Hougoumont Farm
Musée de la Ferme d'Hougoumont

Discover the story of the Battle of Waterloo at an iconic battlefield and museum.

Welcome to Waterloo, the place of Napoleon’s last battle. But how did his defeat come to be? Retrace the steps of the battle at Hougoumont Farm. This is one of the first places in Waterloo where the British and allied forces met Napoleon’s army. After the battle, Hougoumont was utterly destroyed and an ashmark of its former self.

These days, this humble farm has been fully restored to a small museum that’s full of history, and can be found just 1.5 km from the Lion’s Mound. If you’re here in Waterloo to step back in time, Hougoumont should be on your list. The museum is included in the 1815 Pass, which we recommend if you have time to visit all the major highlights of Waterloo.

• The museum has a 20 minute multimedia installation which takes you through the battle. Mostly visual with plenty of info panels and audio parts. We recommend using the app or audio guide if you don’t speak French, otherwise it’ll be a limited experience. Along the way, there’s also some artifacts from the battle. Very interesting for history buffs.
• The chapel has a crucifix of Christ that is missing a leg. But the crucifix has been around since the 16th century and somehow managed to miraculously escape the fire and battle of Waterloo
• Spend some time walking around outside the barn to find the trees. They’ve been here for hundreds of years. You’ll also find bullet holes here in the ground from the battle.
• Don’t miss the British Memorial just outside the barn.