Monument to the Battle of the Nations, Leipzig

Tweet

While we were in Leipzig, our friend took us to see the Monument to the Battle of the Nations, also known as the Battle of Leipzig which took place in 1813. On the way we saw this beautiful cone filled with flowers. We also noticed several clocks, several of which had IIII as the Roman numeral for 4, when it is usually depicted as IV. The monument was completed in 1913 and commemorates Napoleon's defeat at Leipzig. It is a very imposing structure some 299 feet tall, built mostly of concrete with granite facings. It is believed to stand where some of the bloodiest fighting took place. The battle took place between the coalition armies of Russia, Austria, Prussia and Sweden against Napoleon's French army aided by troops from Poland and Italy. There were also some troops from the Confederation of the Rhine. Today it is regarded as more of a symbol of German unity. It is one of the tallest monuments in Europe and consists of two storeys. Two avenues and a reflection pool lead up to the monument. From the very top, there is a magnificent view over Leipzig. The many trees and parks add to the attractiveness of the city.