Last time I had been to the Lion of Waterloo (post here) to have a look on the ongoing renovation works for the 200th anniversary of the battle, several old buildings had been destroyed, but it looks as if there is still a lot of work to be done to be ready for the June 18, 2015.
There had been a lot of discussions about territory rights between Waterloo and Braine l'Alleud the neighbor city who also claims a part of the site. There were also disagreements between two construction companies.
Now there is even the question to postpone the battle's anniversary and celebrate it a year later in 2016, which would really be a shame only because of the mayors of two little towns ! Of course everybody wants to have a big piece of the cake, tourists will bring a lot of money.
So history or not, if it's not ready they will celebrate not the 200th anniversary but the 201th anniversary. The poor Duke of Wellington will turn in his grave, as he had won the battle, Napoleon maybe doesn't care ... he lost !
Meanwhile there are still lots of tourists who climb the 253 steps up to the Lion and then eat and drink in the "Wellington Café".
On the other side of the Lion it doesn't look very inviting.
The façade of the building which were there in 1815 are preserved and protected with steel not to collapse.
This has once been the Wax Museum and a souvenir shop.
Napoleon's is wrapped in a black plastic bag so he can't see what is going around him.
the new underground museum is protected behind grids with paintings of the battle.
The museum's surface is already mostly finished.
You can walk through this corridor along the underground museum
On the pictures you can see the future entrance into the museum
Fortunately the tourist office is still standing ! Entrance fees and souvenirs have to be sold for the probably rather empty pockets of the site !
And here is a link to how it looked before when I visited the site in 2008.
A video shows you how the new museum will look like here
Tuesday, June 03, 2014
PROGRESS OF RENOVATION WORKS ON WATERLOO's BATTLEFIELD
Posted by Gattina at Tuesday, June 03, 2014
travel, vacation, Jordan, Egypt, Spain, Turkey, Our World, Renovation of Waterloo's battle field, Waterloo Memorial museum
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9 comments:
Always nice to see lovely buildings being taken care of.
What an interesting post. I sure hope they get finished in time. No-one wants to celebrate a 201st anniversary when it should be 200th! I popped into your 2008 post and love the change in the images. xxx
The video was great. It makes me want to come and visit. However, the site doesn't look like it will be ready fir June 18th. That would be one steep climb up to the lion. It will be great when it is done.
Too bad about the quarrel!! Boom, Bobbi and Gary.
I remember your earlier post and am glad for an update, although things do not seem to be going as well as they could. I love that Napoleans is wrapped and doesn't have to suffer memories of his defeat! :-)
What an indignity to poor Napolean to be all wrapped up in black plastic. What's a poor Emperor to do! Hopefully, he'll be happy with the renovations once he is 'set free.'
Very interesting post (seriously) with great pictures. And I am glad to know that they are working to restore and keep it up.
(And no surprise -- of course the gift shop would still be open. It always amazes me to see the people (usually women) who seem to only go to scenic or historical places so that they can buy something there. Oh well, the money goes to a good cause.
Still 1 year to go so I hope the site will be ready for the 200th anniversary. 201 will not be the same. My daughter's birthday is 18th June.
I'd like so much to come back there one day....
I've walked up those steps as well!!! This is really interesting to me as this was obviously one of those spots we always used to take our visitors too, thank you so much, keep us updated with the finished version whenever it is!
Wren x
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