Pyramide van Austerlitz, Military monument pyramid in Woudenberg, Netherlands.
The Pyramide van Austerlitz is a pyramid-shaped earth monument in Woudenberg that rises roughly 36 meters above the surrounding landscape. A stone obelisk has crowned the top since 1894, marking the highest point of this artificial mound built from earth and turf.
General Auguste de Marmont ordered French soldiers to build the pyramid during the summer of 1804 as a way to keep troops occupied during a period of rest. The work lasted 27 days and aimed to maintain military discipline.
The name recalls Napoleon's victory at the Battle of Austerlitz in December 1805, even though the structure was built several months earlier. Visitors today can climb to the top and look out over the forested landscape of the Utrecht Hill Ridge.
The monument opens on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 12:00 to 16:00, and on Sundays from 11:00 to 17:00. A visitor center provides information about the French occupation period and the construction process.
The design follows Egyptian models but uses only local materials such as earth and grass turf. This approach made the project an experiment in military earthwork architecture during the Napoleonic era.
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