News From The
Battlefield Of Waterloo

Napoleonic News Desk

by Paul Chamberlain

Courtesy of Graeme Cooper at www.waterlootours.co.uk

Walloon Government Name Management Group To Oversee Battlefield Redevelopment

The President of the 1815 Committee, Yves Vander Cruysen, has announced the appointment of the management group “Culture Espaces” to restore and manage the Waterloo Battlefield in future years. After reviewing several candidates, this Franco-Belgian company has been chosen by unanimous agreement of the Walloon Government, the Committee of International Historians, and the local authorities at the Lion Mound, and will take up its contract on April 1st.

Created in 1991, “Culture Espaces” has become a leading manager of cultural sites in Europe, and currently directs the Musée Jacquemart-André in Paris, the Chateau of Valancay in the Loire Valley, the National Automobile Museum at Mulhouse, the Chateau des Baux in Provence, the Théâtre Antique in Orange, the Rothschild Villa Ephrussi and the Villa Kérylos on the French Riviera. At the same time, BEAI, the architectural group, has been appointed to design and restore new and existing buildings on the Battlefield. Among its designs are the L’Oréal building at Libremont, the International School of Brussels, and the Brugmann Hospital in Brussels.

‘The first step of a long process has now been taken,’ said Vander Cruysen, ‘The train is on track, and we will now start to hitch on the wagons. You are invited to meet us on the 10th of May to hear the plans from the two companies appointed.’

Hougoumont Farm – A Re-Enactment Centre

Hougoumont has been bought by the Battlefield 1815 Committee, and will be an integral part of the restored area around the Lion Mound. Restrictions on restoration of the farmhouse are very tight, and Vander Cruysen envisions using the farm as a re-enactment centre and as an area for bivouacs. Eventually he would like to set up a major son et lumiére for the summer months, telling the story of the battle around the farm.

Wellington Museum

Any visitors going to Waterloo in April should make a note that the Wellington Museum is currently showing an exhibition called “Children and War” – in fact, it has been so popular with school groups that it may be held over to the end of May.

Napoleonic News Desk

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