History of the Hougoumont Farm
A property in a peaceful setting
On the eve of June 18, 1815, Hougoumont was a refined château-farm located on the rolling plains of the Waterloo and Braine-l'Alleud battlefield. It consisted of a manor house with an adjoining chapel, a large barn, stables, cowsheds, a farmhouse, a French formal garden, and three enclosed orchards. The elevated ornamental garden, bordered by a balustrade along its full width, was laid out in the intricate patterns of French design; vegetables were planted in contrasting colors for visual effect, and the orchard trees were symmetrically spaced.
©Patrice Courcelle
On June 18, 1815, everything changed
During the fierce battle that broke out the following day—the Battle of Waterloo—Hougoumont was almost completely destroyed. For all its bucolic charm, it proved to be crucial in defending the right flank of Wellington’s Allied army. It stood as a barrier against a French flanking maneuver on the Allied line, and Napoleon was determined to neutralize it at all costs. Neither side could afford to yield, and over 15,000 soldiers of various nationalities became embroiled in this small pocket of just a few hectares. Dramatic accounts describe how both sides gave their utmost. By the end of the day, an estimated 5,000 soldiers had been killed or wounded in what became the bloodiest episode of the entire battle.
©Cambridge Digital Library.
Very little remained of Hougoumont. The manor house and most of the agricultural buildings had been consumed by fire, the enclosing walls were largely destroyed, and the woods, gardens, and orchards were devastated. In recognition of its unique importance in the Allied victory and to honor the brave men who fought and died there, Hougoumont was subsequently preserved as a place of remembrance. In 1816, King William I of the Netherlands took a special interest in its sale to Count François de Robiano to ensure its preservation. Over the following two centuries, Hougoumont remained a working farm, but the barns and main farm buildings were never rebuilt, and the small château remained — and still remains — a poignant ruin. In 2003, Robiano’s descendant and last private owner, Count Guibert d’Oultremont, transferred Hougoumont to the Walloon regional government.
Renovations undertaken in 2015
As the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo approached in 2015, a group of private individuals in Belgium and the United Kingdom launched the Hougoumont project—an ambitious plan to repair and stabilize the remaining buildings. This remarkable collective effort, supported by the British government, the Walloon Region, the Dutch army, watchmaker Breguet, and many generous private donors, was completed in time for a grand opening on June 17, 2015—the eve of the bicentenary commemoration—in the presence of the Prince of Wales, Princess Astrid of Belgium, and descendants of the main military commanders: Wellington, Bonaparte, Blücher, and Crown Prince William of Orange-Nassau.
A garden restoration project in 2027
The gardens of Hougoumont were never restored, and over time, the large orchard—where so many battles took place—deteriorated into flat arable land. About five years ago, a private initiative was launched to complete the restoration of Hougoumont by recreating the gardens and orchard, thus crowning the entire site as a place of remembrance for the conflict and sacrifice and, ultimately, as a monument to understanding, reconciliation, peace, and hope. The Walloon Region and Kléber Rossillon, the company managing the museum and the historic battlefield site, have agreed to devote significant resources to the recreation of the French formal garden, the vegetable garden, and the orchard.
©WaterlooBlog