The trip to Dresden & Leipzig was rather unexpected.  The decision to go and the invite to tag along with a very good study abroad comrade, Evan, came over beers and notoriously strong Long Island Ice Teas at our regular watering hole in Tuebingen, kukkuk.  But as with all things travel, often the unexpected etch the most vivid memories into your mind.
 The drive from southern Germany across the old east west divide was pleasant, despite the harrowing and nerve racking sudden abrupt ending of an autobahn lane which forced us to come to a complete stop in the middle of 90 mph traffic.  Word to the wise, know your German road-work signs before you put the pedal to the metal.  Our arrival in Leipzig, being late at night, was greeted the next morning with a wonderful tour of the city by a German exchange student Evan had known from the States. 
 During the tour our quite informative host recommended that we drive on out to what is called the Völkerschlachtdenkmal.  My interest was piqued.  My inept German language skills were struggling to dissect what each word conjoined in this typically German construct might mean on its own as well as together.  Völker of course could only be related to Völk or “the people”.  Schlacht made no sense to me at all and denkmal…well I was pretty sure that had something to do with “thinking”or “memory”.  So, humbly I resigned to keep it to myself that I would soon be on my way to a “people’s schlacht thought.”
 Despite expecting a “people’s schlacht thought” I soon found myself standing in awe before one of the most impressive structures I’ve ever seen.  As if lifted right out of a lord of the rings novel the massive concrete and granite structure before me rose high above the pool which lay in front.  Gargantuan, square jawed sculptures remind one of a foreboding entrance way into a dwarven mine and its stark contrast to the blue sky behind it increases its ominous effect.
 As it turns out Völkerschlachtdenkmal translates as The Monument to the Battle of Nations.  Standing as a testament to the 1813 Battle of Leipzig where Napoleon, using German troops from both side of the Rhine, suffered one of his greatest defeats the monument is said to be the overall largest in Europe.  Estimates have the number of casualties during the battle ranging from anywhere from 80,000 to 110,000 and with over 600,000 participants the battle was quite possibly the largest ever in Europe before WWI.
 Today the structure stands almost 300 feet tall, includes 18 foot tall carvings by Christian Behrens and has over 500 steps to the viewing platform at the top.  It’s at this top most point that my most vivid memories come from.  For, although the structure itself, inside and out is a marvel to behold I had reached this viewing platform just as the sun began to set over Leipzig. 
 The sky with its distinctively German bright orange color was spotted with clouds that began to change from their reflective white to a shadowy grey.  A wind blew across the massive stone structure picking up brisk speed and temperature.  My eyes gazed out towards the sometimes bland sometimes beautiful city of Leipzig. Then that feeling of being somewhere important and unique which washes over travelers to Europe washed over me like history had washed over the land, leaving behind marks and moments of significance.

For Leipzig Hotels near the Volkerschlachtdenkmal check out booked.net

Looking to get there?
 From the city center of Leipzig just follow Prager Strasse south. You can’t miss it on your right.

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