The largest monument in Europe

The Battle of the Nations Monument or the Völkerschlachtdenkmal is known as the largest monumnent in Europe. We of course didn't believe it until we got there and indeed, it is huge!

In October 1813, the Battle of Leipzig, or the Battle of the Nations took place between Napoleon and his allies against Russian, Prussian, Austrian, and Swedish fighters. In the end, Napoleon was forced to surrender and retreat. The monument was finally broken in 1898 on the very spot the French leader had surrendered. After 15 years of construction, was finished in 1913. During the Third Reich, Hitler used it for meetings and then under the DDR, it was seen as a representation of Russia and German cooperation since they fought together during the Battle of the Nations.

The monument is various levels that you walk up the over 500 steps to the various levels (there is an elevator to some of the levels).

The pictures don't really do the scale of this statutes justice, you can see it better in this photo - check out the size of the people sitting on the bench.

The reward you get when you get to the top is some spectacular views of the surrounding city.

And yes we did all of these things in one day!

An afternoon of Bach and Mendelssohn

While we didn't go to the Bach museum but we did go to St. Thomas Church where Johann Sebastian Bach served as musical director of the Thomanerchor, now an internationally known boys' choir founded in Leipzig in 1212. The church includes a mini display of some of his pieces and musical instruments.

Next stop was Mendelssohn-Haus. This is the house where 19th-century composer Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy lived and died. While it is small, it is well done as it includes an interactive exhibit as well as a music listening room.

Mendehlssohn traveled quite a bit and this was his traveling case

Now that we were well versed in composers, it was time for our last stop . . .

A train ride to Leipzig

Another visitor, another reason to find somewhere new to go! This time it was another eastern German city – Leipzig. It’s probably most associated with Bach and Mendelssohn and that the fact that the largest monument in Europe is found there!

We were only there for the day but we managed to pack in quite a lot! The first place we stopped was Nikolaikirche or St. Nicholas Church built in the 12th Century. It was early so we weren't really paying attention and ended up walking into a mass. We felt bad so sat through about 30 minutes of it in German no less.

We then made our way to the Zeitgeschichtliches Forum Leipzig museum. The reviews said it was mostly in German but since it was free, we figured we might as well give it a try. While there was a lot that was only in German, it was still super interesting and worth the visit. It gives insight into the history of opposition and civil disobedience in the repressive state of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany. It also focuses on the history of everyday life in the Soviet Occupation Zone and the DDR from the end of World War II until the Peaceful Revolution of 1989 and German reunification. 

Next was lunch in the main square known as the Marktplatz where the Altas Rathaus is (old townhall).

Statue of Goethe

I have noticed that "Passages" and "Hofs" are quite popular in Germany, passage ways and courtyards respectively. Leipzig had many of them and some of them were quite ornate and decorated. It makes getting lost kind of nice.

On our way to some music themed sites, we passed some beautiful buildings!

And I found out where my bank was spending all my money . . .

Hamburger Museum

Right next door to my office is the Hamburger Bahnhof Museum. 

For almost a year now I have been saying I really need to go to this place! And it finally happened. It’s a former 19^th train station which is where it takes its name from and some of the building feels exactly like a station:

It is modern and contemporary art with mostly rotating exhibitions. When I was there these were some of what was on display. . .

The collection of Erich Marx includes some Warhol

and Joseph Beuys, a German Fluxus, happening, and performance artist as well as a sculptor, installation artist, graphic artist, art theorist, and pedagogue.

There are also other installations by Rudolf Belling (1886–1972) was one of the most important German sculptors of classical modernism. Some of his statues can be found around the city as well.

and another German artist for the life of me I cannot remember - sorry folks (guess I shouldn't blog 6 months behind!)

If you are ever in Berlin, I recommend visiting this museum.