Monument to the Battle of the Nations

Leipzig, Germany

The Monument to the Battle of the Nations (Völkerschlachtdenkmal) is dedicated to the 1813 Battle of Leipzig, also known as the Battle of the Nations. Paid for mostly by donations and the city of Leipzig, it was completed in 1913 for the 100th anniversary of the battle at a cost of six million goldmarks.

The monument commemorates Napoleon's defeat at Leipzig, a crucial step towards the end of hostilities in the War of the Sixth Coalition. The coalition armies of Russia, Prussia, Austria and Sweden were led by Tsar Alexander I of Russia and Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg. There were German speakers fighting on both sides, as Napoleon's troops also included conscripted Germans from the left bank of the Rhine annexed by France, as well as troops from his German allies of the Confederation of the Rhine.

The structure is 91 metres tall. It contains over 500 steps to a viewing platform at the top, from which there are views across the city and environs. The structure makes extensive use of concrete, and the facings are of granite. It is widely regarded as one of the best examples of Wilhelmine architecture. The monument is said to stand on the spot of some of the bloodiest fighting, from where Napoleon ordered the retreat of his army.

References:

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 1913
Category: Statues in Germany
Historical period: German Empire (Germany)

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

S (2 years ago)
Beautiful, but must take ~320 steps to reach to the top of the building, the path and steps can be narrow. But you can get a good town view from the top. Must visit landmark while you in Leipzig:) We went on a weekend just right after opening at 10am- less crowded & peacefully explored, around 11-12pm we saw big crowd coming.
Narasimha K (2 years ago)
If you're a person who is in to monuments, history and culture, this is definitely one of those places you should visit. The monument has several levels, most of them are accessible through a lift. Senior citizens and people who have trouble climbing stairs can avoid taking the stairs. The last level is accessible only via a narrow staircase. €10 every fees. Clean toilets available.
Bethany (2 years ago)
Very large monument (Europe's tallest) to commemorate Germany's win over Napoleon in Leipzig at the Battle of the Nations. Impressively large with a reflection pool that was worth the quick stop. Paid admission is also available, but we just walked around outside. Since I can't speak to the inside (so we didn't have the full experience), I gave 4 stars instead of 5.
Stillapatmike (2 years ago)
I must say the monument was very impressive. Entrance was 10 euros with an extra 2 euros for the audio guide. I would recommend that you take the audio guide as it gives you so much more information. The audio guide is available in English. There are 350 plus steps to get to the top but the views of Leipzig are spectacular. The museum covers the battle itself. This is where the audio guide really does come into it's own. It gives a view from the people that lived in Leipzig at the time of the battle and explains some of the exhibits and the reason for the battle. We spent approximately 3 hours here and another 40 minutes at cafe at the other end of the monument
Gaurav Jha (2 years ago)
The architect and the surrounding was indeed beautiful and surreal. It has a wonderful battle history and the whole structure is amazingly huge and we can also go at the top and have a stunning view of the city. If you are in Leipzig, it’s a must visit place. ???
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Château de Foix

The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.

In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians.