Also known in German as Völkerschlachtdenkmal, the Monument to the Battle of the Nations commemorates the 1813 epic battle where Napolean was defeated by the combined armies of Russia, Prussia, Austria and Sweden at this site southwest of the Leipzig city center. France’s defeat resulted in Napolean losing his rule of France as he was exiled to Elba, Italy in May 1814.
Background
At the time of the battle in 1813, Germany consisted of almost two dozen kingdoms, grand duchies, principalities, and duchies. In fact, Germans fought on both sides of the battles.
When actual planning for the monument began in 1894, after decades of discussions, the German Empire ruled much of central Europe, six years after Kaiser Wilhelm II ascended to the throne.
Construction was completed in 1913, a year before Franz Ferdinand‘s assassination that ultimately led to the start of World War I and the demise of the German Empire.
Though Prussia remained the largest and most influential state throughout, the almost continual changes in what constitutes a German nation means there are many different perspectives of the original battle and the monument. Views tended to be more nationalistic and militaristic during the years of the Weimar Republic and Third Reich. The site has primarily been a tourist site since German reunification, no longer representing political or historic views.
Visiting
Most people approach the monument on foot through the gardens and reflecting pool to the northwest. Even from a distance you quickly realize the gargantuan proportions of the monument: 230 ft/70m wide, 260ft/80m long, and – most impressively – 299ft/91m high. The monument’s facade has carved designs in it.
Purchase your ticket from the ticket office to the left and enter the monument through the center door, immediately below a large statue of a German warrior. Alternatively, exterior stairs on either side lead to a viewing platform and, with a ticket, allows entrance to the monument.
Interior
A lift takes you from the central door to the same level reached from the exterior stairs. According to Wikipedia, the monument is one of the best examples of Wilhelmine architecture which I’ll interpret as large, in-your-face, bombastic statues intended to make you, the visitor, feel small and unworthy. Perhaps if would be more meaningful if I understood the historical references, but otherwise it’s just a bunch of big-ass statues that were meh.
Conversely, the dome with its horse motif was much more subtle than most of the rest of the monument.
Viewing Platform
The views from the top of the monument are splendid, especially when on uncloudy days with blues skies. Be prepared to walk a lot of stairs, including the narrow, one-way steps that lead to the top. It’s over 500 steps from the bottom, though you can reduce the number by taking the elevator to the upper level.
[The one-way staircase is indeed that, the last section that gets you to the viewing platform has automated stop lights that indicate when you can ascend/descend, IKYN.]
The area of the viewing platform is actually not that large, so you might find yourself jostling with others as you attempt to take in the views.
Logistics
Address: Straße des 18. Oktober 100, 04299 Leipzig
Hours: opens daily 10am, closes 6pm (April to October) or 4pm (November to March), closed Christmas Eve and New Years Eve
Ticket Prices: Adults 10€, Reduced 8€, under 6 free
Getting There: From Leipzig Hauptbahnhof, public transport gets you within a reasonable walk. We took the S1/S2/S3 Strassenbahn to the the Leipzig-Stötteritz stop; it’s approximately a 1km walk from there. I did see public parking if you are driving.
Accessibility: There are elevators inside the monument to transport you to the inside levels; however, walking very steep steps are required to get to the viewing platform. It will be much easier to walk the stairs, assuming you are capable.
Address: Straße des 18. Oktober 100, 04299 Leipzig
Hours: opens daily 10am, closes 6pm (April to October) or 4pm (November to March), closed Christmas Eve and New Years Eve
Ticket Prices: Adults 10€, Reduced 8€, under 6 free
Getting There: From Leipzig Hauptbahnhof, public transport gets you within a reasonable walk. We took the S1/S2/S3 Strassenbahn to the the Leipzig-Stötteritz stop; it’s approximately a 1km walk from there. I did see public parking if you are driving.
Accessibility: There are elevators inside the monument to transport you to the inside levels; however, walking very steep steps are required to get to the viewing platform. It will be much easier to walk the stairs, assuming you are capable.
And While You’re There….
Immediately adjacent to the Monument is Südfriedhof, the largest burial site in Leipzig. As you leave the Monument, take a left and then another left and you’re presented with a large parkland, and farther ahead you can see buildings which, I believe, is the crematorium. We didn’t have time to do more than just briefly walk in, tootle about, and leave. Definitely something to do the next time we’re in Leipzig.
