Battle of Salamanca

22nd July 1812.

 

After weeks of marching and counter marching, Wellington has finally lured Marshal Marmont into battle on his own terms and waits for his enemy to make a mistake.

 

This is the view of The Arapiles that Marmont saw from his position East of Salamanca

 

On the edge of the ridge is the ruined chapel from where Marmont examined the British positions. It was from here that he thought he saw a dust trail which convinced him the British were withdrawing. He was wrong, all Wellington was doing was sending his baggage train away.

 

The chapel has now been fully restored.

 And has a battlefield board in front of it

 

These are the views directly from the chapel

 

It was over there that Thomiere's division got separated and got taken by surprise by Packenham's troops - the turning point of the battle.

 

Below is a stream which runs to meet the River Tormes near Salamanca town. Marmont' s troops crossed here to approach the British positions

 

Salamanca can be seen clearly in the distance

 

This is the Lesser Arapile which British troops occupied

 

 

The French took the Greater Arapile unopposed

 

The village of Los Arapiles is seen in the background

 

Another battlefield board at the base of the Lesser Arapile

 

The memorial atop the Greater Arapile (we couldn't get our coach up there !)

 

Board at the entrance to the village

 

And yet a further reminder

 

Here in the plain much of the fighting took place

 

The village has a nice little museum which was shut when we arrived but the villagers sent off to bring the key holder.

 

The locals kept us entertained whilst we waited !

 

The museum has a very good diorama inside with descriptive boards around

 

 

Well worth a visit if you get your timing right !

 

I am so glad I have visited the site of another one of Wellington's great victories.