
The Museum



The Ligny 1815 Museum takes visitors on an interactive and immersive tour to find out more about the Napoleonic Wars and, more specifically, about the 1815 campaign in Belgium.
Home to a rich collection of period artefacts, appealing dioramas and scenic designs, it showcases daily life of the soldiers plunged into the hell of the Battle of Ligny of 16 June 1815 and evokes the fate and resilience of the local village community.
Good reasons to visit
the Ligny 1815 Museum

At every turn, visitors are immersed in a multi-sensory world where they get to see, hear, touch and even handle artefacts. Captivating multimedia displays are dotted along the way, offering dynamic perspectives of the historical events.
Multi-sensory exploration

The discovery tour takes visitors right to the heart of the Battle of Ligny on 16 June 1815.
Through artefacts, anecdotes and personal accounts, visitors get a real sense of the day-to-day reality of life for the combatants and the local population who lived through the tragedy.
Experiencing history from a human perspective

Through the collection and historical re-enactments, the heritage and memory of the 1815 war are preserved and passed on to each and every visitor.
Remembrance and passing on history

The museum is open to all ages and offers visitors tools and activities suitable for the whole family: from a games booklet across a virtual reality headset to films, educational workshops, etc.
A museum for the whole family!
Discover an impressive variety of items from this major historical event. Each artefact tells a fascinating story, transporting you back to the time of the battle. Be swept by the legacy left by those who fought on this legendary battlefield.
A collection of exceptional artefacts
In Ligny, a peaceful village of 900 inhabitants, two armies faced each other on that fateful day: Blücher's Prussian army, with 87,000 men and 216 cannons, and Napoleon's French army, with 65,000 men and 240 cannons.
For six hours, violent fighting took place in the streets, gardens and houses of the village. By the end of the day, Ligny was in flames and thousands of corpses littered the battlefield.
On that fateful day, a man fell every second of every hour in Ligny.
The shop...
The Ligny 1815 Museum shop offers a wide selection of books and souvenirs relating to the history of the Napoleonic battle.
The local region is a perfect opportunity for visitors to extend their visit with an experience that is rich in local flavours and discoveries, thanks to a selection of local produce and products, ideas for excursions and walks around the Ligne valley.
OPENING HOURS · from Wednesday to Friday from 13:00 to 17:00
Week-ends from 11:00 à 17:00
ADMISSION FEES · 6,5 € adult / 5 € for the over-60s / 3 € for children aged 6 to 11 / Free for children under 6 / 5 € for groups of at least 15 people.
ADDRESS · Rue Pont Piraux 23, 5140 SOMBREFFE / LIGNY
HOW TO REACH US ·
Car park: nearby, parking spaces for cars.
Bus: line 832, bus stop Ligny-Pont-Piraux, at just 100 m.
Train: Ligny railway station, at 800 m.
Pratical details
