Wavre

Wavre - Ferraris (18th Century)

The Battlefield (Johnston)

Our Route

There are basically three sites we visited related to the battle at Wavre. Each is separated by a car journey. For this reason there are no ‘guide times’ given.

Wavre - from the game Waterloo
© The Avalon Hill Game Company

Wavre - From L'Armee du Nord Game
Artist: Rick Barber
© 1993, Clash of Arms Games a division of
Theatre Of the Mind Enterprises, Inc.

Wavre - From the game La Bataille de Wavre
Artist: Rick Barber

© 1994, Clash of Arms Games a division of
Theatre Of the Mind Enterprises, Inc.

Wavre - From the game Le Retour de l'Empereur
Artist: Didier Rouy
© Pratzen Editions

 

Three views of/from the Pont du Christ

We first drove into the village centre and, without realising it, parked just a stone’s throw from the Pont du Christ. It is impossible to picture the bridge as it was in 1815 since it is now a non-descript road and pedestrian area barely recognisable as a bridge let alone the key access to the village. In fact there is only half a bridge since the river is visible on one side but runs under the pedestrian area on the other. You have to walk 50 meters through the pedestrian area to see the river as it enters that section.

The Town Hall

French canonball embeded in church column

The Town Hall (which served as a hospital much like Mt St Jean at Waterloo)  and St John-the-Baptist church are just a couple of hundred metres away and the latter  is worth a visit if only to see the canon ball that came in through a window and lodged in a column inside the church. It remains there to this day. Unfortunately on our visit, the church was closed - but you may be luckier.

Wavre is a pleasant Belgian village and certainly a good spot for lunch and a short stroll.

Bridge at Bierges

View of the Dyle from the Bierges bridge

Monument commemorating the
wounding of General Gerard

General view NW from the Bierges bridge

We jumped in the car and drove to the bridge at Bierges. Of the three Wavre sites we visited, this is the most evocative since it is largely unchanged. The watermill still survives (albeit with breeze block extensions).

 

Views of Bierges Mill

Wheel House at Bierges Mill

Moulin du Bierges - From the game La Bataille de Wavre
Artist: Rick Barber

© 1994, Clash of Arms Games a division of
Theatre Of the Mind Enterprises, Inc.

Bierges - From the game Le Retour de l'Empereur
Artist: Didier Rouy

© Pratzen Editions

From the west side of the Dyle it is just possible, without encroaching on to private property, to see where the wheel was housed (see arrow). Cross the Dyle and walk to the mill which is now a farm shop and therefore accessible to the general public.

 

 Bridge at Limal

To complete the trio of bridges we next headed to Limal. The bridge is on the very edge of the village. The village itself is rather depressing and the bridge and the Dyle give you no real additional insight into the events of 1815. As such, this bridge is only of interest if you want to ‘collect’ the full set of three bridges.

Tour de Wavre en Francais

Tour de Waterloo - en Español