Photographing battlefields of the Napoleonic era, two centuries later, is not easy because they evolved as the landscapes of the countryside but also as our cities...
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Some have remained in a state close to that fighters roamed at the time: either because they have been protected (Waterloo) or because their rurality has avoided them, for now, a too visible transformation (Marengo, Austerlitz, Eckmühl, Friedland, Champaubert...). Of course, some electrical or telephone poles and wires, some antennas or satellite dishes, some cars or tractors, some advertisement billboards were added to those places (one must move with the times, even in the countryside); but the photo retouching softwares can often remove them, so we can see before us a state close to that as valiant veterans, and the Emperor himself, saw.
But alas it is not of same everywhere. Cities, especially, have been greatly transformed, sometimes even in their historical center. Some quintupled or tenfold of size (Alessandria, Mantua, Vienna and its surroundings, Leipzig, Dresden, Vitoria, Laon, Montereau ...), others were disfigured during subsequent conflicts (Reims during World War I, Ulm, Dresden and Leipzig during World War II). Housing estates have flourished even in the countryside (Wagram, Vauchamps); when this is not one of those awful commercial areas, over several dozen acres, that has settled over much of the battlefield (La Favorita near Mantua, Mont-St-Pierre at Tinqueux near Reims). Then, a church, a few walls, a piece of land are all that remains to be seen... for how long?
We have not visited all the Napoleonic battlefields, far from it. Our next years will be devoted to enriching the iconography. Then some younger persons will take over from us, we hope so, to complete this work. Because images never die.
Enjoy your visit!
ARCIS-SUR-AUBE (20 and 21 March 1814)
The battlefield is located on the left bank of the river Aube, therefore to the south of it. It stretches in a semi-circle around Arcis: Villette to the west (on the road to Méry-sur-Seine), Nozay to the south-west and Mesnil-la-Comtesse to the south-east (on both sides of the road to Troyes), Torcy-le-Grand and Torcy-le-Petit to the east (towards Brienne). The land is absolutely flat.
A single bridge, in Arcis itself, makes it possible to reach the right bank of the Aube. During the battle, a temporary bridge had been thrown over the river near Villette.
- Arcis-sur-Aube: the church, downtown
Arcis [48.53667, 4.14197] - Arcis-sur-Aube: the castle
City Hall of Arcis-sur-Aube City Hall of Arcis-sur-Aube [today the City Hall] - Arcis-sur-Aube: the bridge over the river Aube
Bridge of Arcis-sur-Aube Bridge of Arcis-sur-Aube - The river Aube
The river Aube - The battlefield, south of Arcis, towards Villette
The battlefield, south of Arcis - Dommartin
Dommartin-le-Franc - Méry-sur-Seine
Méry-sur-Seine - Mesnil-la-Comtesse: the village
Mesnil-la-Comtesse and its surroundingsSurroundings of Mesnil-la-Comtesse - Nozay
Nozay - Plancy-l'Abbaye
Plancy l'Abbaye - Torcy-le-Grand
Torcy-le-Grand - Villette
Villette-sur-Aube
ARCOLE (15 to 17 November 1796)
The famous Arcole bridge spans the Alpone torrent, which flows in a north-south direction before going to throw itself into the Adige river, a few kilometers south-east of Ronco all'Adige. The village is entirely located to the east of the Alpone, therefore on its left bank. Visited in summer, the level of the latter was very low, but in mid-November 1796 it was certainly not the same!
The bridge itself still retained its two piers in 2013, but its deck, made of wood during the battle, was concreted (as were the banks). Alas, during our visit in 2016 it had been replaced by a bridge with a single arch in reinforced concrete and corten steel, no longer having anything to do with the historic bridge known to Bonaparte and Augereau... The surrounding marshes have dried up for a long time, and all the land is now cultivated.
- Albaredo
Albaredo - Arcole: the bridge [45.35728, 11.27773] in 2012-2013, seen from the eastern bank
The 2013 bridge of Arcole over the river Alpone and from the western bankThe bridge of Arcole over the Alpone, in 2013 - Arcole : the bridge in 2016, seen from upstream
The 2016 bridge of Arcole over the river Alpone, view 1 and downstreamThe 2016 bridge of Arcole over the river Alpone, view 2 - Arcole: the outlet of the bridge on the left (east) bank held by the Austrians
The left bank of the Alpone and on the right bank (west, held by the French)The right bank of the Alpone, view 1 The right bank of the Alpone, view 2 . At the time they were swamps - Arcole: obelisk erected in 1810 at the outlet of the bridge
Obelisk near the bridge of Arcole Obelisk near the bridge of Arcole on the right bank, to the west, and the commemorative plaquesA commemorative plaque on the obelisk at Arcole Commemorative plaque on the obelisk at Arcole affixed on it - Arcole: the outlet of the bridge on the eastern bank of the river Alpone
The outlet of the bridge on the left bank and the villageArcole - Arcole: the Alpone river, upstream the bridge
The river Alpone upstream the bridge and downstreamThe river Alpone downstream the bridge The Alpone river upstream the bridge , and several kilometers further its confluence with the Adige riverThe confluence uf the Alpone with the Adige - Arcole: the Palazzo Ruffo
The Palazzo Ruffo at Arcole and a vintage houseA vintage house in Arcole - Caldiero : the village
Caldiero and the Monte RoccaThe Monte Rocca at Caldiero - Colognola
Colognola - The locality named Porcil
Porcil - Ronco all'Adige: Napoléon Bonaparte's headquarters during the battle and the following day
Headquarters of Napoléon Bonaparte at Ronco - San Bonifacio
San Bonifacio - San Giacomo
San Giacomo - San Martino
San Martino - San Michele-extra
San Michele-extra - San Stefano di Zimella
San Stefano di Zimella - Villafranca di Verona: Napoléon Bonaparte's headquarters the evening before the battle
Headquarters of Napoleon Bonaparte at Villafranca di Verona
ASPERN-ESSLING (21 and 22 May 1809)
The Battle of Aspern-Essling is called Battle of Aspern by German speakers and Essling by French speakers. The violent and deadly clashes took place in and around these two villages, north of the Danube [they are now part of the 22nd district of Vienna], as well as in Gross-Enzersdorf, a little further east. Demographic and urban developments mean that unfortunately, at the start of the 21st century, it is very difficult for visitors to imagine themselves on the battlefield, and it is necessary to move a few hectometers north of Eßlinger Hauptstraße to find a few remaining fields between residential areas.
Remains the island of Lobau, further south, between the Danube [nowadays canalized] and an arm of it, which will delight the Napoleonic hiker or cyclist. This area of four by three kilometers, made of woods and swamps, crossed by roads and dirt paths, has remained in a state close to that experienced by French soldiers, or the famous writer Honoré de Balzac who visited it in 1835. The Austrians did things well on the occasion of the centenary commemoration in 1909, since several stone markers were erected at places affected by the preparations for the battle, or the retreat which followed it. The island is now classified, so we can be optimistic for the future.
- Aspern: the church
Aspern Church of Aspern - Aspern: the cemetery
Cemetery of Aspern and the Sebastian chapelThe Sebastian chapel at Aspern - Aspern: the Lion, sculpture honoring the Austrian fighters
The Lion of Aspern - Aspern: obelisk in memory of the Austrian soldiers
Obelisk at Aspern - Bisamberg
Bisamberg - Breitenlee
Breitenlee , where Archduke Charles established his headquarters - Battlefield, north of the Lobau
North of the Lobau - The river Danube
The Danube, seen from its right bank The Danube The Danube at Nüssdorf (© 2014 Michèle Grau-Ghelardi) - Essling: the church
Church of Essling and the castleThe castle of Essling , on both sides of main street - Essling: the Granary
Granary of Essling Granary of Essling [48.21597, 16.52416] where the French have valiantly withstood the Austrian assaults - Gross-Enzersdorf: the village
Gross-Enzersdorf , the churchGross-Enzersdorf and the battlefield between Essling and Gross-EnzersdorfBattlefield near Gross-Enzersdorf - Kagran: inn havin hosted Napoléon
Inn at Kagran - The Lobau Island: landscapes
Lobau Island Lobau Island Lobau Island Lobau Island The Lobau with a bras of the Danube Lobau Island Lobau Island Lobau Island Lobau Island Lobau Island Lobau Island - The Lobau Island: memorial stones : Napoleon's headquarters
Headquarters of Napoléon , powder reservePowder reserve at the Lobau Island , French bridgeheadFrench bridgehead , French cemeteryFrench cemetery - The plain of Marchfeld
Plain of Marchfeld Plain of Marchfeld - Markgrafneusiedl: Archduke Charles' headquarters
Headquarters of Archduke Charles at Markgrafneusiedl - Süssenbrunn
Süssenbrunn
AUERSTAEDT (14 October 1806)
Many thanks to Mrs. Christiane Deshaies-Da Luz for the photos she provided us to put on the website.
Auerstaedt [now Auerstedt] is a village located some thirty kilometers north of Jena, a German town in northern Thuringia, where another Napoleonic victory took place on the same day. The battlefield, which is located to the north and east of the village, is moderately hilly and crossed by a stream called the Lissbach.
- Apolda: general view
Apolda and the churchThe church in Apolda - Auerstaedt: the castle [Rittergut]
The castle of Auerstaedt Auerstaedt's castle , that served as Prussian HQ before and during the battle - Auerstaedt: the old post
The old post of Auerstaedt , a streetA street in Auerstaedt , the churchThe church of Auerstaedt and the little museum dedicated to the battleThe little museum in Auerstaedt - The surroundings of Auerstaedt: views of the battlefield
The battlefield near Auerstedt, view 1 The battlefield near Auerstedt, view 2 The battlefield near Auerstedt, view 3 The battlefield near Auerstedt, view 4 - Eckartzberga: the castle
Eckartzberga : the castle , the inn where Napoleon stayedInn at Eckartzberga and the battlefield on the road to GernstedtThe battlefield between Gernstedt et Eckartzberga - Gernstedt: the church
The church of Gernstedt , the battlefield aroundThe battlefield near Gernstedt Battlefield near Gernstedt and stele at General von Kalkreuth's Reserve CorpsKalkreuth stele in Gernstedt Stele at General von Kalkreuth's Reserve Corps - Hassenhausen: general view
Aerial view of Hassenhausen Hassenhausen , the High Street [Obergasse]Obergasse in Hassenhausen leading to the old presbytery, now a museum of the battleMuseum at Hassenhausen - Hassenhausen: the monument commemorating the battle
Monument commemorating the battle in Hassenhausen , the Prussian stelePrussian stele in Hassenhausen , the Blücher steleBlücher stele in Hassenhausen Blücher stele near Hassenhausen and the Gudin steleGudin stele in Hassenhausen The Gudin stele in Hassenhausen - Between Hassenhausen and Taugwitz: the battlefield
The battlefield between Hassenhausen / Taugwitz, view 1 The battlefield between Hassenhausen / Taugwitz, view 2 The battlefield between Hassenhausen / Taugwitz, view 3 , the Wartensleben steleThe Wartensleben stele between Hassenhausen / Taugwitz Wartensleben stele between Hassenhausen / Taugwitz and the Brunswick monument, erected on the spot where the prince was seriously injuredBrunswick Monument between Hassenhausen / Taugwitz [51.12492, 11.64641] - Kösen: the river Saale
The river Saale at Kösen, view 1 The river Saale at Kösen, view 2 The river Saale at Kösen, view 3 and hthe bridge over itBridge over the river Saale at Kösen, view 1 Bridge over the river Saale at Kösen, view 2 Bridge over the river Saale at Kösen, view 3 - Kösen: the pass
The pass of Kösen and the battlefieldThe battlefield above Kösen above the city, southwest of it - The Lissbach river
The Lissbach river between Sonnendorf and Sulza - Punschrau: view of the village
Punschrau and the mill having witnessed the fightingMill at Punschrau - Rehehausen: general view
Rehehausen - The Sonnenberg: pastures
On the Sonnenberg , vineyardVinyard at the Sonnenberg , and stele at the Brouard brigade of the Morand divisionBrouard / Morand stele at the Sonnenberg Brouard / Morand stele on the Sonnenberg - Spielberg: general view
General view of Spielberg , the villageSpielberg and the St Martin churchThe church of Spielberg - Spielberg: the battlefield
The battlefield near Spielberg and the Friant steleThe Friant stele in Spielberg Friant stele in Spielberg - Sulza: the village
Sulza and the Oswald steleOswald stele in Sulza - Tauchwitz [Taugwitz]: general view
Aerial vie of Taugwitz Taugwitz , the entrance to the villageThe entrance to Taugwitz and its churchThe church of Taugwitz
AUSTERLITZ (2 December 1805)
The battle of Austerlitz was fought over a very large area, east of Brünn [Brno] in southern Moravia. The combat area is roughly in the shape of a point-down triangle whose base, to the north, is the Brno-Olomouc road, and the point, to the south, corresponds to the village of Satschann [Zatcany]. Between the center of the triangle and its right edge, the elongated plateau of Pratzen [Prace], oriented SW-NE, overhangs the rest of the area, which is quite hilly, by about 80 meters.
Contemplating – if it isn't raining – the sunrise above this plateau, for example from the road [49.12917, 16.73428] Kobelnitz [Kobylnice]-Sokolnitz [Sokolnice], certainly constitutes the the ultimate in Napoleonic tourism
- Aujest [Újezd u Brna]: downtown
Aujezd , the St-Antony chapelSt-Antony chapel at Aujezd and the surrounding fieldsSurroundings of Aujezd - Austerlitz [Slavkov u Brna]: the castle, Napoléon's headquarters after the battle
Castle of Austerlitz Castle of Austerlitz - Austerlitz [Slavkov u Brna]: the St-Urban chapel
St-Urban chapel at Austerlitz , French look-out before the battle - Birnbaum [Hrušky u Brna]: the village
Birnbaum - Birnbaum [Hrušky u Brna]: the swamps
Swamps near Birnbaum - Birnbaum [Hrušky u Brna]: the battlefield
Field near Birnbaum Field near Birnbaum - Blasowitz [Blažovice]: the village
Blasowitz - Bosenitz [Tvarožná]: the church
Bozenitz - Bosenitz [Tvarožná]: the Santon hill [49.188397, 16.76375]
The Santon hill The Santon hill , its chapelChapel at the top of the Santon hill and the General Valhubert memorial monument, in front of the hillGeneral Valhubert memorial - The Gandia Inn [Osada Kandie] [49.18722, 16.70611]
The Gandia Inn The Gandia Inn, HQ of Napoleon where Napoleon positioned himself on November 29 - The Goldbach creek
The Goldbach creek The Goldbach creek , which runs through the battlefield, west of the Pratzen Heights - Holubitz [Holubice]: the village
Holubitz , its churchHolubitz and the monument to Joachim MuratMurat Monument at Holubitz with a medallion bearing his imageMurat Monument at Holubitz - Horka [49.18111, 16.72839]: Napoléon's headquarters the day before the battle
Headquarters of Napoleon at Horka Headquarters of Napoleon at Horka - Hostieradek [Hosterádky-Rešov]: the village
Hostieradek - Jirschikowitz [Jirikovice]: the main street
Girzikowitz - Kobelnitz [Kobylnice u Brna]: a farm within the village
Kobelnitz - Kruh: the hamlet
Kruh - Krzenowitz [Krenovice]: the village
Krenowitz and the St-Lawrence churchSt-Lawrence church at Krenowitz - Krzenowitz [Krenovice]: former Spacil farm, which hosted Kutuzov's headquarters
Headquarters of Kutuzov at Krenowitz Headquarters of Kutuzov at Krenowitz and the statue of Kutuzov downtownStatue of Kutuzov at Krenowitz - Krzenowitz [Krenovice]: a french cannon, a relic of the battle
French cannon at Krenowitz French cannon at Krenowitz - Krzenowitz [Krenovice]: the battlefield
Field near Krenowitz Field near Krenowitz - Krzenowitz [Krenovice]: place called "The Kutuzov Cross": the roman cross
The Kutuzov Cross and panoramaView from the Kutuzov Cross from this location - The Littawa river
The Littawa river The Littawa river , east of the battlefield, which fed the ponds of Satschann - Marxdorf or Maxdorf [Dvorska]: the village
Maxdorf - Menitz [Menín]: the church
Church of Menitz - Posoritz: the village
Posoritz and its churchChurch of Posoritz - Pratzen [Prace]: the village
Pratzen , the Holy-Cross churchHoly-Cross church at Pratzen and a field nearbyField near Pratzen - Pratzen [Prace]: the Pratzen Heights
The Pratzen Heights The Pratzen Heights The Pratzen Heights and the Peace Monument which was erected upon themPeace Monument upon the Pratzen Heights - Pratzen [Prace]: sunrise (the famous "Soleil d'Austerlitz") over the Pratzen Heights
Sunrise over the Pratzen Heights Sunrise over the Pratzen Heights Sunrise over the Pratzen Heights Sunrise over the Pratzen Heights Sunrise over the Pratzen Heights Sunrise over the Pratzen Heights - Puntowitz [Ponetovice]: the main street
Puntowitz - The convent of Raygern
Raygern near which stood Davout the day before the battle - The Roketnice creek
The Roketnice creek , near Puntowitz - Satschann [Zatcany]: the church of the village
Satschan and the famous pondsFormer pond at Satschan , now dried up and cultivated - Scharatitz [Šaratice]: the village
Scharatitz , the churchChurch of Scharatitz , and the battlefieldField near Scharatitz - Schlapanitz [Šlapanice]: Marshal Soult's headquarters
Headqurters of Marshal Soult at Schlapanitz and the monument to Jean-Dominique LarreyMonument to Larrey at Schlapanitz - Sokolnitz [Sokolnice]: the former granary
Sokolnitz - Sokolnitz [Sokolnice]: the castle
Sokolnitz and the place where french artilery stoodPlace where artilery stood at Sokolnitz over its Eastern walls - Surroundings of Sokolnitz [Sokolnice]: the battlefield at dawn
Battlefield at dawn near Sokolnitz Battlefield at dawn near Sokolnitz Battlefield at dawn near Sokolnitz - Stará Posta
Stara Posta near Posoritz Stara Posta near Posoritz Stara Posta near Posoritz , a posthouse near Posoritz - Stare Vinohrady
Stare Vinohrady , a hill where General Rapp presented to Napoleon the flags taken from the enemy - Telnitz [Telnice]: the village
Telnitz - Telnitz [Telnice]: ponds between Telnitz and Menitz
Pond in the Telnitz-Menitz area Pond in the Telnitz-Menitz area - Turas [Brno-Turany]: the church
Turas - Walspitz or Welspitz [Velešovice]: the village
Walspitz - Waschan [Vážany nad Litavou]: the village
Waschan and the battlefieldBattlefied near Waschan Battlefied near Waschan - Zbeischow or Sbischow [Zbýšov u Slavkova]: the village
Zbeischow Zbeischow - North of Zbýšov: place called "The Three Emperors" [49.14130, 16.79380]: memorial monument
Place called The 3 Emperors near Krenowitz which was inaugurated in 2005 for the bicentenary of the battle, and the panoramaView from the place called The 3 Emperors from this point - The Zuran mound [49.17979, 16.73842]
The Zuran mound The Zuran mound , from which Napoleon harangued his troops in the evening of December 1st (memorial monumentMonument of the Zuran mound ) then led the battle the following day until noon - The Zuran mound: the wonderful panorama
Panorama from the Zuran mound Panorama from the Zuran mound Panorama from the Zuran mound Panorama from the Zuran mound one can see from this strategic location - Spaleny Mlyn ("Burned Mill") at Januv Dvur
Spaleny Mlyn at Januv Dvur where Napoleon and Emperor Francis II met on December 4, under a lime treeSpaleny Mlyn at Januv Dvur Spaleny Mlyn at Januv Dvur to discuss peace
After the battle:
BAILÉN (19-22 July 1808)
Bailén (or Baylén) is an Andalusian town located nowadays in the province of Jaén, about forty kilometers north of it.
The battlefield is moderately rugged but above all very arid. Nowadays the cultivation of the olive tree is omnipresent, much more intensive than at the time.
- Bailén: The Cerrajón hill
The Cerrajón hill, view 1 The Cerrajón hill, view 2 , south of the battlefield - Bailén: The Haza Walona (or Valona) hill
The Haza Walona hill, view 1 The Haza Walona hill, view 2 , also south of the battlefield, east of Cerrajón hill - Bailén: the locality Cruz Blanca
La Cruz Blanca [38.09234, -3.79165], center of the battlefield - Bailén: the hills named Zumacar Chico
Zumacar Chico , north of the main road, and Zumacar GrandeZumacar Grande , even further north - Bailén: the City Hall
City Hall of Bailén , and the parish church of the IncarnationThe parish church of the Incarnation, Bailén in which rest since 1963 the remains of General Castaños - Bailén: the palm grove
Palm grove in Bailén leading to the monument commemorating General CastañosMonument commemorating General Castaños, view 1 Monument commemorating General Castaños, view 2 Monument commemorating General Castaños, view 3 - Bailén: the chapel Ermita limpia y pura
Chapel Ermita limpia y pura, view 1 Chapel Ermita limpia y pura, view 2 where according to tradition General Claude François Dupré (or Duprès), mortally wounded during the battle, would be buried, and its commemorative plaquePlaque on the chapel Ermita limpia y pura - Bailén: the museum of the battle
Museum of the battle of Bailén , the monument to General Reding de BibereggMonument to General Reding de Biberegg and the one to José de San MartínThe monument to General San Martin , future Argentine general and statesman, who fought in this battle as a captain - The route
Road leading to the river Rumblar leading to the Rumblar valleyThe Rumblar valley and the fields aroundBattlefield near the river Rumblar, view 1 Battlefield near the river Rumblar, view 2 - The river Rumblar
The river Rumblar, view 1 The river Rumblar, view 2 and the current bridge over itThe bridge over the river Rumblar, view 1 The bridge over the river Rumblar, view 2 The bridge over the river Rumblar, view 3 - Ventorrillo
Ventorrillo , a hamlet west of the battlefield, and its surroundingsThe surroundings of Ventorrillo, view 1 The surroundings of Ventorrillo, view 2 - Vilanueva de la Reina: the post relay
Post relay at Vilanueva de la Reina where the talks were held after the battle, and the fresco in azulejosFresco at the old post relay of Vilanueva de la Reina commemorating his event
After the battle:
BASSANO (8 September 1796)
Bassano del Grappa is located in Veneto, at the foot of the Vicentine Prealps, on the Brenta River. This very picturesque town is a popular vacation spot for Venetians.
- The Brenta valley above Bassano del Grappa
The Brenta valley, view 1 The Brenta valley, view 2 The Brenta valley, view 3 The Brenta valley, view 4 - North of Bassano del Grappa: the plain
North of Bassano del Grappa between the Grappa massif and the Brenta valley - Bassano del Grappa: geneal view
Bassano del Grappa , the castle towerBassano del Grappa and the Ponte Vecchio (or Ponte degli Alpini) [45.76750, 11.73118] over the BrentaThe old bridge at Bassano del Grappa - General Bonaparte's HQ at the end of the fights
Headquarters of General Bonaparte at Bassano del Grappa and its commemorative plaquePlaque at General Bonaparte's headquarters in Bassano
After the battle:
BAUTZEN (20-21 May 1813)
Bautzen [Budyšin in Sorbian] is a town in Saxony 60 kilometers east of Dresden. At the time, it was a large town of some 10,000 inhabitants.
The battlefield, moderately hilly and fairly sparsely wooded, is to the east of the city; the various villages there remain preserved for the moment, due to their rural nature.
- Baruth: the manor
The manor of Baruth - Between Baruth and Weissenberg: the battlefield
The battlefield between Baruth - Weissenberg, view 1 The battlefield between Baruth - Weissenberg, view 2 The battlefield between Baruth - Weissenberg, view 3 The battlefield between Baruth - Weissenberg, view 4 - Bautzen: the commemorative monument at the cemetery
The commemorative monument at the cemetery of Bautzen Commemorative monument at the cemetery of Bautzen - Bautzen: the stone bridge
The stone bridge at Bautzen - Gleina: an aerial view of the village
Aerialview of Gleina - Gleina: the Windmühlenberg
The Windmühlenberg at Gleina, view 1 The Windmühlenberg at Gleina, view 2 [51.23957, 14.55108] - Hochkirch: the village
Hochkirch - Jenkowitz: the Monarchenhügel
The Monarchenhügel at Jenkowitz, view 1 The Monarchenhügel at Jenkowitz, view 2 - Jenkowitz: a period house, in ruins
A period house at Jenkowitz - Kreckwitz: the battlefield
The battlefield at Kreckwitz - Kreckwitz: the commemoratie monument
Commemorative monument in Kreckwitz, view 1 Commemorative monument in Kreckwitz, view 2 and panelCommemorative panel in Kreckwitz - Between Kreckwitz and Pliesskowitz: the battlefield
The battlefield between Kreckwitz - Pliesskowitz, view 1 The battlefield between Kreckwitz - Pliesskowitz, view 2 The battlefield between Kreckwitz - Pliesskowitz, view 3 - Malschwitz: general view
Malschwitz - A pond between Malschwitz and Pliesskowitz
A pond between Malschwitz and Pliesskowitz - Niederkaina: views of the battlefield from the Napoleonsberg (or Schafsberg)
The battlefield seen from the Napoleonsberg at Niederkaina, view 1 The battlefield seen from the Napoleonsberg at Niederkaina, view 2 The battlefield seen from the Napoleonsberg at Niederkaina, view 3 - Preititz: the manor
The manor of Preititz and the informative panelInformative panel in front of the manor of Preititz - Purschwitz: the battlefield
The battlefield at Purschwitz - Purschwitz (Klein-) [Neupurschwitz]: the inn where Napoleon set up his HQ after the battle
The inn at Neupurschwitz and a commemorative stoneCommemorative stone near the inn of Neupurschwitz nearby - Rackel: a horse on the battlefield
The battlefield at Rackel - Rodewitz: the battlefield
The battlefield at Rodewitz - Weißenberg: the village
Weissenberg - Wurschen: aerial view
Wurschen , the Wasserschloss castleThe Wasserschloss castle at Wurschen which served as the headquarters of the Prussian army, and a nearby pondPond near the Wasserschloss castle at Wurschen
BODÓN (EL-) (25 September 1811)
Many thanks to Mrs. Florence Thévenot († 2021) for the photos she provided us to put on the website.
El Bodón is a village located about fifteen kilometers southwest of Ciudad Rodrigo, a fortified town then besieged by the troops of General Wellington (southwest of the current region of Castile and León, near the border with Portugal).
The battlefield is rugged and very wooded for the region.
- The village of El Bodón
El Bodón : the village A general view of El Bodón and its churchChurch of El Bodón - The battlefield
El Bodón: the battlefield, view 1 El Bodón: the battlefield, view 2 El Bodón: the battlefield, view 3 El Bodón: the battlefield, view 4 El Bodón: the battlefield, view 5 west of the village, and the path through itEl Bodón: the battlefield, view 6 El Bodón: the battlefield, view 7 - A possible descendant of one of the horses of Louis Pierre de Montbrun's cavalry
A horse near El Bodón Horse near El Bodón - The commemorative monument
El Bodón: the commemorative monument, view 1 El Bodón: the commemorative monument, view 2 El Bodón: the commemorative monument, view 3 [40.49579, -6.60743] erected in 2011 for the bicentenary of the battle, and its bas-relief plaquesEl Bodón: the commemorative monument, plaque 1 El Bodón: the commemorative monument, plaque 2 El Bodón: the commemorative monument, plaque 3 El Bodón: the commemorative monument, plaque 4 which illustrate the fights.
BORGHETTO (30 May 1796)
The fighting took place at Valeggio-sul-Mincio, a small town twenty-five kilometers southwest of Verona, where Bonaparte had established his Headquarters, in which he was almost captured. Then below the town, at a place called Borghetto (literally "Little Town") where the Mincio, widened by several artificial thresholds, is crossed by the Visconti bridge [Ponte Visconteo] built in the fourteenth century, 650 meters long and 20 wide, nowadays a road [Strada Viscontea].
The very picturesque hamlet of Borghetto includes several water mills, now restored, and is dominated by the imposing castle [Castello Scaligero] of Valeggio, built in the thirteenth century. It is part of the club "I Borghi più belli d'Italia" ("The most beautiful villages in Italy").
- Borghetto: the strada Viscontea
Borghetto Borghetto Strada Viscontea at Borghetto [45.35488, 10.72505] that spans the Mincio river - Borghetto: the edges of the Mincio river
The edges of the Mincio river at Borghetto, view 1 The edges of the Mincio river at Borghetto, view 2 The edges of the Mincio river at Borghetto, view 3 - Borghetto: aerial view of the village
Aerial view of Borghetto - Borghetto: the village
Borghetto, view 1 Borghetto, view 3 - The river Mincio downstream Borghetto
The river Mincio downstream Borghetto, view 1 The river Mincio downstream Borghetto, view 2 - Mantua, seen from San Giorgio bridge over the Mincio river
Mantua - Valeggio sul Mincio: the castle
Castle of Valeggio sul Mincio Castle of Valeggio sul Mincio - Valeggio sul Mincio: headquarters of General Napoléon Bonaparte
Headquarters of Napoleon Bonaparte at Valeggio sul Mincio The headquarters of Napoleon Bonaparte at Valeggio sul Mincio - Villafranca di Verona: the walls
Villafranca di Verona: the walls, view 1 Villafranca di Verona: the walls, view 2 - Villafranca di Verona: plaque at General Bonaparte's HQ
Villafranca di Verona: plaque at the HQ of General Bonaparte
BRIENNE (29 January 1814)
Recall that Brienne, located 37 kilometers east-northeast of Troyes, is first of all the city which welcomed the young Bonaparte to his military school; also a visit to the small museum that the building houses today will not fail to move the Napoleonic tourist...
As for the battle of 1814, it was held at the castle and its terraces which dominate the city, and in the streets of it. Clashes also took place to the north-east of the city, in the woods of Maizières, and to the north, in Rances. The rather limited surface area of the battlefield resulted in numerous very violent hand-to-hand combats, which resulted in Blücher almost being captured and Napoleon killed by a Cossack.
- Brienne-le-Château: downtown
Brienne-le-Château - The castle of Brienne [nowadays a psychiatric hospital] [48.39318, 4.52388]: day
Castle of Brienne and nightThe castle of Brienne - The battlefield:
Battlefield near Brienne Battlefield near Brienne - Brienne-la-Vieille: the village
Brienne-la-Vieille - Road between Brienne and Maizières: the place where Napoleon almost fell victim to a Cossack's lance on the evening of the fighting
The road from Brienne to Maizières , and the commemorative stoneCommemorative stone on the road to Maizières - Maizières-lès-Brienne: the Saint-Julien-l'Hospitalier church
Church of Maizières and the rectoryThe cure of Maizières , where Napoléon spent the night following the battle - Rances: the church
Rances
BUÇACO (or BUSSACO) (27 September 1810)
Buçaco is a village in central Portugal, between Porto and Lisbon [Lisboa], in the middle mountains (Serra de Buçaco).
The battlefield is tormented and very wooded, the forest of Buçaco, now classified, containing hundreds of different species, planted in the 17th century by the Carmelites of the nearby abbey [the convent is nowadays adjacent to a luxury hotel built at the end of the 19th century].
- The forest of Buçaco
The forest of Buçaco, view 1 The forest of Buçaco, view 2 The forest of Buçaco, view 3 , which occupies most of the battlefield - The mill of Sula
The mill of Sula, view 1 The mill of Sula, view 2 where the English general Craufurd stood, the commemorative plaqueThe mill of Sula, plaque and the panorama from this strategic pointPanorama from the mill of Sula, view 1 Panorama from the mill of Sula, view 2 Panorama from the mill of Sula, view 3 Panorama from the mill of Sula, view 4 Panorama from the mill of Sula, view 5 Panorama from the mill of Sula, view 6 Panorama from the mill of Sula, view 7 - The mill of Moura
The mill of Moura, view 1 The mill of Moura, view 2 , southeast of the previous one, command post of Marshal André Masséna, the interior of the millThe interior of the mill of Moura , the commemorative plaquesThe mill of Moura, plaque 1 The mill of Moura, plaque 2 and the panorama from this locationPanorama from the mill of Moura, view 1 Panorama from the mill of Moura, view 2 Panorama from the mill of Moura, view 3 - The road leading through the forest
Buçaco: the road leading to General Wellington's headquarters , to General Wellington's headquarters at the start of the battleBuçaco: General Wellington's headquarters, view 1 Buçaco: General Wellington's headquarters, view 2 [40.35062, -8.34625], the commemorative plaqueBuçaco: plaque at General Wellington's headquarters , and the panorama from this locationBuçaco: panorama from General Wellington's headquarters, view 1 Buçaco: panorama from General Wellington's headquarters, view 2 Buçaco: panorama from General Wellington's headquarters, view 3 Buçaco: panorama from General Wellington's headquarters, view 4 Buçaco: panorama from General Wellington's headquarters, view 5 Buçaco: panorama from General Wellington's headquarters, view 6 - Buçaco: the Battle Memorial
Buçaco: the Battle Memorial, view 1 Buçaco: the Battle Memorial, view 2 erected in 1873, and the inscriptionsBuçaco: the Battle Memorial, text Buçaco: text at the Battle Memorial appearing there - Buçaco: the church Nossa Senhora da Vitória e Almas
Buçaco: the church Nossa Senhora da Vitória e Almas which served as a hospital after the battle, and the adjoining military museumBuçaco: the military museum Buçaco: flowerbed in front of the military museum , inaugurated by King Manuel II for the centenary of the battle in 1910 - Buçaco: the hero of the battle gave his name to a village street
Buçaco: Wellington Street ...
CASTIGLIONE (5 August 1796)
Castiglione delle Stiviere is a town located about twelve kilometers south of Lake Garda, on a road leading to Mantua [Mantova]. A few kilometers east of Castiglione are Solferino and San Cassiano, south-east Guidizzolo, south Medole. It was in this quadrilateral, including Monte Medolano in its western quadrant (in fact a hill) and comprising the rest of the Medole plain, that most of the fighting took place.
- Castiglione delle Stiviere: the cathedral
Cathedral of Castiglione delle Stiviere , edificated in 1761, and the battlefield at the foot of the villageCastiglione delle Stiviere - Castiglione delle Stiviere: Napoléon Bonaparte's headquarters, Piazza Colonna
Headquarters of Napoleon Bonaparte at Castiglione Headquarters of Napoleon Bonaparte at Castiglione [today Piazza Ugo Dallò] [45.39182, 10.49038] on August 4 and 5. - Cavriana
Cavriana , southeast of Solferino - Grole: aerial view of this village
Grole , which is located halfway between Castiglione and Solferino - Guidizzolo
Guidizzolo , south of Cavriana - Medole: the romanesque church Santa Maria della Pieve
Medole and the battlefield nearbyBattlefield near Medole - The Monte Medolano seen from the north
The Monte Medolano seen from the north and from the southThe Monte Medolano seen from the south - At the bottom of Monte Medolano: a farm
Farm at the bottom of Monte Medolano and the plaque commemorating the battlePlaque at the bottom of Monte Medolano (as well as that of Solferino on June 24, 1859, under Napoleon III) - The road from Brescia to Mantua near Castiglione delle Stiviere
The road from Brescia to Mantua - Solferino: the battlefield below the village
The battlefield below Solferino, view 1 The battlefield below Solferino, view 2 The battlefield below Solferino, view 3 - Solferino: the Town Hall square [Piazza Luigi Torelli]
Town Hall square in Solferino and the Piazza del CastelloPiazza del Castello at Solferino which overlooks the village
CHAMPAUBERT (10 February 1814)
The small village of Champaubert constituted, in 1814, an important strategic crossroads, at the intersection of the east-west road Châlons-Montmirail-Meaux-Paris and the north-south road Reims-Epernay-Sézanne-Troyes. p>
The terrain witnessing the battle, moderately hilly, quite wooded in places, is located on either side of these two axes, within a radius of six kilometers around Champaubert: to the west as far as Fromentières , to the north to La Caure, to the east to Etoges, to the south to the Petit-Morin stream via Baye, to the southwest to Bannay and its surroundings.
- The Andrecy or Andecy farm
Andecy - Bannay: the hamlet
Bannay - Baye: the castle
Castle of Baye - The Baye forest
Bois de Baye Bois de Baye - La Caure
The Caure , north of Champaubert - Les Converts
The Converts - Champaubert: the village
Champaubert - Champaubert: the Blue House or Cannonball House [48.88093, 3.77617], Napoléon's headquarters in the evening of the battle
Headquarters of Napoleon at Champaubert - Champaubert: memorial column
Memorial column of the battle of Champaubert - Champaubert: the battlefield between Champaubert and Baye at its south
Battlefield near Baye and between Champaubert and Etoges at its eastBattlefield towards Etoges - Fromentières
Fromentières - The Grande Laye woods
The Grande Laye woods - The Grange de Vaux farm
Grange de Vaux farm - The Hannoterie farm
Hannoterie farm - The Malet woods
The Malet woods - Montpertuis: the hamlet
Montpertuis - The Petit-Morin creek
The Petit-Morin and the bridge over itBridge over the Petit-Morin - The Potence woods
The Potence woods - The swamps of Saint-Gond
Swamps of St-Gond Swamps of St-Gond , around the Petit-Morin - Saint-Prix
St-Prix
CHATEAU-THIERRY (12 February 1814)
Château-Thierry is a town on the banks of the river Marne, on the road from Reims to Paris.
The fighting began ten kilometers south-southeast of the city, on the banks of the Dolloir (a tributary of the Marne), in the Viffort-Montfaucon-Les Caquerets area. The Prussians withdrew to the Nesles plateau, around which the confrontation became particularly harsh. Once the plateau had been conquered, the French pursued the Prussians and Russians all along the road leading to Château-Thierry, including in the Faubourg de Marne (island between the river itself and an arm called Fausse-Marne). What remained of the allies managed to reach Château-Thierry, on the right bank, by the only bridge between the suburb and the city, and immediately destroyed the work.
- Les Caquerets: the hamlet
Les Caquerets , the memorial monument at Napoleon SquareNapoleon Square at Les Caquerets and the battlefieldLes Caquerets - Château-Thierry: the town
Château-Thierry - Château-Thierry: the river Marne
The Marne at Château-Thierry and the bridgeThe bridge over the Marne at Château-Thierry over it, linking the suburb to the city proper - Château-Thierry: the Fausse-Marne
The Fausse-Marne at Château-Thierry and the bridgeBridge over the Fausse-Marne at Château-Thierry [49.04085, 3.40448] over it - Château-Thierry: the former Hôtel de la Poste
Hôtel de la Poste at Château-Thierry , Napoleon's headquarters the days following the battle - The Dolloir river
The Dolloir and a bridge over itBridge over the Dolloir - Essises: general view of the village and of the battlefield
Essises - Les Grandes Noues
The Grandes Noues , south of Nesles-le-Château - The Lumeron farm
Lumeron farm Lumeron farm that hosted the Emperor in the evening of the battle - Mont-Cel-Enger: the hamlet
Mont-Cel-Enger - Montfaucon
Montfaucon - The Nesles Heights: the battlefield
Nesles Heights - Nesles: the village
Nesles-la-Montagne Nesles-la-Montagne - Nesles: memorial monument
Emplacement of the castle of Nesles where stood the castle [which no longer exists], Napoleon's headquarters - Nogentel: battlefield on the heights of the village
Nogentel - Norvins: the hamlet
Norvins - The Petit-Ballois farm
Petit-Ballois farm Petit-Ballois farm - The Petites-Noues
The Petites Noues - The Trinité farm
Trinité farm - Viffort: the village
Viffort Viffort , the churchViffort and the Dolloir creekThe Dolloir at Viffort - Southwest Viffort: the bridge over the Dolloir (Route D1)
The bridge over the Dolloir at Viffort and the memorial monument to the troops of Marshal MortierMonument near the bridge over the Dolloir
CÔA (River) (24 July 1810)
Many thanks to Mrs. Florence Thévenot († 2021) for the photos she provided us to put on the website.
The Côa is a river in northeastern Portugal, a tributary of the Douro, which flows in a south-north direction. Four kilometers from the walled town of Almeida, a three-arched stone bridge [Ponte Grande, or Ponte do Cabeço Negro] crosses this waterway; it is there that the Anglo-Portuguese of General Robert Craufurd confronted the French troops commanded by Marshal Michel Ney. A modern concrete bridge was built in the immediate vicinity, which spoils this superb landscape...
The terrain is very uneven.
- The Rio Côa: the banks downstream of the bridge
The banks of the river Côa and the bed of the river below the structureThe river Côa below the bridge, view 1 The river Côa below the bridge, view 2 - A stone cross overlooking the river
A cross overlooking the river Côa A stone cross overlooking the river Côa - The road leading to the bridge
The road leading to the Ponte Grande over the Côa and the bridge itselfThe Ponte Grande over the Rio Côa, view 1 The Ponte Grande over the Rio Côa, view 2 The Ponte Grande over the Rio Côa, view 3 [40.70345, -6.93212] - The surrounding battlefield
The battlefield surrounding the bridge over the Côa, view 1 The battlefield surrounding the bridge over the Côa, view 2 - The – particularly hideous – memorial
The memorial ...
CRAONNE (7 March 1814)
This battle took place on the Craonne plateau, about twenty kilometers south of Laon, on either side of the Chemin des Dames, in particular around the Vauclair abbey and the Heurtebise farm. A century later even more deadly battles took place in the same places, the villages of Craonne and Ailles being, due to the "progress" of artillery, wiped off the map, and never rebuilt.
This repetition of horrors and the memory of those who perished there ("Marie-Louise" of 1814 and "poilus" of the WW1) make this plateau and the Chemin des Dames a particularly moving memorial site, as if outside time.
- Ailles: the village
Chermizy-Ailles and the battlefield aroundSurroundings of Ailles - The Ange Gardien, western end of the Chemin des Dames
The Ange Gardien - The Buisson-Coquin hillock
The Buisson-Coquin hillock and view from that placeView from the Buisson-Coquin hillock - Corbeny
Corbeny , Imperial headquarters in the evening of March 6 - The plateau of Craonne
The plateau of Craonne seen from the surroundings of Corbeny The plateau of Craonne - Craonne: the battlefield
Battlefield near Hurtebise farm at Vauclair between Vauclair and Hurtebise - The Chemin des Dames (literally, the "Ladies' path")
The Chemin des Dames - The Heurtebise [Hurtebise] farm
The Hurtebise farm The Hurtebise farm and the sunken fieldBattlefield near the Hurtebise farm - Heurtebise: monument erected after Word War I
Monument honoring the French soldiers, near the Hurtebise farm in memory of the "Marie-Louise" (youngest French soldiers in 1814) and the "Poilus" (French soldiers in WW I) - The river Lette [today Ailette]
The river Ailette near the plateau of Craonne - Oulches: the village
Oulches Oulches Oulches and the battlefieldThe surroundings of Oulches - Paissy: the church and the cemetery
Paissy - Vassogne: the village
Vassogne - The Vauclerc [Vauclair] abbey
Ruins of the Abbey of Vauclerc - The Vauclerc [Vauclair] forest
The Vauclair forest - The heights of Vauclerc [Vauclair]
Heights of Vauclair - Vauclerc [Vauclair]: mound
Statue of Napoleon at Craonne [49.44001, 3.76455] topped by a statue of NapoleonStatue of Napoleon at Craonne , erected at the place of a former mill from where the Emperor viewed the fights
DRESDEN (26-27 August 1813)
Dresden is a city in Saxony, 190 kilometers south of Berlin, on the river Elbe. Largely destroyed in February 1945 by the Royal Air Force, the historic center has since undergone spectacular reconstruction, particularly since German reunification.
On the other hand, the villages on the battlefield, to the east, south and west of the city, are today suburban neighborhoods, where there is not much left to see. The city's fortifications, for their part, had been demolished in 1815...
- Altplauen: the few period houses that still remain
Houses at Altplauen - Bannewitz: the castle of Nöthnitz
Bannewitz: the castle of Nöthnitz, view 1 Bannewitz: the castle of Nöthnitz, view 2 , Allied Headquarters - Dresden: the historical center
Dresden: the historical center - Landscapes of the Dresden countryside, south of the metropolis
Landscapes towards the Lerchenberg, view 1 Landscapes towards the Lerchenberg, view 2 - The river Elbe near Dresden
The river Elbe near Dresden, view 1 The river Elbe near Dresden, view 2 The river Elbe near Dresden, view 3 - Gittersee: the wood
The Gittersee wood - The Grosser Garten ("Great garden") in Gruna
The Grosser Garten in Gruna, view 1 The Grosser Garten in Gruna, view 2 - Kleinpestitz: the battlefield
The battlefield at Kleinpestitz and the Palitzsch estateThe Palitzsch estate in Kleinpestitz - Obergorbitz: some houses in the village
Obergorbitz - Omsewitz: the Burgstaedtel
The Burgstaedtel at Omsewitz , where an old castle was located - Räcknitz: the grave of General Moreau
Grave of General Moreau at Räcknitz Epitaph on the grave of General Moreau at Räcknitz [51.02312, 13.73554] and a view of the battlefield from this locationView of the battlefield from the grave of General Moreau in Räcknitz - Strehlen: the Kaitzbach stream
The Kaitzbach stream at Strehlen - The Weisseritz valley
The Weisseritz valley , southwest of Dresden
ECKMÜHL (22 April 1809)
The village of Eggmühl [current spelling] is located twenty-six kilometers south-southeast of Regensburg, in Bavaria. The fighting took place in an area of four to five kilometers around Eckmühl, then, during the Austrian retreat, on the road leading to Regensburg and on either side of it, as far as Alteglofsheim and Köfering.
The terrain, very hilly and wooded, is crossed by the Grosse Laber river.
- Alteglofsheim: the castle
Alteglofsheim Alteglofsheim Alteglofsheim , where Napoleon spent some hours the night after the battle. - Bad Abbach: general view
Bad Abbach - Buchhausen: the village
Buchhausen and its surroundingsSurroundings of Buchhausen - Eggmühl: the church
Church of Eggmühl , the castleCastle of Eggmühl and the inn facing itInn at Eggmühl - Eggmühl: the Memorial
Memorial of Eggmühl , a wide walkway leading to a moundMemorial of Eggmühl where a Bavarian lion statueMemorial monument at Eggmühl Memorial monument at Eggmühl [48.83774, 12.18351] pays tribute to the valiant combatants on both sides - Gailsbach: the village
Gailsbach - The Grosse Laber or Grosse Laaber river
The Grosse Laaber river The Grosse Laber river , that meanders through the battlefieldThe Grosse Laber river - Hagelstadt: the church
Church of Hagelstadt - Köfering: the village
Köfering - The church of Lindach
The church of Lindach The church of Lindach , which served as an observatory to the Emperor, and view of the battlefield from that locationView of the battlefield from Lindach - Luckenpaint: the village
Luckenpaint and the battlefieldBattlefield near Luckenpaint - Niederleierndorf: the village
Niederleierndorf - Peising: the village
Peising Peising and its churchPeising - The church of Pfakoffen
Church of Pfakoffen Church of Pfakoffen and the battlefield close to the villageBattlefield at Pfakoffen - Roking [Rogging]: general view of the village
Rogging , the heightsHeights of Rogging , and the battlefieldBattlefield at Rogging - Schierling: the main street
Schierling - Stanglmühle: the hamlet
Stanglmühle and the supposed place where Marshal Lannes crossed the Gross LaaberThe Gross Laaber at Stanglmühle - Unterdeggenbach: the grave of General Cervoni
Grave of General Cervoni , killed during the battle - Unterlaichling: the village
Unterlaichling Unterlaichling and the fields between Unterlaichling and OberlaichlingBattlefield around Unterlaichling-Oberlaichling Battlefield around Unterlaichling-Oberlaichling Battlefield around Unterlaichling-Oberlaichling Battlefield around Unterlaichling-Oberlaichling Battlefield around Unterlaichling-Oberlaichling , where bloody fighting took place - Weilhohe: the village
Weilhohe and its surroundingsSurroundings of Weilhohe - Zaitzkofen: the village
Zaitzkofen and its castleCastle of Zaitzkofen
ELCHINGEN (14 October 1805)
Elchingen [Oberelchingen] is a Bavarian village (bordering Baden-Württemberg) located 8 kilometers north-north-east of Ulm, on the banks of the Danube [Donau]. Built on the hillside, it dominates a meadow, wooded in places, a few hectometers wide, which constitutes the left (north) bank of the river. A bridge [nowadays made of concrete] connects Elchingen to Nersingen, on the other bank. Dominating the village, a Benedictine abbey, then a vast plateau extending north to the small town of Langenau and northwest to the villages of Göttingen and Albeck.
- Albeck: the village
Albeck , a pondPond near Albeck and the battlefieldBattlefield near Albeck - Elchingen: the abbey
Abbey of Elchingen Abbey of Elchingen [48.45246, 10.08719], the plateauPlateau of Elchingen where the abbey stands, and the battlefieldBattlefield of Elchingen near the plateau - Elchingen: the current bridge over the river Danube
The bridge over the Danube at Elchingen , the river upstreamThe Danube, upstream of the bridge of Elchingen and downstreamThe Danube, downstream of the bridge of Elchingen of the bridge, and the outlet of the bridgeOutlet of the bridge over the Danube at Elchingen at the left bank - Elchingen: general view from the sunken meadow
Elchingen , and several views of the meadow, where fierce fighting took placeMeadow at Elchingen Meadow at Elchingen Meadow at Elchingen - Göttingen: the village
Goettingen Goettingen - Haslach: view of Oberhaslach
Oberhaslach and the woodsOberhaslach facing it ; view of UnterhaslachUnterhaslach and the surrounding woodsUnterhaslach Unterhaslach - The ravine of Kesselbronn
The ravine of Kesselbronn - Langenau: the town
Langenau Langenau - Nerenstetten: the village
Nerenstetten - Oberfahlheim [City of Nersingen] : the rectory
Rectory of Oberfahlheim , where Napoleon stayed before the battle - Offenhausen [nowadays at Neu-Ulm] : Das Schlössle
Das Schlössle at Offenhausen Das Schlössle at Offenhausen , Napoleon's headquarters during the battle - The Roth river
The river Roth , tributary of the Danube
EYLAU (8 February 1807)
The battle of Eylau took place in East Prussia [Ostpreußen], within a radius of around ten kilometers around the town of Preußisch Eylau [present-day Bagrationovsk - Багратионовск ].
This territory remained Prussian, then German, until 1945. The outcome of the Second World War meant that it was captured by the Soviets, who shared it with Poland. All the German inhabitants who had not been killed were expelled, and replaced by Soviets (mainly Russians, but also Ukrainians and Belarusians...) to the north and Poles to the south. The current border runs just south of Bagrationovsk, which means that the battlefield is mostly in Russian territory, with a few villages to the south of the field being in Poland.
- Althof [Orechowo]: the hamlet
Althof Althof - Althof [Orechowo]: the battlefield
Althof , the brookAlthof and the woodsAlthof - Auklappen [Maloje Osjornoje]: headquarters of Levin August von Bennigsen
Auklappen Auklappen , the hamletAuklappen and the battlefieldAuklappen - Klein-Sausgarten [Bolschoje-Osjornoje]: memorial cross in memory of the fallen Russian soldiers
Cross at Klein-Sausgarten - Kutschitten [Znamenskoje]: views of the battlefield
Kutschitten Kutschitten Kutschitten - Lampasch [Nadeschdino]: the entrance to the hamlet
Lampasch and the battlefieldLampasch - Place where stood Melohnkeim [Borowoje, a village that no longer exists]
Melohnkeim Melohnkeim - Preussisch-Eylau [Bagrationovsk]: general view from the ponds
Bagrationovsk ; the former local court, Napoleon's headquarters from February 7 to 17Headquarters of Napoleon at Eylau Headquarters of Napoleon at Eylau ; a typical prussian houseMuseum of the battle of Eylau Museum of the battle of Eylau , hosting today a little museum dedicated to the battle - Preussisch-Eylau [Bagrationovsk]: the castle
The castle of Eylau , taken on February 7 by the Leval division, and what remains today of the church: the arch of its portal, integrated into an awful factory during the communist eraRemains of the church of Eylau - Preussisch-Eylau [Bagrationovsk]: the mound where the French 14th Line Regiment was destroyed
Mould where the 14th Line Regiment was destroyed - Preussisch-Eylau [Bagrationovsk]: the ponds surrounding the city
Pond at Eylau Pond at Eylau Pond at Eylau - Preussisch-Eylau [Bagrationovsk]: the L'Estocq-Denkmal
Prussian monument at Eylau Prussian monument at Eylau [54.37937, 20.65156], memorial monument erected in 1857 by the Prussians in the forestForest at Eylau southeast of the town, where the french batteries stood; three of its faces honoring Generals BennigsenPrussian monument at Eylau , L'EstocqPrussian monument at Eylau and DierikePrussian monument at Eylau - Preussisch-Eylau [Bagrationovsk]: monument to General Bagration
Monument to General Bagration at Eylau Monument to General Bagration at Eylau Monument to General Bagration at Eylau , who gave its name to the town when it was renamed by the Russians, and tablet nearbyTablet to General Bagration at Eylau - Preussisch-Eylau [Bagrationovsk]: in the current cemetery, a stone honoring French and Russian soldiers fallen during the battle of Eylau and the 1812 campaign
Memorial stone at Bagrationovsk cemetery Memorial stone at Bagrationovsk cemetery Memorial stone at Bagrationovsk cemetery - Schmoditten [Ryabinovka]: the village
Schmoditten Schmoditten - The heights of Serpallen [Kaschtanowka, a village that no longer exists, at a few hundred meters from the Polish border]
Heights of Serpallen - Place where stood Tenknitten
Tenknitten [this village no longer exists] - Ziegelhof
Ziegelhof , a plateau southwest of Eylau [on the current Russo-Polish border], where Napoleon bivouacked on 8 and 9 February - Mulhausen [Gwardeiskoje]
Mulhausen - The Frisching [Prochladnaja] river
The Frisching river at Groß Lauth [Newskoje], halfway between Eylau and Königsberg - Wittemberg [Niwenskoje]: the road
Wittemberg
Places traversed by the Russians after the battle, during their retreat towards Koenigsberg [Kaliningrad], from south to north:
FAVORITA (LA-) (16 January 1797)
The Battle of Favorita takes its name from a 17th century villa, located in the plain north-north-east of Mantua [Mantova], separated from the latter by the Lago di Mezzo (a of the three lakes on the Mincio surrounding the historic town).
The villa, built between 1615 and 1624 by the ducal architect Nicolò Sebregondi, was commissioned by Ferdinand de Gonzaga, sixth Duke of Mantua, who planned to transfer the court there. If we compare the current state of the building to the engravings from the Napoleonic era, we see that the two wings and the right part of the main building have disappeared (during a period between 1821 and 1839).
- La Favorita: the battlefield
La Favorita battlefield, view 1 La Favorita battlefield, view 2 La Favorita battlefield, view 3 La Favorita battlefield, view 4 - La Favorita: the villa
Villa La Favorita, view 1 Villa La Favorita, view 2 Villa La Favorita, view 3 Villa La Favorita, view 4 Villa La Favorita, view 5 [45.18476, 10.8015] - Mantua, seen from the San Giorgio bridge over the Mincio river
Mantua - Mantua: the ducal palace
The ducal palace of Mantua, view 1 The ducal palace of Mantua, view 2 - Mantua: the Castello di San Giorgio
The Castello di San Giorgio at Mantua, view 1 The Castello di San Giorgio at Mantua, view 2 - Montata
Montata , east of the villa - Sant'Antonio
Sant'Antonio , west of the villa - San Giorgio di Mantova
San Giorgio di Mantova , east of the battlefield
FÈRE-CHAMPENOISE (25 March 1814)
Fère-Champenoise is a little town located in Champagne crayeuse ("Chalky Champagne"), between the Marne and Aube valleys, 79 kilometers south of Reims and 76 kilometers north of Troyes.
The battlefield extends to the west, north and east of it, on the right bank of the Vaure river. It has remained rural, except for its eastern part denatured by the installation of the international airport of Vatry.
- Allemant
Allemant - Aulnay
Aulnay - Bannes
Bannes - Bergères-les-Vertus
Bergères-les-Vertus - Bierges
Bierges - Blacy
Blacy - Bussy-Lettrée
Bucy-Lettrée - Chaintrix-Bierges
Chaintrix-Bierges - Chapelaine
Chapelaine - Clamanges
Clamanges - Connantre: Saint-Caprais church
Connantre - Coole
Coole - Courdemanges
Courdemanges - Dommartin-Lettrée
Dommartin-Lettrée - Ecury-le-Repos
Ecury-le-Repos - Fère-Champenoise: downtown
Fère-Champenoise [48.75495, 3.99060] - Lenharrée
Lenharrée - Lettrée
Lettrée - Linthes
Linthes - Mailly
Mailly - Maisons
Maisons - Montepreux
Montepreux - Morains
Morains - Normée
Normée - Notre-Dame
Notre-Dame - Semoine
Semoine - Sommesous: the village
Sommesous and the surrounding fieldsFields near Sommesous - The creek La Soude
La Soude - Soudé-Sainte-Croix
Soudé-Sainte-Croix - Trécon
Trécon - Vassimont
Vassimont - Vatry
Vatry - Villeseneux
Villeseneux
FRIEDLAND (14 June 1807)
Friedland [nowadays Pravdinsk - Правдинск] is a town in East Prussia [Ostpreußen], about thirty kilometers east of Preussisch Eylau [Bagrationovsk - Багратионовск]. It suffered the same events as the latter (see above in "Eylau") during World War II, the same exodus of its centuries-old population, the same repopulation under the Stalinist era, becoming in the same way a Russian town in the Kaliningrad Oblast.
- The Domerauer woods
Domerauer woods - Domnau [Domnovo]: the village
Domnau and the monument in memory of the Russian soldiersMonument at Domnau - Friedland [Pravdinsk]: St-George church
Church of Friedland Church of Friedland Church of Friedland - Friedland [Pravdinsk]: houses of the Prussian era
A street in Friedland - Friedland [Pravdinsk]: headquarters of General Levin August von Bennigsen
Russian headquarters at Friedland and those of Napoleon after the battle (under renovation during our visit), seen from the outsideHeadquarters of Napoleon at Friedland and from the insideHeadquarters of Napoleon at Friedland - Friedland [Pravdinsk]: statue of Marshal Kutuzov
Monument to Marshal Kutuzov in Friedland Monument to Marshal Kutuzov in Friedland Monument to Marshal Kutuzov in Friedland in the eponymous street (although he has not participated in the campaign in Poland) - Friedland [Pravdinsk]: memorial stele to the Russian soldiers
Memorial stele to the Russian soldiers in Friedland and, in the municipal park [Gorodskoï Park], monument to General MazowskiMonument to General Mazowski in Friedland Monument to General Mazowski in Friedland who died during the battle - Friedland [Pravdinsk]: the ponds, north of the city
Ponds at the north of Friedland Ponds at the north of Friedland fed by the Mill creek [Pravda] - Friedland [Pravdinsk]: the river Alle [Lava] upstream
The Alle at Friedland and downstreamThe Alle at Friedland of the current bridgeBridge over the Alle at Friedland - Friedland [Pravdinsk]: The battlefield seen from Heinrichsdorf [Rovnoje], northwest of Friedland
Battlefield of Friedland and from the northBattlefield of Friedland - The ford of Kloschenen [Lukino]
Ford of Kloschenen Ford of Kloschenen Ford of Kloschenen that allowed some of the Russian troops to escape the stranglehold of French, crossing the river Alle, and, nearby, the path to the brickyard (Ziegelei)Ziegelei , where fierce fighting stood - Postehnen [Peredovoje]: the battlefield
Battlefield at Postehnen Battlefield at Postehnen and the Mill creek [Pravda]The Mill creek at Postehnen - The Sortlack forest
Sortlack forest , seen from Heinrichsdorf [Rovnoje] - Gross-Ottenhagen [Berezowka], through which the Russians retreated: the remains of the church
Gross-Ottenhagen and the ponds northeastGross-Ottenhagen Gross-Ottenhagen Gross-Ottenhagen - Paterswalde [Bolschaja Poljana]
Paterswalde where Napoleon installed his HQ on June 16
After the battle:
GOŁYMIN (26 December 1806)
Golymin is a village in Mazovia, Poland, about 80 kilometers northwest of Warsaw [Warszawa], west of Pułtusk. The battlefield extends mainly from the west to the south of the village. It is flat and moderately wooded.
- Garnowo, southwest of Golymin: the hamlet
Garnowo and the battlefieldBattlefield at Garnowo, view 1 Battlefield at Garnowo, view 2 - Golymin: the church
The church of Golymin [52.80824, 20.87177] - Golymin: the memorial monument
Memorial monument at Golymin and its text in frenchMemorial monument at Golymin - Wadkowo, west of Golymin: the hamlet
Wadkowo and the battlefieldBattlefield at Wadkowo
HANAU (30 October 1813)
Hanau is a small town in Hesse located some thirty kilometers east of Frankfurt am Main, in a loop of the Kinzig river, which joins the Main a few kilometers further south. The battlefield, to the northeast and east of Hanau, is very wooded (the Lamboy forest, in particular, having largely been preserved).
- Bruchköbel: three views of the village
Bruchköbel, view 1 Bruchköbel, view 2 Bruchköbel, view 3 - The road to Friedberg
The road to Friedberg an the battlefieldTBattlefield around the road to Friedberg around it - Hanau: the Deutsche Goldschmiedehaus
The Deutsche Goldschmiedehaus , town hall during the battle, and the Neustaedter RathausThe Neustaedter Rathaus at Hanau [these buildings were reconstructed in the 1950s and 1960s after being largely destroyed by British bombing in March 1945] - Hanau: the current bridge over the Kinzig river, to the west of the historic town
The current bridge over the Kinzig river, to the west of Hanau - Hanau: the Herrnmühle
The Herrnmühle, view 1 The Herrnmühle, view 2 The Herrnmühle, view 3 , where many Austro-Bavarians drowned while trying to escape - The main road from Hanau to Gelnhausen
The road from Hanau to Gelnhausen , which follows the same route as at the time although somewhat enlarged... - Woods adjacent to the road from Hanau to Gelnhausen
Woods adjacent to the road from Hanau to Gelnhausen, view 1 Woods adjacent to the road from Hanau to Gelnhausen, view 2 - Issigheim [Niederissigheim]: two views of the village
Niederissigheim, view 1 Niederissigheim, view 2 - The Kinsig river, at Hanau
The Kinsig river at Hanau, view 1 The Kinsig river at Hanau, view 2 and its surroundingsThe Kinsig river near Hanau, view 1 The Kinsig river near Hanau, view 2 - The Lamboy forest: various views
The Lamboy forest, view 1 The Lamboy forest, view 2 The Lamboy forest, view 3 The Lamboy forest, view 4 - The Lamboy forest: paths and trails
Paths and trails in the Lamboy forest, view 1 Paths and trails in the Lamboy forest, view 2 Paths and trails in the Lamboy forest, view 3 Paths and trails in the Lamboy forest, view 4 Paths and trails in the Lamboy forest, view 5 - Lamboy Forest: location of the historic [no longer existing] bridge over the Kinzig river
Location of the former Lamboy bridge, view 1 Location of the former Lamboy bridge, view 2 Location of the former Lamboy bridge, view 3 [50.13291, 8.95437] - Langenselbold: the castel of prince Carl Friedrich von Isenburg-Birstein
The castle of Langenselbold, view 1 The castle of Langenselbold, view 2 , where Napoleon spent the night of October 29 to 30 - Neuhoff: location of the former village
Location of the former Neuhoff, view 1 Location of the former Neuhoff, view 2 [of which nothing remains, it is nowadays a suburb of Hanau] - Rückingen: a house
A house in Rückingen and the churchThe church of Rückingen
HOHENLINDEN (3 December 1800)
Hohenlinden is a village located 34 kilometers east of Munich [München], in Bavaria. The battlefield lies along the west-east road leading to Maitenbeth and Haag in Oberbayern, as well as to the north of it, between the Isen valley in the east and the road leading to Erding in the west. All this in a moderately hilly but above all very wooded region.
- Albaching: general view
Albaching - Anzing: the church
Anzing and the innAnzing having hosted General Moreau - Bittlbach: general view of the village
Bittlbach , its churchBittlbach and the battlefieldField near Bittlbach - Buch-am-Buchrain: the village
Buch-am-Buchrain in a snowstorm - Burgrain: the village and its surroundings
Burgrain - Ebersberg: general view
Ebersberg - Erding: the Schöner Turm
Erding and downtown areaErding - Forstern: the village
Forstern - Harthofen: the village
Harthofen - Hörlkofen: the church
Hörlkofen Hörlkofen - Hohenlinden: the village
Hohenlinden Hohenlinden Hohenlinden [48.15675, 11.99831] and the inn which served as headquarters for General Jean-Victor-Marie MoreauInn at Hohenlinden - Hohenlinden: the memorial monument of the battle
Memorial monument at Hohenlinden Memorial monument at Hohenlinden Memorial monument at Hohenlinden - Surroundings of Hohenlinden: the battlefield
Battlefield near Hohenlinden Battlefield near Hohenlinden Battlefield near Hohenlinden Battlefield near Hohenlinden Battlefield near Hohenlinden Battlefield near Hohenlinden and woods aroundSurroundings of Hohenlinden Surroundings of Hohenlinden Surroundings of Hohenlinden Surroundings of Hohenlinden - The river Inn
The Inn , tributary of the Danube - Isen: downtown
Isen - Kreith: the hamlet and the fields around
Kreith - Kreuz: the village and the battlefield
Kreuz - Kronacker: Sankt-Johannes church
Sankt-Johannes church at Kronacker Sankt-Johannes church at Kronacker - Lengdorf: the village
Lengdorf and the river IsenThe river Isen at Lengdorf The river Isen at Lengdorf which crosses it - Loipfing: the village
Loipfing - Maitenbeth: the village
Maitenbeth and the road to HaagThe road to Maitenbeth , running through it - Mittbach: the village
Mittbach - Mitterbuch: the village
Mitterbuch and the battlefieldBattlefield at Mitterbuch - Neuharting: the hamlet
Neuharting and a fieldBattlefield at Neuharting - Neustockach: general view of the hamlet and its surroundings
Neustockach Neustockach - Niesberg: the battlefield and the village
Niesberg - Oberndorf: the village
Oberndorf - Parsdorf: the village
Parsdorf and the battlefieldBattlefield at Parsdorf - Reithofen: the church
Reithofen and the innReithofen - Sankt-Christoph
Sankt-Christoph - Schnaupping: the village
Schnaupping - Schützen: the hamlet
Schützen - The heights of Tading
The heights of Tading - Weiher: the village
Weiher - Wetting
Wetting , near Forstern
HOLLABRUNN (16 November 1805)
This battle, which saw the French of Murat pursuing the Russians of Bagration while harassing them, was held along the road that leads from Vienna [Wien] to Znaïm [Znojmo]. It started north of the town of Hollabrunn, in Suttenbrunn, to continue, more and more towards the north, on a relatively flat ground offering little possibility of shelter, except undulations running from west to east: in Schoengrabern, around the Nexenhof farm and the village of Grund then around Guntersdorf, where it ended.
- Grund: the village
Grund and the battlefieldGrund - Guntersdorf: the village
Guntersdorf - Hollabrunn: downtown
Hollabrunn - The Nexenhof farm
The Nexenhof farm The Nexenhof farm [48.61694, 16.07225] - Schöngrabern: the village
Schöngrabern , the battlefield aroundField near Schöngrabern and the roadRoad to Znaim at Schöngrabern to Znaïm - Suttenbrunn
Suttenbrunn
JENA (14 October 1806)
Many thanks to Mrs. Christiane Deshaies-Da Luz for the photos she provided us to put on the website.
Jena is a city in northern Thuringia, in the Saale valley. The battlefield, which is located northwest of the city, is pretty hilly (hills of Dornberg in the center, Sperlingsberg in the west, Landgrafenberg in the south) and heavily wooded south of the Issestedt-Lützeroda-Closewitz line.
- Altengönna: the village
Altengönna and the battlefieldThe battlefield near Altengönna Battlefield near Altengönna - Closewitz: the village
Closewitz and the DornbergThe Dornberg near Closewitz, view 1 The Dornberg near Closewitz, view 2 , a hill where Napoleon was standing during the battle - Between Closewitz and Lützeroda: the prussian Tauentzien stele
Tauentzien stele, view 1 Tauentzien stele, view 2 - Cospeda: one of the paths leading up to the village
One of the paths leading up to Cospeda , general viewView aérienne de Cospeda and the little museumMuseum in Cospeda dedicated to the battle - Cospeda: the Landgrafenberg
The Landgrafenberg near Cospeda , a hill on top of whichThe Landgrafenberg with the Napoleonstein at its top a stele named NapoleonsteinThe Napoleonstein near Cospeda [50.94512, 11.57147] was erected, and views from this strategic locationView from the Napoleonstein at Cospeda View from the Napoleonstein near Cospeda - Grossromstedt: the village
Grossromstedt, view 1 Grossromstedt, view 2 - Hohlstedt: the village
Hohlstedt - Jena: the city
Jena, view 2 Jena, view 1 seen from the heights where the fighting took place - Isserstedt: the village
Isserstedt and a surrounding fieldA field near Isserstedt - Isserstedt: the forest
The Isserstedt forest, view 1 The Isserstedt forest, view 2 The Isserstedt forest, view 3 The Isserstedt forest, view 4 , which is nowadays classified - Isserstedt: the Mühlthal
The Mühlthal at Isserstedt , a valley south of the battlefield - Isserstedt: the french Desjardins stele
Desjardins stele, view 1 Desjardins stele, view 2 and the "Saxon cavalry" steleThe Saxon cavalry stele, view 1 The Saxon cavalry stele, view 2 - Kappellendorf: the village
Kappellendorf, view 1 Kappellendorf, view 2 Kappellendorf, view 3 - Kappellendorf: the Soult-Lannes-Augereau stele
Soult-Lannes-Augereau stele in Kappellendorf, view 1 Soult-Lannes-Augereau stele in Kappellendorf, view 2 and the Rüchel steleRüchel stele in Kappellendorf, view 1 Rüchel stele in Kappellendorf, view 2 - Kappellendorf: the Sperlingsberg
The Sperlingsberg at Kappellendorf and the tower at its summitTower upon the Sperlingsberg at Kappellendorf , commemorating the fallen fighters of Lieutenant General Rüchel's corps, built from donations and inaugurated on October 14, 1907 - Between Kappellendorf and Hohlstedt: the Winkel-Denkmal
The Winkel-Denkmal, view 1 The Winkel-Denkmal, view 2 , inaugurated in 1906, and its plaquePlaque of the Winkel-Denkmal honoring the Saxon Grenadiers and the 5th and 6th Regiments of Foot - Kleinromstedt: the battlefield and the village
Kleinromstedt far off - Krippendorf: the village
Krippendorf and the battlefieldThe battlefield near Krippendorf - Krippendorf: the windmill
The windmill of Krippendorf The mill of Krippendorf , north of the village - Krippendorf: the french Soult stele
Soult stele at Krippendorf, view 1 Soult stele at Krippendorf, view 2 and the prussian Kollin steleKollin stele at Krippendorf, view 1 Kollin stele at Krippendorf, view 2 - Lehesten: the battlefield
The battlefield at Lehesten , the villageLehesten and the churchThe church of Lehesten - Loebstedt: the Saxons' grave
The Saxons' grave at Loebstedt and its plaquePlaque on the Saxons' grave at Loebstedt - Lützeroda: the center of the village
Lützeroda - Rödigen: the village
Rödigen and the battlefieldRödigen - Rödigen: the Bissing-Denkmal
The Bissing-Denkmal at Rödigen, view 1 The Bissing-Denkmal at Rödigen, view 2 The Bissing-Denkmal at Rödigen, view 3 - Rödigen: the french Soult stele
Soult stele at Rödigen, view 1 Soult stele at Rödigen, view 2 and the prussian Holtzendorff oneHoltzendorff stele in Rödigen, view 1 Holtzendorff stele in Rödigen, view 2 Holtzendorff stele in Rödigen, view 3 - Vierzehnheiligen: the village
Vierzehnheiligen , the churchThe church of Vierzehnheiligen and the monument to the deadMonument to the dead in Vierzehnheiligen - Vierzehnheiligen: the french Lannes stele
Lannes stele in Vierzehnheiligen, view 1 Lannes stele in Vierzehnheiligen, view 2 at the center of the village, and the Ney steleNey stele near Vierzehnheiligen, view 1 Ney stele near Vierzehnheiligen, view 2 south of it - Vierzehnheiligen: the Eberhardt-Denkmal
Eberhardt-Denkmal near Vierzehnheiligen , the prussian Grawert steleGrawert stele in Vierzehnheiligen, view 1 Grawert stele in Vierzehnheiligen, view 2 and the "Prussian cavalry" stelePrussian cavalry stele at Vierzehnheiligen, view 1 Prussian cavalry stele at Vierzehnheiligen, view 2 - Surroundings of Vierzehnheiligen: the battlefield south of the village
The battlefield south of Vierzehnheiligen and towards IsserstedtThe battlefield between Vierzehnheiligen - Isserstedt, view 1 The battlefield between Vierzehnheiligen - Isserstedt, view 2 - North of Vierzehnheiligen, towards the Krippendorf mill: the path called "Europaweg"
The path named Europaweg near Vierzehnheiligen , planted with cherry trees, which has commemorated friendship between nations since 2010.
KLEINSCHKORLOPP (17 June 1813)
This Saxon village, 20 kilometers southwest of Leipzig, saw the Freikorps of Adolf von Lützow nearly destroyed by the Imperial cavalry. The battlefield, close to that of Lützen (see below), is flat and sparsely wooded.
- The Battle Memorial
The Battle Memorial at Kleinschkorlopp, view 1 The Battle Memorial at Kleinschkorlopp, view 2 [51.23594, 12.23566] - The battlefield
The battlefield of Kleinschkorlopp seen from the Battle Memorial - The monument on the site where the poet Theodor Körner was seriously injured
Monument commemorating the poet Theodor Körner, view 1 Monument commemorating the poet Theodor Körner, view 2 [51.23323, 12.22592]
LAON (9 and 10 March 1814)
The fortified town of Laon is located on an elongated mound along an east-west axis, dominating by a hundred meters the Picardy plain to the north, and a more hilly area to the south. It was then in the hands of the Prussian and Russian army under the orders of Blücher.
The fighting took place on the 9th in Semilly and Clacy, to the south-west of the city, in Leuilly, to the south, and on the ramp of Ardon, at the foot of it. In the evening, Marmont chased the Prussians from Athies, east of Laon, but during the night the latter surprised the French there during the famous "hurrah", chasing them in the plain and the surrounding woods, then towards the southeast to Festieux. On the 10th, it was again in Clacy and Ardon that the belligerents violently opposed..
- Ardon: the village
Ardon at the foot of Laon, and its churchArdon - Athies: the main street
Athies-sous-Laon - Athies: the mound called "Butte aux Vignes"
Butte aux Vignes - Athies: La Mouillée farm
fLa Mouillée farm [49.56879, 3.71465] and the battlefieldLa Mouillée farm - Athies: plain
Plaine at Athies between the village and the forest of LavergnyForest of Lavergny - Bruyères
Bruyères - Chavignon : the town
Chavignon Chavignon , a field nearbyField near Chavignon and the place where was located the Hôtel St-PierreLocation of the former Hotel St-Pierre at Chavignon , where Napoléon established his HQ in the evening of March 9 - Clacy: the village
Clacy Clacy Clacy and the churchClacy - Eppes: the castle of Coucy
Castle of Coucy at Eppes , where Marmont settled his HQ on March 9 in the evening - Festieux
Festieux - The plateau of Laon
Laon - Laon: the fortifications
Fortifications of Laon and St-Martin churchSt-Martin church in Laon - Laon: tablet
Tablet honoring combatants of the battle of Laon honoring the combatants (© 2011 Cyril Maillet) - Leuilly: the church
Leuilly - Sémilly: the main street
Sémilly
LEIPZIG (BATTLE OF THE NATIONS) (16-19 October 1813)
Leipzig is a city in Saxony, which had around 32,000 inhabitants during the Napoleonic Wars. The battlefield, very vast and practically flat, surrounds the city (with the exception of the west), most of the villages which gave rise to the fighting being now included in an agglomeration of more than 600,000 inhabitants...
- The Colmberg (or Kolmberg)
Aerial view of the Colmberg The Colmberg , between Liebertwolkwitz and Seifertshain, and the Apelstein 7Apelstein 7 at the Colmberg - Connewitz: the battlefield
The battlefield at Connewitz - Dölitz : the Torhaus
La Torhaus at Dölitz, view 1 La Torhaus at Dölitz, view 2 and the plaque in memory of Marshal PoniatowskiPlaque at the Torhaus de Dölitz - Dölitz: the Mühlpleisse
The Mühlpleisse at Dölitz - Dösen: the battlefield
The battlefield at Dösen, view 1 The battlefield at Dösen, view 2 and the Apelsteine 3The Apelstein 3 at Dösen and 13L'Apelstein 13 at Dösen - The Galgenberg, southeast of Leipzig, between Liebertwolkwitz and Markkleeberg
The Galgenberg, between Liebertwolkwitz - Markkleeberg Monument on the Galgenberg, between Liebertwolkwitz - Markkleeberg where Napoleon stood on October 16, and views from thereView from the Galgenberg, between Liebertwolkwitz - Markkleeberg View from the Galgenberg - Gautzsch: the bell tower
The bell tower of Gautzsch - Gohlis: the Schlösschen
The Schlösschen at Gohlis - Großpösna: a pond
A pond at Großpösna, view 1 A pond at Großpösna, view 2 - Güldengossa: the battlefield
The battlefield at Güldengossa, view 1 The battlefield at Güldengossa, view 2 - Güldengossa: the russian and prussian monument
The russian / prussian monument at Güldengossa, view 1 The russian / prussian monument at Güldengossa, view 2 and the Apelstein 2The Apelstein 2 at Güldengossa which adjoins it - Güldengossa: the village
Güldengossa , the churchThe church of Güldengossa and the manorThe manor of Güldengossa - Holzhausen: the austrian monument
The austrian monument at Holzhausen - Kleinpösna: the battlefield
The battlefield at Kleinpösna - Kleinzchocher: the manor
The manor of Kleinzchocher, view 1 The manor of Kleinzchocher, view 2 - Leipzig: the river Weiße Elster
The river Weiße Elster at Leipzig, view 1 The river Weiße Elster at Leipzig, view 2 which crosses the city, in which Marshal Poniatowski drowned - Leipzig: the monument commemorating the Elster bridge explosion
Monument monument commemorating the Elster bridge explosion at Leipzig - Leutzsch: the park
The park of Leutzsch, view 1 The park of Leutzsch, view 2 The park of Leutzsch, view 3 [the mansion was demolished in 1970] - Liebertwolkwitz: a street
A street of Liebertwolkwitz - Lindenau: Napoleon's HQ on October 19
Napoleon's HQ at Lindenau , its commemorative plaqueNapoleon's H.Q. at Lindenau and the nearby Luppe riverLa Luppe at Lindenau - Lössnig: the austrian monument
The austrian monument at Lössnig, view 1 The austrian monument at Lössnig, view 2 - Markkleeberg: aerial view
Aerial view of de Markkleeberg , the manorThe manor at Markkleeberg , the churchThe church at Markkleeberg and the Apelstein 50The Apelstein 50 at Markkleeberg - Markkleeberg: the Torhaus
The Torhaus at Markkleeberg, view 1 The Torhaus at Markkleeberg, view 2 and its commemorative plaquesCommemorative plaque 1 at the Torhaus in Markkleeberg Commemorative plaque 2 at the Torhaus in Markkleeberg Commemorative plaque 3 at the Torhaus in Markkleeberg - Meusdorf: the "Leipzig" monument
The Leipzig monument at Meusdorf and the monument to General SchwarzenbergThe monument to General Schwarzenberg at Meusdorf, view 1 The monument to General Schwarzenberg at Meusdorf, view 2 - Möckern: the Kugeldenkmal ("cannonball monument")
The Kugeldenkmal at Möckern - The Monarchenhügel, halfway between Liebertwolkwitz and Probstheida: the site
The Monarchenhügel , the monumentThe monument at the Monarchenhügel and the Apelstein 32L'Apelstein 32 at the Monarchenhügel - Paunsdorf: the austrian monument
The austrian monument at Paunsdorf - Probstheida: the Battle of the Nations monument [Völkerschlachtdenkmal]
The Völkerschlachtdenkmal at Probstheida [51.31235, 12.41329] built from 1898 to celebrate the centenary of the battle - Between Probstheida and the Thonberg: the monument named Napoleonstein
The Napoleonstein monument at Probstheida The Napoleonstein at Probstheida located at the place from where Napoleon observed and directed the fighting on October 18 [the Quandtsche Tabaksmühle, a windmill destroyed during the battle] - Reudnitz: the Napoleon's H.Q.(then the house of the banker Vetter) before the battle, from October 14 to 16
Napoleon's HQ at Reudnitz, view 1 Napoleon's HQ at Reudnitz, view 2 - Schönau: a street
A street in Schönau and the churchThe church of Schönau - Schönefeld: the castle
The castle of Schönefeld and the bell towerThe bell tower at Schönefeld - Seifertshain: aerial view
Seifertshain , the churchThe church of Seifertshain and the sanitary and medical museumThe sanitary / medical museum at Seifertshain - Stötteritz: the manor
The manor of Stötteritz and the churchThe church of Stötteritz - Thonberg: the Günz park
The Günz park at Thonberg - Wachau: the mansion
The mansion of Wachau, view 1 The mansion of Wachau, view 2 and the plaque commemorating Marshal MuratPlaque commemorating Marshal Murat at the mansion of Wachau - Wachau: the lime tree in the mansion's park
The lime tree in the mansion's park in Wachau and the battlefieldThe battlefield at Wachau
LIGNY (16 June 1815)
Many thanks to Mr. Dominique Timmermans, who made us discover this battlefield in 2015.
The village of Ligny, in Walloon Brabant, is located a dozen kilometers east of the Quatre-Bras crossroads, where Michel Ney confronted the Duke of Wellington on the same day. The battlefield, roughly triangular pointing downwards, is between the road from Nivelles to Namur to the north and the town of Fleurus to the south. It is moderately hilly and wooded, and crossed by a winding stream: the Ligne.
- Brye: the village
Brye , the Moulin-de-Bussy farmMoulin-de-Bussy farm and the place where the mill wasLocation where the Bussy mill was [dismantled in the nineteenth century and transferred to Limburg] where Blücher and Wellington devised their strategy at midday - Fleurus: the Château de la Paix ("Castle of the Peace")
Château de la Paix in Fleurus Château de la Paix in Fleurus , Napoléon's headquarters in the evening following the battle, and the Emperor's bedroomChâteau de la Paix in Fleurus where he spent the night of 16 to 17; the Ferme de la Paix (Farm of the Peace)Ferme de la Paix in Fleurus , that adjoins the castle,where were stationed the mounted Chasseurs of the Guard - Fleurus: St. Victor church
St-Victor Church in Fleurus , used as a hospital after the fights - Fleurus: the Naveau mill
Moulin Naveau at Ligny which served as an observatory to Napoleon, and the monumentMonument commémoratif at Fleurus that adjoins it, which commemorates the victories the French vistories of 1690, 1794 and 1815 - Fleurus: the Zualart castle
Zualart castle at Ligny , Marshal Soult's headquarters - Ligny: the village seen from Prussian batteries
Ligny seen from Prussian batteries and panorama of the battlefield from General Gérard's corpsBattlefield of Ligny from General Gérard's corps Battlefield of Ligny from General Gérard's corps Battlefield of Ligny from General Gérard's corps Battlefield of Ligny from General Gérard's corps - Ligny: the church
The church of Ligny , the En-Haut farmEn-Haut farm at Ligny [50.51155, 4.57583] defended by the Prussians, the rectory that was used as ambulanceRectory at Ligny and, between both, the Ruelle du Curé (the Pastor's back street)Ruelle du Curé at Ligny through which the French arrived - Ligny: the En-Bas farm
En-Bas farm at Ligny En-Bas farm at Ligny , the last bastion of Prussian resistance, and the street that runs along itEn-Bas farm at Ligny [currently: Generals Gérard and Vandamme Street], through which the Prussians retreated - Ligny: location where the former Count of Looz' feodal castle was
Location of the former castle of Ligny [already half in ruins in 1815, disappeared in 1844] - Ligny: memorial monument to the Emperor's "grognards" (literally "grumblers")
Monument to the French soldiers in Ligny and fortress cannonMemorial fortress cannon in Ligny commemorating the bicentenary of Napoleon's birth - The Carrefour du Point-du-Jour ("The Dawn crossroads")
Carrefour du Point-du-Jour , northeast of the battlefield, where the Prussians, in their retirement, have veered towards Gembloux - St-Amand: the village and the battlefield
St-Amand St-Amand - St-Amand: the village seen from the Prussian batteries
St-Amand seen from the Prussian batteries and from the Brye millSt-Amand seen from the Brye mill ; the churchChurch of St-Amand - St-Amand: the hamlet of La Haye
La Haye at St-Amand and the battlefieldBattlefield at La Haye - St-Amand: La Haye farm
La Haye farm at St-Amand La Haye farm at St-Amand , where General Jean-Baptiste Girard was mortally wounded, and the memorial tabletLa Haye farm at St-Amand - St-Amand: location called "Le Hameau"
Le Hameau at St-Amand and the creek "La Ligne"La Ligne creek at St-Amand - Sombreffe: the castle
Castle of Sombreffe Castle of Sombreffe , HQ of the Prussian IInd Corps prussien under General Georg Dubislav Ludwig von Pirch - Sombreffe: the current church
Church of Sombreffe erected in 1858 in the same place as that having experienced the fights - Sombreffe: the rectory
Rectory of Sombreffe and its little peaceful interior: cannonball, a witness of fightsCannonball inside the rectory of Sombreffe and doorDoor inside the rectory of Sombreffe having suffered the wrath of Blücher and his sword! - The place called "Trois-Burettes"
The Trois-Burettes , northeast of the battlefield, and the eponymous crossroadsCarrefour of the Trois-Burettes where the former Roman way crosses the Namur road - Wagnelée: the village seen from the Brye mill
Wagnelée seen from the Brye mill
LODI (10 May 1796)
The Lombard town of Lodi is located 40 kilometers southeast of Milan [Milano], on the right bank of the Adda river, a tributary of the Po. In 1796, it was connected to the left bank by a large wooden bridge: deck 12 meters wide, nearly two hundred meters long.
The Austrians, who held both banks, retreated to the left bank (northeast) shortly after the start of hostilities, intending to blow up the bridge. The French, having become masters of the right bank (southwest), took the bridge by assault and emerged on the left bank. The enemy was then forced to withdraw without delay towards Crema, to the northeast. As a result General Beaumont, at the head of his horsemen, having found a ford further upstream to cross, arrived too late to attack the Austrian right flank.
- Pizzighettone
Pizzighettone , where General Bonaparte at first thought to cross the river Adda, and the surroundingsSurroundings of Zorlesco of ZorlescoZorlesco , where the first clashes took place - Lodi: the current bridge
The current bridge of Lodi [45.31914, 9.50861] over the river Adda, named in 2003 "Bridge Napoleone Bonaparte", built at about 50 meters downstream of the historic bridge [which was destroyed in 1859] - Lodi: the outlet of the current bridge on the left bank
Position of the Austrians on the left bank , which was held by the Austrians - Lodi: the river Adda, downstream
The Adda river, downstream of the bridge of Lodi and upstreamThe Adda river, upstream of the bridge of Lodi of the bridge, and further upstreamThe Adda river, upstream of the bridge of Lodi towards the ford where Beaumont crossed the river - Lodi: the current Piazza della Vittoria
Piazza della Vittoria at Lodi (Piazza Maggiore in 1796) and the Palazzo ModignaniHeadquarters of Napoleon Bonaparte at Lodi where Napoleon Bonaparte settled his headquarters - Fontana
Fontana and TormoTormo , that the Austrians passed through, during their retreat towards CremaCrema Crema - The surroundings
Surroundings of Crespiatica Surroundings of Crespiatica of CrespiaticaCrespiatica , where the French made their cavalry rest after the battle.
After the battle :
LÜTZEN (2 May 1813)
Lützen, 20 kilometers west-southwest of Leipzig, gave its name to this battle (except in Germany where it is called Battle of Großgörschen) although no combat took place there, a bit like in Austerlitz, Jena or Waterloo. The battlefield, which lies south of Lützen, is hilly and has remained rural.
- Eisdorf : the church
Eisdorf - Großgörschen: the monument to Prince Leopold of Hesse-Homburg, who was killed during the battle
The monument to Prince Leopold of Hesse-Homburg in Großgörschen - Großgörschen: the monument to General Scharnhorst, mortally wounded during the battle
The monument to General Scharnhorst in Großgörschen , and the Schinkel pyramid (named after the Prussian architect who designed this type of monument)Schinkel pyramid in Großgörschen - Großgörschen: a street of the village
A street in Großgörschen and a windmill on the battlefieldWindmill on the battlefield near Großgörschen - Großgörschen: the Monarchenhügel
Aerial view of the Monarchenhügel, south of Großgörschen The Monarchenhügel, south of Großgörschen [51.19441, 12.18517], two kilometers south of the village, its monumentThe monument at the Monarchenhügel Plaque upon the monument at the Monarchenhügel and the commemorative steleThe stele at the Monarchenhügel - Hohenmölsen: general view
Hohenmölsen - Kaja: the house that served as the HQ of Marshal Ney
The house that served as the HQ of Marshal Ney in Kaja House that served as the HQ of Marshal Ney in Kaja Garden of the house that served as the HQ of Marshal Ney - Between Kaja and Starsiedel: the battlefield
The battlefield between Kaja / Starsiedel - Kleingörschen: the church
The church of Kleingörschen - Poserna: the village
Poserna - Rahna: some houses in the village
Houses in Rahna and a view of the battlefieldThe battlefield near Rahna - The Rippach stream
The Rippach stream - Söhesten: the village
Söhesten and the MühlbergThe Mühlberg at Söhesten - Starsiedel: general view
Starsiedel , the churchThe church of Starsiedel and the commemorative monumentCommemorative monument in Starsiedel, view 1 Commemorative monument in Starsiedel, view 2 - Stöntzsch: the location of the former village
Stöntzsch: the location of the former village [destroyed in 1964 for the purpose of open pit mining], the commemorative stoneStöntzsch: commemorative stone on the location of the former village and the nearby Floßgraben streamThe Floßgraben stream at Stöntzsch - Werben: the village
Werben and the battlefieldThe battlefield near Werben
MARENGO (14 June 1800)
Spinetta Marengo is a Lombard municipality located three kilometers southeast of the walled city of Alessandria. Between them flows (towards the northeast) the Bormida river, a tributary of the Tanaro, which itself flows into the Po. From Marengo the road to Tortona departs eastward, which successively crosses the village of San Giuliano Vecchio and the hamlet of Torre Garofoli. South of this road is Cascina Grossa; to the north, Castelceriolo.
This vast theater of operations is rigorously flat.
- Alessandria: views of the citadel
Citadel of Alessandria The Citadel of Alessandria - The Bormida plain
Bormida plain at Marengo and the battlefieldBattlefield of Marengo, view 1 Battlefield of Marengo, view 2 Battlefield of Marengo, view 3 Battlefield of Marengo, view 4 Battlefield of Marengo, view 5 around Marengo - The river Bormida
The river Bormida, view 1 The river Bormida, view 2 The river Bormida, view 3 and the current bridge which spans itThe current bridge over the Bormida, view 1 The current bridge over the Bormida, view 2 [built in 1915] - Cascina Grossa: the battlefield and the village
Cascina Grossa , the yard of a farmThe yard of a farm at Cascina Grossa - Castelceriolo: the battlefield and the village
Castelceriolo - Castelceriolo: the church
The church ofe Castelceriolo , a streetA street of Castelceriolo , the bell tower and roofs of the townBell tower and roofs of Castelceriolo - The Fontanone stream
The Fontanone stream which winds from south to north across the battlefield - Frugarolo: the church
The church of Frugarolo - Napoleon's plane tree
Napoleon's plane tree , 400 meters west of Bormida, under which legend has it that the First Consul rested, and its commemorative plaquePlaque at Napoleon's plane tree - The place called Poggi
Poggi , a small eminence having served Napoleon as a place of observation - San-Giuliano Vecchio: the village
San Giuliano Vecchio, view 1 San Giuliano Vecchio, view 2 San Giuliano Vecchio, view 3 - Spinetta Marengo: the church of the Nativity of Mary
Church of the Nativity of Mary at Spinetta Marengo and the Teodolinda towerTeodolinda tower at Spinetta Marengo - Spinetta Marengo: memorial column
Memorial column at Spinetta Marengo [44.89403, 8.67060] topped by a bronze eagleMemorial column at Marengo erected in 1801 then reinstalled in 1918 - Spinetta Marengo: length statue of the First Consul
Statue of Napoleon Bonaparte at Spinetta Marengo in front of the Villa DelavoVilla Delavo at Spinetta Marengo , by sculptor Benito Cacciatori, inaugurated in 1847 - Spinetta Marengo: the Barbotta farm, north of the village
Barbotta farm at Spinetta Marengo and the Teodolinda towerTorre Teodolinda at Spinetta Marengo - Torre Garofoli: the farm
Aerial view of Torre Garofoli, Bonaparte's HQ Torre Garofoli farmyard Headquarters of Bonaparte at Torre Garofoli where General Bonaparte settled his headquarters, and the adjacent churchChurch at Torre Garofoli
MONDOVI (21 April 1796)
The battle of Mondovì begins at Ceva, in Piedmont, then moves west as the Sardinians retreat under French pressure: San Michele Mondovì, then Vicoforte, finally the hilltop village of Mondovì, 25 kilometers east of Cuneo. All this in a tormented relief.
- Panorama from the Bric della Guardia, east of Mondovì
Bric della Guardia, view 1 Bric della Guardia, view 2 Bric della Guardia, view 3 Bric della Guardia, view 4 Bric della Guardia, view 5 Bric della Guardia, view 6 , from where Napoleon Bonaparte studied the places before the battle and at the start of it - The place called Brichetto [or Bricchetto]
Brichetto near Vicoforte, view 1 Brichetto near Vicoforte, view 2 , an elevation between Vicoforte to the east and Mondovì to the west - Carassone
Carassone , one kilometer north of Mondovì, and its church of San Giovanni in LupazzanioChurch of San Giovanni in Lupazzanio in Carassone where General Henri Christian Michel de Stengel rests, mortally wounded during the battle - The Corsaglia river near San Michele Mondovì
The Corsaglia river near San Michele, view 1 The Corsaglia river near San Michele, view 2 The Corsaglia river near San Michele, view 3 and the bridge which spans it at the entrance to the villageThe bridge over the Corsaglia in San Michele - The Ellero River
The Ellero River near Mondovì, view 1 The Ellero River near Mondovì, view 2 , which bypasses Mondovì from the west and north - Lesegno: the castle
The castle of Lesegno Castle of Lesegno , Napoleon Bonaparte's headquarters from April 20 to 23 - Mondovi: various views of the village
Mondovi seen from the Strada Santa Maria, view 1 Mondovi seen from the Strada Santa Maria, view 2 Mondovi seen from the Strada Santa Maria, view 3 and of the battlefieldThe battlefield seen from the Strada Santa Maria seen from the Strada Santa Maria at Vicoforte - Mondovì: The Piazza Maggiore
The Piazza Maggiore in Mondovì, view 1 The Piazza Maggiore in Mondovì, view 2 , some streets in the villageStreets of Mondovì, view 1 Streets of Mondovì, view 2 Streets of Mondovì, view 3 and the Carassone GateThe Carassone Gate in Mondovì - San Michele Mondovì: general views of the village
San Michele Mondovì, view 1 San Michele Mondovì, view 2 San Michele Mondovì, view 3 - San Michele Mondovì: the Bicocca redoubt overlooking the village
The Bicocca redoubt at San Michele Mondovì, view 1 The Bicocca redoubt at San Michele Mondovì, view 2 and panorama from its summitPanorama from the Bicocca redoubt at San Michele Mondov - Vico [Vicoforte since 1862]: the main street
Vicoforte and the sanctuarySanctuaire de Vicoforte 1.5 kilometer southeast - Vicoforte, at a place called La Scapita: the Cascina del Vescovo also known as Cascina Monsignore
Cascina Monsignore at Vicoforte, view 1 Cascina Monsignore at Vicoforte, view 2 Cascina Monsignore at Vicoforte, view 3 [44.38166, 7.88225] where Bonaparte settled to direct operations, and strategic view from this locationView from the Cascina del Vescovo View from the Cascina del Vescovo
MONTEBELLO (9 June 1800)
Montebello della Battaglia is a Lombard town in the Po plain, located thirty kilometers south of Pavia and sixty kilometers west of Piacenza.
The battle took place on both sides of the west-east road leading from Tortona to Piacenza, below the village of Montebello and all around that of Casteggio, located one kilometer east. The fight also raged for the gain of the heights located to the south of the two villages, initially held by the Austrians. The latter, defeated, retreated towards Voghera to the west.
- Casteggio: the village
Casteggio, view 1 Casteggio, view 2 Casteggio, view 3 , the Grande Piazza [nowadays Piazza Cavour]Piazza Cavour in Casteggio and some streetsThe streets of Casteggio, view 1 The streets of Casteggio, view 2 The streets of Casteggio, view 3 - The heights of Casteggio
The heights of Casteggio, view 1 The heights of Casteggio, view 2 The heights of Casteggio, view 3 - The river Coppa
The river Coppa and a bridge over itBridge over the river Coppa - Montebello della Battaglia: the village
Montebello della Battaglia, view 1 Montebello della Battaglia, view 2 and the commemorative plaque affixed to the town hallCommemorative plaque affixed to the town hall of Montebello della Battaglia [45.00061, 9.10369] - Montebello della Battaglia: the battlefield
Battlefield of Montebello in the plain, and seen from the villageBattlefield of Montebello
MONTENOTTE, MILLESIMO, COSSERIA and DEGO (12 to 15 April 1796)
The fighting, inaugurating the first Italian campaign, took place northwest of Savona, in Liguria, successively on April 12, 1796 at Montenotte Superiore, on April 13 at Millesimo and Cosseria, finally on April 14 and 15 at Dego.
In all these places, the terrain is mountainous and heavily wooded.- The river Bormida di Millesimo
The river Bormida di Millesimo, view 1 The river Bormida di Millesimo, view 2 The river Bormida di Millesimo, view 3 The river Bormida di Millesimo, view 4 - The river Bormida di Pallare
The river Bormida di Pallare, view 1 The river Bormida di Pallare, view 2 - The pass of Cadibona [Bocchetta di Altare] [44.33426, 8.34913], at 458 meters above sea level
Pass of Cadibona, view 1 Pass of Cadibona, view 2 east-southeast of Altare - Cairo Montenotte: overall view
Cairo Montenotte, view from Cengio from Cengio, and downtonCairo Montenotte, view 1 Cairo Montenotte, view 2 Cairo Montenotte, view 3 - Carcare: overall views
Carcare, view 1 Carcare, view 1 - Carcare: the bridge over the river Bormida di Pallare
Bridge of Carcare and the Casa FerreroHeadquarters of Napoléon Bonaparte at Carcare , Napoléon Bonaparte's headquarters during the operations of Millesimo, Dego and Cosseria - Cosseria: the hill
The hill with the Castle of Cosseria, view 1 The hill with the castle of Cosseria, view 2 topped by the castleThe hill with the Castle of Cosseria, view 3 , the ruins of the castleRuins of the Castle of Cosseria The ruined tower of the castle of Cosseria and panoramic views from the laterPanorama from the castle of Cosseria, view 1 Panorama from the castle of Cosseria, view 2 Panorama from the castle of Cosseria, view 3 Panorama from the castle of Cosseria, view 4 Panorama from the castle of Cosseria, view 5 - Dego: the village
Dego, view 1 , its surroundingsDego, view 2 and the main streetThe main street of Dego - Dego: the bridge over the river Bormida di Spigno
The bridge over the river Bormida in Dego - Dego: views of Cua
The hamlet of Cua in Dego, view 1 The hamlet of Cua in Dego, view 2 The hamlet of Cua in Dego, view 3 The hamlet of Cua in Dego, view 4 The castle district in Dego, view 1 The castle district in Dego, view 2 , a hamlet overlooking the river Bormida, location of the ancient castle, of which only the ruins of the tower remainTower of the castle in Dego - Dego: the Magliani Hill
The Magliani Hill near Dego, view 1 The Magliani Hill near Dego, view 2 , one kilometer northeast of Dego as the crow flies, which was fortified as a redoubt - Millesimo: overall views
Millesimo, view 1 Millesimo, view 2 Millesimo, view 3 and the bridge [Ponte della Gaietta] over the river BormidaThe bridge over the river Bormida in Millesimo - Millesimo: the castle
The castle of Millesimo and some streetsA street of Millesimo A street of Millesimo of the city - Millesimo: the Del Carretto family's home [nowadays the town hall]
Headquarters of Napoléon Bonaparte at Millesimo Headquarters of Napoléon Bonaparte at Millesimo [44.36437, 8.20583], Bonaparte's HQ in the evening of April 13, after the battle - Montenotte Inferiore [Ferriera]
Montenotte Inferiore - Montenotte Superiore: the battlefield
View from Montenotte Superiore A view from Montenotte Superiore View from Montenotte Superiore , which is heavily wooded and hilly - Montenotte Superiore: the commemorative monument "Cippo di Napoleone"
Cippo di Napoleone at the place called "Cassinassa" and the nearby plaquePlaque near the Cippo di Napoleone - Montenotte Superiore: the Bric Menau
The Bric Menau at Montenotte , in front of the Il Parazzin farm, and views from that locationView from Il Parazzin A view from Il Parazzin - Montenotte Superiore: the Monte San Giorgio and the Monte Pra
Monte San Giorgio, Monte Pra The Monte San Giorgio, the Monte Pra - Montenotte Superiore: the village
Montenotte Superiore [44.38796, 8.40034] and the memorial monumentMemorial monument at Montenotte - Montenotte Superiore: the hamlet called Naso di Gatto
Naso di Gatto near Montenotte Superiore - Southwest of Montenotte Superiore: the Monte Negino [sometimes called Monte Legino in period documents}
The Monte Negino, view 1 The Monte Negino, view 2 Aerial view of the Monte Negino peaking at 704 meters, whose redoubt was heroically defended by colonel Rampon and his men, and views from that locationView from the Monte Negino A view from the Monte Negino
MONTEREAU (18 February 1814)
and preliminary fights of Mormant and Villeneuve-le-Comte
The preliminary combats took place in the plain of Brie, around Mormant, Grandpuits, then heading south to Valjouan, Villeneuve-le-Comte [today Villeneuve-les-Bordes] and Orvilliers.
The decisive battle engulfed Montereau [now Montereau-Fault-Yonne], a town located at the confluence of the rivers Yonne and Seine, and the suburbs overlooking it to the north: Surville (totally distorted in the 1960s and 1970s by the establishment of large complexes designed by architects whose name it is charitable to forget) and Villaron (which became a small suburban area: Les Ormeaux).
- The Ancoeur farm
Ancoeur farm (combat of Mormant) - Forges
Forges - Grandpuits
Grandpuits and its surroundingsSurroundings of Grandpuits (combat of Mormant) - Montereau: bridges over the river Seine
Bridge over the Seine at Montereau and the river YonneBridge over the Yonne at Montereau - Montereau: the Saint-Martin priory
St-Martin priory - Montereau: plateau of Surville
Surville, seen from Montereau - Montereau: general view of the city and the confluent, from the heights of Surville
Montereau seen from Surville and the tabletTablet at Surville [48.39121, 2.96057] commemorating the bravery of the Emperor - Montereau: equestrian statue of Napoleon
Equestrian statue of Napoleon Equestrian statue of Napoleon , by Charles Pierre Victor Pajol, located near the confluent - Montereau: statue of General Henri Gatien Bertrand
Statue of General Bertrand erected in 2007 on the climb towards Surville - Mormant: downtown
Mormant and the road to NangisOn the road to Nangis - Orvilliers
Orvilliers - The Les Pleux farm
Les Pleux farm (combat of Mormant) - Salins
Salins , where Marshal Victor made an untimely halt according to Napoleon - Valjouan
Valjouan (combat of Mormant) - Villeneuve-le-Comte [nowadays Villeneuve-les-Bordes]
Villeneuve-les-Bordes
MONTMIRAIL-MARCHAIS (11 February 1814)
The town of Montmirail is located at the intersection of the northeast-southwest road linking Château-Thierry to Troyes and the east-west road leading from Châlons-en-Champagne to Paris. It was on either side of the latter, to the west of Montmirail, that the fighting took place, in particular in the territory of the commune of Marchais-en-Brie..
- The Bailly woods
The Bailly woods , where fierce fighting were held - La Chaise farm
La Chaise farm - Les Chouteaux farm
Les Chouteaux farm - The Courmont farm
Courmont farm , the monument commemorating the battles that took place thereMonument at the Courmont farm and the battlefield nearbyThe battlefield near Courmont - The Courmont woods
The Courmont woods where several Russian squares were routed - Fontenelle-en-Brie, north of the battlefield: the church
Fontenelle-en-Brie - The Grange-en-chart farm
The Grange-en-chart farm - The Greneaux farm
The Greneaux farm [48.89562, 3.48089], where Napoléon slept after the battle, and small monument commemorating the eventMonument at the Greneaux farm - The Haute-Epine: in this hamlet
Headquarters impérial at the Haute-Epine Headquarters impérial at the Haute-Epine Napoléon settled his headquarters in the evening following the battle - Marchais-en-Brie: the village
Marchais-en-Brie Marchais-en-Brie , that was at the heart of the fighting - Marchais-en-Brie: the church
Church of Marchais-en-Brie Church of Marchais-en-Brie - Marchais-en-Brie: the Cour d'Airain farm
Cour d'Airain farm at Marchais-en-Brie Cour d'Airain farm at Marchais-en-Brie , at the heart of the battle, and its commemorative tabletTablet at the Cour d'Airain farm in Marchais-en-Brie - Marchais-en-Brie: the battlefield
Battlefield near Marchais-en-Brie and the orientation tableTthe orientation table at Marchais-en-Brie - La Meulière
La Meulière - Between Montcoupot and Le Tremblay, by the side of the road to Paris: memorial column
Memorial column of the battle of Montmirail Memorial column of the battle of Montmirail erected in 1866 at the location where Napoleon stood during the battle - Montmirail: general view
Montmirail and the castleThe castle of Montmirail where the Emperor took his breakfast in the morning before the battle - The Plénois farm
The Plénois farm , at the right wing of the French positions - The Prelle farm
The Prelle farm , between Fontenelle and the road to Paris - Le Tremblay: the hamlet
Le Tremblay , where the confrontation was particularly violent, view from itView from Le Tremblay , and memorial column to the Imperial armyMemorial column at Le Tremblay
MOUNT TABOR (16 April 1799)
Warmest thanks to Mrs. Eva-Elise Grau, who gave us the photo of Mount Tabor that she took in 2012.
- The plain of Esdraelon or Jezreel valley [Emek Yizreel] where most of the fighting took place
The plain of Esdraelon The plain of Esdraelon, the Mount Moréh - Fouli [Afula]: the rare remains of the village from the time
Remains of Fouli - The road
Between Fouli / Noures, view 1 Between Fouli / Noures, view 2 and the battlefieldBetween Fouli / Noures, view 3 Between Fouli / Noures, view 4 Between Fouli / Noures, view 5 between Fouli [Afula] and Noures or Nuris - The Mount Tabor
The Mount Tabor, view 1 The Mount Tabor, view 2 The Mount Tabor, view 3 which dominates the battlefield (no combat having taken place on the mountain itself) - Location where the former village of Noures or Nuris was located
Location where the village Noures stood, view 1 Location where the village Noures stood, view 2 [destroyed in 1948], southeast of the battlefield - Panorama of the battlefield from the location of Noures or Nuris
Panorama of the battlefield from the location of Noures, view 1 Panorama of the battlefield from the location of Noures, view 2 Panorama of the battlefield from the location of Noures, view 3 Panorama of the battlefield from the location of Noures, view 4 - The Medjameh bridge [Gesher]
The Medjameh Bridge over the Jordan, seen from upstream The Medjameh Bridge over the Jordan, seen from downstream which spans the Jordan riverThe Jordan River upstream of the Medjameh Bridge The Jordan River downstream of the Medjameh Bridge south of Lake TiberiasThe Lake Tiberias , through which some of the surviving Ottomans fled - The Franciscan hospice Casa Nova
The Franciscan hospice Casa Nova in Nazareth in NazarethNazareth, view 1 Nazareth, view 2 which sheltered generals Bonaparte, Kléber and Junot on the evening of the battle
After the battle:
OCAÑA (19 November 1809) and preliminary fight of Ontigola
Ocaña is a large town in Castile 65 kilometers south of Madrid and 50 kilometers east of Toledo, which at the time had some 1,000 houses and 5,000 inhabitants.
The battlefield, arid and hilly (especially in the northeast with the Meseta de Ocaña), is crossed from east to west by a stream, named Arroyo de los Yesares.
- The stream Arroyo de les Yesares
The stream Arroyo de les Yesares and the position of the guard of King Josephthe position of the guard of King Joseph at Ocaña on the right bank - Ocaña: the heights to the northeast of the city
The heights of Ocaña, view 1 The heights of Ocaña, view 2 The heights of Ocaña, view 3 - Ocaña: the battlefield on the road to Cabaña
The battlefield on the road to Cabaña to the northeast and that of NoblejasThe battlefield on the road to Noblejas, view 1 Le champ de bataille sur la route de Noblejas, view 2 to the east - Ocaña: general view from the road to Noblejas
Ocaña: general view from the road to Noblejas , and battlefield northeast of the cityA road northeast of Ocaña - Ocaña: the tower of the San Martin church
The tower of the San Martin church in Ocaña [39.96167, -3.49845], the Plaza MayorPlaza Mayor in Ocaña and some streets downtownThe streets of Ocaña, view 1 The streets of Ocaña, view 2 - Ontigola: the village
Ontigola and its churchThe church of Ontigola - Ontigola: the battlefield
The battlefield near Ontigola, view 1 The battlefield near Ontigola, view 2 The battlefield near Ontigola, view 3 where the cavalries confronted each other on November 18
PUŁTUSK (26 December 1806)
Pułtusk [the crossed out "l" is pronounced like the w in Waterloo...] is a town in Mazovia, Poland, about 70 kilometers north of Warsaw [Warszawa], on the Narew River.
- Mosin: the battlefield
Battlefield at Mosin and a forest, north of the hamletForest near Mosin [the forest southeast of the later, where fierce fighting were held, no longer exists] - Pułtusk: the house
Headquarters of Napoléon after the battle of Pultusk where Napoléon settled his HQ in the evening following the battle, at Market Place [Rynek] 29. The City Hall, at the other end of the placeCity Hall of Pultusk - Pułtusk: the river Narew
The river Narew and an arm of the river crossing the cityArm of the river Narew at Pultusk - Pułtusk: the roads to Golymin
The road to Golymin at the outlet of Pultusk , to Makow (proximal portion, which is no longer usedThe road to Makow at the outlet of Pultusk , and its junction with the current roadThe road to Makow at the outlet of Pultusk ), to NasielskThe road to Nasielsk at the outlet of Pultusk and to RozanThe road to Rozan at the outlet of Pultusk
PYRAMIDS (21 July 1798)
Many thanks to Mr. Yves Maillet for the photos he provided us to put on the website.
The battlefield, made mainly of sand dunes, was located on the left (west) bank of the Nile [نهر النيل], at 13 kilometers north-northeast of the Pyramids of Giza [مجمع أهرامات الجيزة], all around the fortified village of Embabeh [إمبابة]. Today it is included in the gigantic metropolis of Cairo [القاهرة].
- Giza: the pyramids
The pyramids of Giza The pyramids of Giza - Giza: the Sphinx
The Sphinx of Giza The Sphinx of Giza - The banks of the Nile
The banks of the Nile, view 1 The banks of the Nile, view 2 The banks of the Nile, view 3 The banks of the Nile, view 4 such as those which bordered the battlefield at the time
QUATRE-BRAS (16 June 1815)
Many thanks to Mr. Dominique Timmermans, who made us discover this battlefield in 2015.
The Quatre-Bras, at Baisy-Thy, is a strategic road crossroads in Walloon Brabant, at the intersection of the road from Nivelles to Namur and that from Brussels to Charleroi. The fighting took place mainly on either side of the latter, south of the crossroads.
The land was at the time more wooded than today, forests offered by William I of the Netherlands to the Duke of Wellington following the victory of Waterloo (in particular the Bossu woods, in the heart of the battle) having been shot for profit; many hedges have also disappeared.
- Frasnes and the southside of the battlefield
Frasnes - The Gémioncourt farm
Gémioncourt farm Gémioncourt farm Gémioncourt farm , which saw heavy fighting - The Grand-Pierrepont [Pierpont] farm
Grand-Pierrepont farm Grand-Pierrepont farm , a bastion held by the Orange-Nassau regiment - The Monument to the Belgians
Monument to Belgians at Quatre-Bras , and the battlefield seen from that locationBattlefield of Quatre-Bras - The Monument to the British and Hanovrian troops
The Monument to British-Hanovrian troops at Quatre-Bras - The Monument to the Dutch cavalry
The monument to the Dutch cavalry at Quatre-Bras Monument to the Dutch cavalry at Quatre-Bras - The Monument to Frederick William, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Monument to the Duke of Brunswick at Quatre-Bras , erected by the Brunswick State for the 75th anniversary, near the place where he was killed during the battle, and the bronze lion at its topLion upon the monument to the Duke of Brunswick at Quatre-Bras - The Petit-Pierrepont farm
Petit-Pierrepont farm , that the French succeeded in taking, and the battlefield seen from that placeBattlefield seen from the Petit-Pierrepont farm - The Quatre-Bras farm
The Quatre Bras farm . During our visit in 2015, it was the only period building still standing at the crossroads [50.57142, 4.45326] of the same name, which was held by the allies during the battle. Unfortunately, the money of real estate developers is more powerful than the memorial issue, and it was razed in October 2016...
REICHENBACH and MARKERSDORF (22 May 1813)
These two Saxon villages are located to the east of the battlefield of Bautzen (this fight constituting the continuation, the day after the victory, in order to pursue the Allies in retreat towards the town of Görlitz and the river Neisse). The battlefield, quite hilly and wooded, is for Napoleon himself the easternmost in the Campaign in Saxony.
- The Hoterberg, a hill southeast of the village of Holtendorf, from which the Russian cannonball was fired
The Hoterberg, view 1 The Hoterberg, view 2 , and the commemorative panelommemorative panel on the Hoterberg - Markersdorf: the Hanspach farm
The Hanspach farm at Markersdorf [51.145733, 14.88115], the room where General Duroc died (in the courtyard, center of the image)The room where General Duroc died at the Hanspach farm and the commemorative plaquePlaque on the wall of the room where General Duroc died - Markersdorf: the field
Field at Markersdorf where a square taking of arms was held the next day, in honor of Géraud Christophe Michel Duroc - Markersdorf: the memorial at the place where Duroc was hit
The memorial at the place where Duroc was hit The memorial at the place where General Duroc was hit and General Kirgener's graveGeneral Kirgener's grave - Between Reichenbach and Markersdorf: the heights of the battlefield
The heights of the battlefield between Reichenbach / Markersdorf, view 1 - Reichenbach: the house where Napoleon stayed
The house where Napoleon stayed in Reichenbach and the commemorative plaquePlaque on the house where Napoleon stayed in Reichenbach - Reichenbach: the Niederhof
The Niederhof at Reichenbach , the place where Napoleon was - Reichenbach: the Töpferberg
The Töpferberg at Reichenbach where Duke Eugene of Württemberg stood - East of Reichenbach, on the road to Markersdorf: the medieval bridge
The medieval bridge near Reichenbach which was used during the fighting
REIMS (13 March 1814)
The violent battles, in which the "Marie-Louise", French conscripts of the classes 1814 and 1815, heroically participated, took place on the left bank of the river Vesle, which waters Reims: first towards Rosnay, then on the heights of Tinqueux, around Mont-Saint-Pierre, finally in the suburbs to the south-east of the city. The Emperor directed the fighting from the top of Sainte-Geneviève hill, still in Tinqueux.
Nowadays, Mont Saint-Pierre is under threat from a sprawling commercial zone, and on Sainte-Geneviève hill we have only 2.5 hectares of a public garden left, sufficient however to arouse emotion in memory. of the sacrifice of these young French people.
- Mont-Saint-Pierre
Mont Saint-Pierre, view 1 Mont Saint-Pierre, view 2 , on the heights of Tinqueux, and its memorial obeliskObelisk on Mont-Saint-Pierre - Reims: the City Hall
City Hall of Reims and the CathedralThe Cathedral of Reims - The Sainte-Geneviève hill
The Sainte-Geneviève hill [today Parc de la Cure d'air] [49.24675, 4.00848], from where the Emperor directed the fights and where he bivouacked the evening following the battle. The tablet honoring, there, the fallen "Marie-Louises" (youngest French soldiers)Tablet to the Marie-Louise at Ste-Geneviève hill is unfortunately in a pitiful state, unworthy of the honor due to them. - The river Vesle
The river Vesle , between Fismes and Reims.
RIPPACH (WEIßENFELS) (1st May 1813)
Rippach is a Saxon village located six kilometers southeast of Lützen. It was on its heights, on the edge of a small wood, that Marshal Bessières was mortally wounded by a cannonball.
- Rippach: aerial view of the village
Aerial view of Rippach - Rippach: the battlefield on the road to Weissenfels
The battlefield on the road to Weissenfels - Rippach: the inn "Zum Weißen Schwan" ("The White Swan")
The inn Zum Weißen Schwan in Rippach where Napoleon and Marshal Bessières spoke for the last time, on the morning of the 1st, and the commemorative plaquePlaque on the inn Zum Weißen Schwan in Rippach - Rippach: the field where Marshal Bessières was mortally wounded
The field where Marshal Bessières was mortally wounded and a view from this placeView from the field where Marshal Bessières was mortally wounded - Rippach: the stele erected at the place [51.22674, 12.06873] where the marshal was mortally wounded
Stele to Marshal Bessières near Rippach, view 1 Stele to Marshal Bessières near Rippach, view 2 and the path by which he was evacuatedThe path by which Marshal Bessières was evacuated - Rippach: the weaver's house where the marshal was taken in agony
The house where the marshal was taken in agony, view 1 The house where the marshal was taken in agony, view 2
RIVOLI (14 and 15 January 1797)
Rivoli Veronese is a village in Veneto located east of Lake Garda, 25 kilometers north-northwest of Verona, on the right (west) bank of the Adige River, in a mountainous area.
The battlefield [unfortunately crossed today by the Modena-Brenner highway] is located to the north of the village, from the foothills of Monte Baldo to the banks of the Adige. Some fighting also took place to the south, on Monte Pipolo.
- Rivoli Veronese: the village
Rivoli Veronese, view 1 Rivoli Veronese, view 2 Rivoli Veronese, view 3 and its churchThe church of Rivoli Veronese - Rivoli Veronese: the battlefield
Battlefield of Rivoli Veronese, view 1 Battlefield of Rivoli Veronese, view 2 Battlefield of Rivoli Veronese, view 3 Battlefield of Rivoli Veronese, view 4 Battlefield of Rivoli Veronese, view 5 between the village and the Monte Baldo - Rivoli Veronese: the memorial monument [45.58098, 10.82115] in 2013
Memorial monument in Rivoli Veronese, view 1 and 2016Memorial monument in Rivoli Veronese, view 2 , which has been erected in 1807 and rebuilt in 1917-1918Tablet of the memorial monument at Rivoli - The Adige River
The Adige River, view 1 The Adige River, view 2 The Adige River, view 3 , which meandersAerial view of the Adige River east of Rivoli - North of Rivoli: Zuane Osteria
Zuane Osteria, northwest of Rivoli , the Trambasore HeightsThe Trambasore Heights, north of Rivoli, view 1 The Trambasore Heights, north of Rivoli, view 2 , the valley of CaprinoCaprino Veronese, north of Rivoli , San MartinoSan Martino, view 1 San Martino, view 2 (place of the last fighting on the 15th) then the foothills of Monte BaldoThe Monte Baldo, north of Rivoli - North-northeast of Rivoli: the pass of Incanale
The pass of Incanale near Rivoli , San MarcoSan Marco, north of Rivoli [fortified at the end of the 19th century], the Monte MagnoneThe Monte Magnone, north of Rivoli - Southwest of Rivoli: the hamlet of Tiffaro [Fiffaro]
Tiffaro, west of Rivoli , and, further on, the village of AffiAffi - South of Rivoli: the Monte Pipolo
Thee Monte Pipolo - The stream Tasso
The stream Tasso near Rivoli Veronese, view 1 The stream Tasso near Rivoli Veronese, view 2 , which bypasses Rivoli from the west [dry during our visits in summer]
ROLIÇA (17 August 1808)
Many thanks to Mrs. Florence Thévenot († 2021) for the photos she provided us to put on the website.
Roliça is a village in central Portugal, some 80 kilometers north of Lisbon [Lisboa].
The battlefield is made up of wooded ridges, arranged around the village, in a horseshoe opening to the northeast on a valley leading to the fortified town of Óbidos.
- Roliça : the church
The church of Roliça The church of Roliça [39.31375, -9.18290] and some streetsMain street in Roliça A street in Roliça Roliça: a street in the village - Surroundings of Roliça: hills of the battlefield
The Roliça battlefield, view 1 The Roliça battlefield, view 2 The Roliça battlefield, view 3 - The valley
The Roliça battlefield, view 4 leading to ÓbidosObidos
ROTHIÈRE (LA-) (1st February 1814)
La Rothière is a vast battlefield, south of that of Brienne-le-Château, essentially on the right bank of the river Aube (with some Allied overflows on the left bank). It is a plain limited to the north by the road leading from Brienne-la-Vieille to Morvilliers, to the east by the woods and marshes of Soulaines, to the south by Eclance and the Trannes gorge, to the west by the Aube (which several bridges allow you to cross: from north to south, at Brienne-la-Vieille, at Dienville, at Unienville, at Juvanzé and at Trannes). In the center: the village of La Rothière, on the road leading from Brienne to Bar-sur-Aube, flanked to the east by the hamlets of Petit-Mesnil and La Giberie and to the northeast by those of Chaumesnil and La Chaise .
The violent fighting, which resulted in comparable losses on both sides, was followed by an orderly French retreat towards Brienne, to the north, then Lesmont or Rosnay-l'Hôpital.
- The Ajou woods
Ajou woods near Chaumesnil - The river Aube
The river Aube - The forest of Beaulieu
Forest of Beaulieu at Petit-Mesnil - The Beauvoir farm
The Beauvoir farm near whom Marshal Marmont clashed with the Austrians - Location of the former Beugné farm [which no longer exists]
Location of the former Beugné farm - Bossancourt
Bossancourt where Blücher's reserve was stationed - Brienne-la-Vieille
Brienne-la-Vieille where Marshal Oudinot settled his troops before the battle - La Chaise
La Chaise - Chauménil [Chaumesnil]
Chaumesnil - Dienville: downtown
Dienville and the bridge over the river AubeBridge of Dienville - Eclance
Eclance , at the right wing of the Allied positions - La Gibrie [La Giberie]: the hamlet
La Giberie - Juvenzé [Juvanzé]
Juvanzé - Lesmont: the wooden hall
Hall of Lesmont - Morvilliers: the village
Morvilliers and its surroundingsSurroundings of Morvilliers - Petit-Ménil [Petit-Mesnil]: the church and the cemetery
Petit-Mesnil - La Rothière: the church
Church of La Rothière and the memorial monumentMemorial monument at La Rothière Memorial monument at La Rothière - La Rothière: the battlefield
Surroundings of La Rothière Surroundings of La Rothière - Rosnay-l'Hôpital
Rosnay-l'Hôpital where Marshal Marmont had to withdraw behind the river VoireThe river Voire - Woods and ponds around the road to Soulaines
Pond near the road from La Chaise to Soulaisnes Soulaisnes woods - Trannes
Trannes , at the left wing of Blücher's positions - Unienville: the church
Unienville and the bridgeBridge of Unienville
ROVERETO (4 September 1796)
Rovereto (sometimes spelled Roveredo at the time, and named Röwern in Germanic language) is a town in Trentino, 25 kilometers south of Trento, east of the northern tip of Lake Garda. Located on the left (east) bank of the Adige, near the confluence with the Leno river, its strategic location is of high importance since it commands access to the valley of this river, which then descends south towards Rivoli Veronese and Verona.
- Valley of the Arsa [Vallarsa] : the heights
The heights of the Arsa - Calliano
Calliano , 8 kilometers northeast of Rovereto - Marco
Marco , south of Rovereto, on the left bank of the Adige - Mori, a village south-southeast of Rovereto, on the right bank of the Adige: the main street
The main street of Mori and Cameras Creek [now channeled]Cameras creek in Mori - Rovereto: the river Leno and the Castel Veneto
Rovereto - Serravalle
Serravalle , south of Marco
SALAMANCA (22 July 1812)
Many thanks to Mrs. Florence Thévenot († 2021) for the photos she provided us to put on the website.
The Battle of Salamanca is called Battle of the Arapiles by the French. The fighting took place a few kilometers southeast of the city (capital of the province of the same name, located today in the southwest of the region of Castile and León).
The battlefield is an arid plain, to the east of the village of Arapiles, overlooked by several hills, in particular the Arapil Chico to the north, the Arapil Grande to the south, the peak of Miranda and the Teso de Aldeatejada to the west, and a little hermitage called Nuestra Señora de la Peña to the east, near the village of Calvarrasa de Arriba. The retreat of the French will be towards Alba de Tormes, to the south-east, then Garcihernandez.
- The two Arapiles
The Petit Arapile ale Grand Arapile , seen from the road [40.89336, -5.62536] separating them - The Arapil Chico
The Arapil Chico, view 1 The Arapil Chico, view 2 The Arapil Chico, view 3 The Arapil Chico, view 4 - The Arapil Grande
The Arapil Grande, view 1 The Arapil Grande, view 2 The Arapil Grande, view 3 and the commemorative monument upon itMonument upon The Arapil Grande - The village called Arapiles
Arapiles Arapiles A street at Arapiles , its churchThe church of Arapiles , the commemorative plaqueCommemorative plaque at Arapiles and the battlefield aroundBattlefield around Arapiles - Calvarrasa de Arriba: the church
Calvarrasa de Arriba and the battlefieldThe battlefield near Calvarrasa de Arriba Battlefield near Calvarrasa de Arriba southwest from the village - Miranda de Azán: the village
Miranda de Azán , the Miranda PeakThe Miranda Peak, view 1 The Miranda Peak, view 2 nearby, the commemorative plaqueCommemorative plaque in front of the Miranda Peak and the battlefield aroundBattlefield around Miranda de Azán, view 1 Battlefield around Miranda de Azán, view 2 Battlefield around Miranda de Azán, view 3 - Nuestra Señora de la Peña: the chapel
Nuestra Señora de la Peña, view 1 Nuestra Señora de la Peña, view 2 Nuestra Señora de la Peña, view 3 Nuestra Señora de la Peña, view 4 located on a rocky outcropNuestra Señora de la Peña where was the artillery under the command of General Foy, the commemorative plaqueCommemorative plaque at Nuestra Señora de la Peña and the panoramaPanorama from Nuestra Señora de la Peña, view 1 Panorama from Nuestra Señora de la Peña, view 2 from this strategic point - The Teso de Aldeatejada
Teso de Aldeatejada, view 1 Teso de Aldeatejada, view 2 - The Teso de San Miguel
Teso de San Miguel , observation post of General Wellesley (then Earl of Wellington) - The Testón de la Cabaña 
Testón de la Cabaña, view 1 Testón de la Cabaña, view 2 - Las Torres: the church
Las Torres and the commemorative plaqueCommemorative plaque at Las Torres - Alba de Tormes: general view of the city
Alba de Tormes , the bridgeThebridge of Alba de Tormes , the river TormesThe river Tormes at Alba de Tormes , the fort overlooking the cityThe fort of Alba de Tormes The fort at Alba de Tormes - Garcia-Hernandez [Garcihernández]
The church of Garcihernandez Garcihernandez: the church , further east.
After the battle:
SOMOSIERRA (30 November 1808)
The Somosierra pass, culminating at 1438 meters, is one of the rare passages allowing you to reach Madrid from the north (Burgos), through the Sierra de Guadarrama. The road which leads there, oriented north-south, was at the time moderately winding [much less today, having benefited from widenings and rectifications in the 20th century, due to its status as a national road].
The battlefield consists of the road itself and its sides, all on average about thirty meters wide, over its last two kilometers. On the right (west), slightly below, a stream named El Duratón; on the left (east), the slopes of Peña Cebollera. The road is currently unused (except for access to plots of land), since a highway overlooks it to the west (participating, with many high-voltage line pylons and a railway line, in the visual distortion of the site)...
- The Sierra de Ayllón
Sierra de Ayllón, view 1 Sierra de Ayllón, view 2 , east of the pass - The Duratón
Rio Duratón, view 1 Rio Duratón, view 2 Rio Duratón, view 3 , which flows along the road leading to the pass - Somosierra: the road leading to the pass, seen from the French positions as the Polish cavalry advances towards the pass
The road leading to the pass, view 1 The road leading to the pass, view 2 The road leading to the pass, view 3 The road leading to the pass, view 4 , and from the Spanish positions at the top of the passThe road leading to the pass, view 5 - Somosierra: the chapel Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
Chapel Nuestra Señora de la Soledad built at the top of the pass in the first half of the 17th century, its commemorative plaques recalling the bravery of General Benito de San JuanPlaques at the chapel Nuestra Señora de la Soledad and that of the Polish horsemenChapel Nuestra Señora de la Soledad , and its stained glass windowStained glass window in the chapel Nuestra Señora de la Soledad offered by the Polish authorities - Somosierra: the parish church Nuestra Señora de las Nieves
The church of Somosierra [consecrated in 1703, it suffered heavy damage during the battle], and the pass [41.13496, -3.58095] seen from the southThe pass of Somosierra .
ULM (17 October 1805)
It was more of a siege of the city than a proper battle, although heavy fighting took place. The strategic points were located to the north of the city (Michelsberg and Frauensberg hills)
- Pfaffenhofen: the Aussere inn
Aussere Inn where Napoléon stayed - Ulm: general view of the old town
Ulm Ulm and the Cathedral (Münster) [48.39851, 9.99149]Ulmer Münster - Ulm: the Michaelsberg
The Michaelsberg at Ulm and the FrauenbergThe Frauenberg at Ulm The Frauenberg at Ulm , overlooking the city at the north side
VALVASONE (Tagliamento crossing) (16 March 1797)
The battlefield includes the two banks of the Tagliamento, a wide but shallow river at this location, as well as the plain on the left bank, to the east of the river, with its villages which were taken one by one by the French.
- Biauzzo (left bank of the Tagliamento): aerial view
Aerial view of Biauzzo - Camino (left bank): aerial view of the village
Aerial view of Camino and the surrounding battlefieldAerial view of the surroundings of Camino - Gorizzo (left bank): aerial view
Aerial view of Gorizzo - Gradisca (left bank): aerial view
Aerial view of Gradisca - Pozzo (left bank): the main street and the church
Pozzo - Rivis (left bank): aerial view
Aerial view of Rivis - The Tagliamento River: the right bank (west)
The right bank of the Tagliamento, view 1 The right bank of the Tagliamento, view 2 The right bank of the Tagliamento, view 3 where the French arrived, the place [around 45.98692, 12.91019] where they fordedThe Tagliamento , and the left bank (east)The left bank of the Tagliamento, view 1 The left bank of the Tagliamento, view 2 The left bank of the Tagliamento, view 3 The left bank of the Tagliamento, view 4 The left bank of the Tagliamento, view 5 where they overthrew the Austrians - Turrida (left bank): aerial view
Aerial view of Turrida - Valvasone: the "palace" of Count Eugenio
Palace of Count Eugenio in Valvasone [45.99613, 12.86428], General Bonaparte's headquarters, the castleThe castle of Valvasone just opposite, and its little theaterThe little theater in the castle of Valvasone where Napoleon attended a performance.
After the battle :
VAUCHAMPS (14 February 1814)
The village of Vauchamps is located east of Montmirail, on the road which leads to Champaubert, Etoges and Châlons-en-Champagne.
The fighting took place in the streets of Vauchamps itself, then in the woods of Echelle and Hautefeuille, to the north of the latter, finally in Serrechamps, Janvilliers and Fromentières, to the east-northeast.
The later pursuit of the Prussians by the French took place as far as Champaubert and Etoges, even further to the east.
- The forest of Beaumont
Forest of Beaumont , southwest of Vauchamps - L'Échelle woods
L'Échelle woods - Fromentières
Fromentières , through which the Prussiens retreated towards Champaubert - Janvilliers
Janvilliers , where several Prussian squares were taken while retreating - Serrechamp [Sarrechamps]
Sarrechamps - Vauchamps: the village
Vauchamps and the memorial column [48.88122, 3.61538]Memorial column at Vauchamps - Vauchamps: the battlefield
Surroundings of Vauchamps
VIMEIRO (20 August 1808)
Many thanks to Mrs. Florence Thévenot († 2021) for the photos she provided us to put on the website.
Vimeiro [sometimes shown as "Vimiera" or "Vimeira" in British period texts} is a small town in central Portugal, about a hundred kilometers north of Lisbon [Lisboa].
The battlefield is hilly and moderately wooded.
- Vimeiro: the parish São Miguel church
The parish São Miguel church in Vimeiro - Vimeiro: the commemorative monument
The commemorative monument in Vimeiro, view 1 The commemorative monument in Vimeiro, view 2 The commemorative monument in Vimeiro, view 3 [39.17623, -9.31594] erected on the eastern slope of the town for the centenary of the battle, and the textMonument commémoratif à Vimeiro, texte in memory of the liberators - Vimeiro: a series of six magnificent azulejo paintings on the square, respectively illustrating the landing of the Anstruther brigade on August 18, 1808
First azulejo painting in Vimeiro , that of the Ackland brigade on the 20thSecond azulejo painting in Vimeiro , the first two French attacksThird azulejo painting in Vimeiro , the defense of the church during the third attackFourth azulejo painting in Vimeiro , the fourth and fifth French attacksFifth azulejo painting in Vimeiro and General Wellesley's HQSixth azulejo painting in Vimeiro - Vimeiro: a map of the battle in azulejos
Azulejo map of the battle of Vimeiro near the monument - Vimeiro: the statue of an English soldier
Statue of an English soldier in Vimeiro - The battlefield
Vimeiro: the battlefield, view 1 Vimeiro: the battlefield, view 2 seen from the town.
VITORIA (21 June 1813)
The city of Vitoria [Gasteiz], in the Spanish Basque Country, is located at the crossroads of several strategic routes in this mountainous country: to the southwest towards Burgos and Madrid, to the northwest towards Bilbao, to the northeast towards San Sebastian [Donostia] and to the east towards Pamplona, the latter two leading to France.
The battlefield is a basin surrounded by mountains, twenty kilometers by ten. The fighting began to the southwest and west of the city, on both sides of the Zadorra River, a tributary of the Ebro. As the French withdrew, they continued north of the city and into it. Later, the stampede of French troops took place in disorder towards Pamplona, to the east.
- Abechuco [Abetxuko]
Abechuco , conquered in the early afternoon by General Graham - Aranguis
Aranguis , on the road to Bilbao, which was held by General Reille - Arbulo
Arbulo , on the road to Pamplona, which saw the French disordered retreat - Ariñiz
Ariñiz , 8 kilometers west of Vitoria, and the surrounding hillsAriñiz hills - Armentia
Armentia , where were stationed two French divisions - Arriaga: the church
Arriaga - Betono
Betono , where the French Army of Portugal stopped the enemy's left wing for a while - Durana: the village
Durana - Gamarra Mayor
Gamarra Mayor , conquered towards 1 PM by General Graham - Gamarra Menor: the hamlet
Gamarra Menor and its churchChurch of Gamarra Menor - Gomercha [Gometxa]
Gomercha and its surroundingsSurroundings of Gomercha , left wing of General Drouet d'Erlon's corps - Jundiz
Jundiz - Margarita
Margarita , right wing of General Drouet's corps - The surroundings of Mendiguren
Surroundings of Mendiguren Surroundings of Mendiguren - Puebla
Puebla Arganzon , outpost of the French army - Subijana de Alava
Subijana de Alava , conquered by General Hill towards 8 AM - Villodas: the village
Villodas and its bridgeBridge of Villodas , right end of the French positions - Vitoria-Gasteiz: Plaza de la Virgen Blanca
Plaza de la Virgen Blanca in Vitoria , and its memorial monumentMemorial monument in Vitoria [42.84653, -2.67331] celebrating the victory of General Wellington's troops - The river Zadorra
River Zadorra - Zuazo: the village
Zuazo
WAGRAM (5 and 6 July 1809)
The battlefield is located immediately north of that of Aspern-Essling, in the Marchfeld plain. It is limited to the west by the heights of Gerasdorf; to the north by a stream, the Russbach, whose bed forms a hollow one to two meters deep and whose north bank, after a narrow terrace, continues with an escarpment a few meters high: the Wagram plateau; to the east by the village of Glinzendorf.
- Aderklaa: the village
Aderklaa Aderklaa , where fierce street fights happened - Aderklaa: the battlefield around
Battlefield near Aderklaa Battlefield near Aderklaa Battlefield near Aderklaa - Aderklaa: chapel
Chapel at Aderklaa Chapel at Aderklaa, view 2 in memory of fallen soldiers, and columnMemorial column in Aderklaa which celebrates the Saxons under General Bernadotte - Baumersdorf [nowadays Parbarsdorf]
Parbasdorf , where General Oudinot failed on July 5 in front of General Hardegg's heroic resistance - Bockfliess: the village
Bockfliess - The river Danube [Die Donau]
The Danube, seen from the right bank The river Danube The river Danube at Nüssdorf - Gerasdorf: the village
Gerasdorf and the heightsHeights of Gerasdorf overlooking it, west end of the battlefield - Glinzendorf: the village
Glinzendorf , at the right wing of French positions, was held by Marshal Davout - Groshofen
Grosshofen , right wing of French positions on July 6 - Gross Engersdorf
Gross Engersdorf , north of Wagram, served as an ammunition park for the Austrians - Gross Enzersdorf
Gross Enzersdorf , left wing of French positions on July 6 - The Marchfeld plain
The Marchfeld plain The Marchfeld plain - Markgrafneusiedl: the tower
Markgrafneusiedl , overlooking the village - Pillichsdorf: the village
Pillichsdorf , north of Wagram, and the moundHeadquarters of Francis I. near Pillischdorf upon whom Emperor Francis I. attended the battle - Raschdorf [Raasdorf]: Napoleon's headquarters
Headquarters of Napoleon near Raasdorf during the battle - The Russbach creek
The Russbach creek The Russbach creek The Russbach creek - Süssenbrunn
Süssenbrunn , that General Oudinot attacked on July 6, at the head of a huge square of 8,000 men - Ulrichskirchen: the castle
Ulrichskirchen , which served as a campaign hospital - The plateau of Wagram
Plateau of Wagram , taken by Marshals Davout and Macdonald on July 6 - Wagram [Deutsch-Wagram]: the church
Wagram and the memorial monumentMemorial monument in Wagram - Wagram [Deutsch-Wagram]: the headquarters of Archduke Charles
Headquarters of Archduke Charles in Wagram - Wolkersdorf: the castle
Castle of Wolkersdorf where stayed Emperor Francis before the battle
WATERLOO (18 June 1815)
The battlefield of Waterloo (which is located mainly in the town of Braine l'Alleud) is, to our knowledge, the only one that is protected, with perhaps that of the Pyramids of Giza, but for them it is probably not for reasons of Napoleonic memory.
It has a roughly rectangular shape, on either side of the north-south Brussels-Charleroi road axis, with Mont-Saint-Jean to the north, Papelotte and Frichermont to the east, Belle-Alliance and Plancenoit to the south, the suburbs of Braine l'Alleud to the west. In the center: the Haie-Sainte farm, and a few hectometers to its southwest that of Hougoumont.
Contrary to Victor Hugo's famous verse in L'expiation, the terrain is not a "morne plaine" ("dreary plain"), but, as he describes it two verses later, a "cirque de bois, de coteaux, de vallons" ("cirque of woods, hillsides, valleys"). These undulations also had an importance in the course of the battle: camouflage of troops in hollows, difficulties in moving artillery on muddy and slippery terrain...
- The Belle Alliance farm
The Belle-Alliance farm , where Wellington and Blücher met after the battle - Braine l'Alleud: Saint-Etienne church
Braine l'Alleud , having served as a campaign hospital - The Lion's Mound [50.67846, 4.40484]
The Lion's Mound on the battlefield of Waterloo Lion's Mound at Waterloo , topped by a cast-iron lion looking towards FranceLion's Mound at Waterloo , erected by the Dutch ten years after the battle - The battlefield seen from the summit of the Lion's Mound
Battlefield seen from the summit of the Lion's Mound Battlefield seen from the summit of the Lion's Mound Battlefield seen from the summit of the Lion's Mound Battlefield seen from the summit of the Lion's Mound - The Chantelet farm
The Chantelet farm The Chantelet farm , Marshal Ney's HQ during the night from 17 to 18 - The De Coster house
The De Coster house . De Coster was Napoleon's local guide, and his house hosted the Emperor during Marshal Ney's cavalry charges - Genappe: the street
Genappe through which the French retreated in disorder, and the little bridgeBridge over the river Dyle at Genappe over the river DyleThe river Dyle at Genappe , where Napoleon had to leave his berline - Genappe: the church
Genappe and the grave of General DuhesmeGrave of General Duhesme - La Haye-Sainte farm [50.67804, 4.41196], seen from the road to Charleroi
La Haye Sainte farm and from the summit of the Lion's MoundLa Haye Sainte farm , and the field in front of itField near La Haie-Sainte farm - Hougoumont farm [50.67067, 4.394478]: south side
Hougoumont farm , west sideHougoumont farm and inner courtyardHougoumont farm Hougoumont farm Hougoumont farm Hougoumont farm Hougoumont farm - Hougoumont farm: the English memorial monument
English memorial monument at Hougoumont farm - Mont-Saint-Jean farm
Mont-Saint-Jean farm - Memorial monuments: "The wounded Eagle"
Monument known as The wounded Eagle Monument known as The wounded Eagle in memory of the "Last Square" of the Imperial troops, the Monument to the BelgiansMonument to the Belgians Monument to the Belgians , the Monument to the HanovriansMonument to the Hanovrians , and the Victor Hugo columnVictor Hugo column - Papelotte farm
Papelotte farm Papelotte farm , east of the battlefield - Plancenoit: the village
Plancenoit and the battlefieldField north of Plancenoit north of it - Plancenoit: crest
Location of the French great battery upon which Napoléon set up a great artillery battery - Location of former Rossomme farm
Location of former Rossomme farm [which no longer exists] and a moundMound near the farm of Rossomme nearby, which served as an observation point to Napoleon on June 18 in the morning - The Soignes forest, northeast of Waterloo
Soignes forest - Vieux-Genappe: the Caillou farm
The Caillou farm , Napoléon's headquarters the day before the battle, and bronze statue of the EmperorStatue of Napoléon at the Caillou farm erected in 2002 in the adjacent garden - Walhain: Marette farm
Marette farm in Walhain Marette farm in Walhain Marette farm in Walhain where Marshal Grouchy, guest of the notary Höllert, heard the canonnade of the battle while savoring succulent Brabant strawberriesBrabant strawberries - Waterloo: Wellington's headquarters
Headquarters of Wellington in Waterloo ; that city gave its name to the battle, although none fight occured there!
WAVRE (18 and 19 June 1815)
Many thanks to Mr. Dominique Timmermans, who made us discover this battlefield in 2015.
Wavre is a small town in Walloon Brabant, on the river Dyle, 27 kilometers southeast of Brussels, and above all, historically speaking, 17 kilometers east of the Waterloo battlefield.
The bulk of the fighting took place in the town and on both banks of the Dyle, heading southwest to Bierges and Limal.
- Bawette castle
Bawette castle , north-northwest of Wavre, where stayed the Third Prussian Corps under Johann Adolf von Thielmann before the battle, and where Marshal Grouchy settled himself, the time to learn the news of the defeat of Waterloo and to decide to retreat - Bierges: the mill
The mill of Bierges, view 1 The mill of Bierges, view 2 and the monument to General GérardMonument to General Gérard near Bierges , who was wounded near that place - La Bourse farm
La Bourse farm near Bierges La Bourse farm near Bierges La Bourse farm near Bierges , southwest of Bierges - The river Dyle
The Dyle at Bierges in Bierges - Wavre: the Rue du Commerce, leading to Saint-Jean-Baptiste church
Wavre , which still bears today stigmates of the fights, and the City Hall (Couvent des Carmes Chaussés until 1797)City Hall of Wavre - Wavre: the Christ bridge
The Christ bridge in Wavre [50.71476, 4.61057], having been subject to no less than thirteen assaults, the Christ whose side was perforated... by a projectileChrist of the bridge of Wavre and the memorial tabletTablet on the Christ bridge in Wavre on the bridge
ZNAIM (10 and 11 July 1809)
Znaim [today Znojmo] is a Moravian town 75 kilometers north-northwest of Vienna [Wien], on the Thaya River. The fighting took place to the north, east and south of the town.
- Dobschitz
Dobschitz - Oblekovice
Oblekovice - The river Thaya
The Thaya - Znaim [Znojmo]: downtown
Znaim and the bridge over the river ThayaThe bridge over the river Thaya in Znojmo - Znaim [Znojmo]: the Louka convent
Louka convent in Znojmo - The plateau of Zuckerhandl [Suchohrdly]
Plateau of Zuckerhandl - Zuckerhandl [Suchohrdly]: the cemetery
Cemetery of Zuckerhandl