Leipzig - DAAD German language course, i.e. mein Deutschkurs in a mixed city

The Monument to the Battle of the Nations (German: Völkerschlachtdenkmal) is a monument in Leipzig, Germany to the 1813 Battle of Leipzig, also known as the Battle of the Nations. Paid for mostly by donations and by the city of Leipzig, it was completed in 1913 for the 100th anniversary of the battle, at a cost of 6,000,000 Goldmark (the currency used in the German Empire from 1873 to 1914).

Das Völkerschlachtdenkmal
Leipzig, Germany July 2011.

"The monument commemorates Napoleon's defeat at Leipzig, a crucial step towards the end of hostilities in the War of the Sixth Coalition, which was seen as a victory for the German people, although Germany as we know it did not exist at that time. There were German-speakers fighting on both sides, as Napoleon's troops also included conscripted Germans from the French-occupied left bank of the Rhine as well as from the Confederation of the Rhine."

"The structure is 91 metres tall. It contains over 500 steps to a viewing platform at the top, from which there are spectacular views across the city and environs. The structure makes extensive use of concrete, although the facings are of granite. The monument is widely regarded as one of the best examples of Wilhelmine architecture. It is said to stand on the spot of some of the bloodiest fighting, from where Napoleon ordered the retreat of his army." (source: wikipedia).

"Leipzig is a city in the federal state of Saxony, Germany. It is the largest by population in Saxony, with over 540,000 inhabitants. Leipzig is situated about 150 km south of Berlin at the confluence of the Weisse Elster, Pleiße, and Parthe rivers at the southerly end of the North German Plain.



Leipzig has been a trade city at least since the time of the Holy Roman Empire, sitting at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important Medieval trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing. After World War II, Leipzig became a major urban centre within the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) but its cultural and economic importance declined, despite East Germany being the richest economy in the Soviet Bloc.

Leipzig later played a significant role in instigating the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, through events which took place in and around St. Nicholas Church. Since the reunification of Germany, Leipzig has undergone significant change with the restoration of some historical buildings, the demolition of others, and the development of a modern transport infrastructure. Nowadays Leipzig is an important economic centre in Germany and has many institutions and opportunities for culture and recreation including a prominent opera house and one of the most modern zoos in Europe.

In 2010 Leipzig was ranked among the top 70 world's most livable cities by consulting firm Mercer in their quality of life survey. Also in 2010, Leipzig was included in the top 10 of cities to visit by the New York Times, and ranked 39th globally out of 289 cities for innovation in the 4th Innovation Cities Index published by Australian agency 2thinknow." (source: wikipedia)


Fountain at the square in the Old Town, somehow reminding me of the beautiful Apollo fountain at the Château de Versailles

Walking around the centre

"Leipzig has been home to some of Germany’s best-known artists for a long time; Goethe was a student in Leipzig, Bach worked here as a cantor, and today, the New Leipzig school brings fresh wind into the art world. Besides being a center for German art and culture, the city also became famous in Germany’s recent history, when Leipzig demonstrators initiated the peaceful revolution, which lead to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989." (source: gogermany)

Karneval organised at the Vietnam-Deutsches Zentrum (VDZ) in Hanoi - Was denkst du? Ich kostümiere mich wie eine Hexenmeisterin! ^_^

Visiting several lakes Leipzig and the power company Vatenfall with the DAAD language class

Graduation ceremony from the German language course - Ms. Zajonz is one of our nicest teachers

DAAD cultural night to say goodbye to our German language course

DAAD scholarship awarding ceremony, myself in a traditional Vietnamese dress at the VDZ in Hanoi and DAAD cultural night in Leizig

Before saying goodbye to the nice city-very-much-in-harmony Leipzig, I also took a chance to visit the Leipzig Zoo with Dustin:

The tropical weather in some parts of the Leipzig Zoo made Dustin feel uncomfortable. I wonder how he would be able to withstand the real summer weather in my hometown Hanoi ;-), or overall in my homeland Vietnam. Wish him much luck! :-D.




Enjoying a visit to the Leipzig Zoo

VDZ Hanoi and Leipzig, 01.- 09.2011