This magnificent monument, called in German “Völkerschlachtdenkmal,” was created to commemorate Emperor Napoleon I’s defeat to the coalition of Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Sweden that ended any French occupation presence in the east of Europe. The battle, also known as the Battle of Leipzig, happened on site in 1813.
Völkerschlachtdenkmal, which was completed in 1913, is an imposing structure with a stone temple at its heart, featuring colossal stone statues of warrior characters looking god-like and triumphant.
At the entrance, on the outside, stands the archangel Michael on the ground floor, and on the top floor, the exterior is surrounded with large stone guards. Inside, massive stone statues of eight medieval knights and four “guards of the dead” are spread through the two floors, some imposingly huge, some as tall as 9 meters.
The Monument to the Battle of the Nations is located just outside Leipzig City center, and you’ll need to take a tram Northbound from the center to get to the monument. This means you could make your visit a half-day trip, and after visiting the temple, enjoy a meal outside of town at Schnittstelle 1845, a local, home-style restaurant serving authentic and seasonal cuisine.