The Panorama of the Battle of Waterloo is housed in its own purpose-built building next to the Lion’s Mound (Butte du Lion) at the battlefield.
On the inside walls of the cylindrical building is a massive 360-degree canvas painted by Louis Dumoulin in 1912. It was commissioned for the 100th anniversary of the battle. The painting measures 361 feet (110m) around and nearly 40 feet (12 m) high. To view it, you walk up some steps to a large raised dais area that provides a panoramic view of the painting.
At the base of the painting are sections of life-size diorama depicting gory details of the battlefield, mud, dead horses, and all. Sound effects evoke the noisy commotion of the day.
This 360° panorama captures the entire painting. Here’s a flat version:
Where Is It?
The Panorama of the Battle of Waterloo is in its own round building as part of the Waterloo Battleground complex near Mont Saint-Jean on part of the original 1815 battleground.
I have more information and traditional photos of the building and exhibit here.
Where to Next?
Travel Advice for Belgium
You can find the latest U.S. Department of State travel advisories and information for Belgium (such as entry visa requirements and vaccination requirements) here.
The British and Australian governments offer their own country-specific travel information. You can find the British Government's travel advice for Belgium here and the Australian Government's here.
Health & Vaccinations
The CDC makes country-specific recommendations for vaccinations and health for travelers. You can find their latest information for Belgium here.
Guidebooks for Belgium
If you're looking for a guidebook to make the most of your visit, these are some of the most popular ones currently for Belgium. Some are available in both paper and e-book formats.
- Steves, Rick (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Elliott, Mark (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- English (Publication Language)
- DK Eyewitness (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Travel Insurance For Your Trip to Belgium
I never travel without travel insurance, and I've run into several situations where I've had to make claims. I consider it essential.
But shopping for travel insurance can be a pain and confusing. Thankfully, there are some travel insurance comparison sites that show you a wide range of plans, make it easy to compare coverage, and can save you money at the same time. And the coverage can be much better tailored to your specific needs than the checkbox offering at travel booking sites or through your credit card.
These are some good places to shop for travel insurance for your next trip to Belgium :
Hopefully, you won't need it, but if something goes wrong, you'll sure be glad you have it!