you will miss the movie, you will not miss too much. In any case as result of the battle there was around 50.000 men dead or wounded, and around 20.000 horses lied on the battle ground, so the casultoes were high on both sides. When you walk up to the 40 m high Lion's Mound (Lion's hill or Butte de Lion) you can see the battefield itself and imagine the ongoing of the battle ... hmmmmm ... and with visiting the main and most important battle points (e.g. Hougoumont farm, attack of French cavalry point, or La Haye Sainte farm), your impression of battle could be even more genuine. Furthermore, you can come to the battlefield place at time when the battle will be reenacted in live by many actors from around the world (up to 2.000 actors), and in authentic costumes from that period - the event is taking place every year around 18 June, on the day the original battle was fought. In overal great experiences and very well arranged museum with many information about battle, armies and overal happening before and after battle. Toilets are at the museum area and access for people with disabilities is somehow secured (with some examptions - eg they can not reach the Lion's Mound top spot), but could be arranged even better. Free parking places are available in immediate vicinity of the...

I'm sorry to say that rude staff spoiled our visit last summer (2019). By accident, we missed the (small) sign to the museum and tried to take the audio guides outside. An alarm went off and the member of staff who came to show us the way told us we were stupid. The museum was good but climbing the mound was a let down - you got a great view of the battle field but little to help you visualise the battle. The stairs are narrow and it was a awkward squeeze to pass someone else when of course it is also steep. The panorama is good, particularly when you think how old it is, but it's tatty these days. We walked to the farm which was lovely but there were no guides in English available. The film there was good but too long with over-technical vertical slabs which move agonisingly slowly through the story. Finally we went into the shop and to be honest were very surprised by the manipulation of history - 'Napoleon the Emperor' was everywhere and very little of Wellington and his story. Finally we found something we wanted to buy as a present, and the staff member first was too busy talking to their colleague to take our money, and then when she did come, couldn't be bothered to give us our receipt but went straight back to chatting. We might go again, maybe in 20 years or so, but I hope the staff will have improved...

So do you actually want tourists to explore the historical landscape by bike?

Because apart from a few paths near the Lion infrastructure is shameful and even dangerous. Starting from the battlefield towards Ferme d'Hougoumont, the road starts to desintegrate. From there I tried to make my way towards the N5, but I found that the state of the Chemin de la Maison du Roi was so poor towards the end that I had to walk, with difficulty. While trying to cross the N5 on the only pedestrian crossing I could find I nearly got killed by a speeding driver with no intention of stopping.

After that I tried the Rue de Dimont to see the Monument du 21e Regiment. This proved almost impossible due to loose cobblestones. At that point I gave up, and tried to make my way back to the place where I parked my car over the Chemin de Catomoreau. I encountered terrain so rough that my tire sprung a leak, so I had to walk over this road that is barely passable even by foot.

Closed restaurants dotted across the landscape show that this tourist attraction is not as popular as it once was and as it could be. Fixing the infrastructure and encouraging hiking and cycling should be...