At the Battle of Leipzig, which took place in 1813, Napoleon suffered what was perhaps his greatest defeat. A hundred years later, a magnificent monument was erected in the south-eastern suburbs of Leipzig to commemorate this pivotal – and, above all, bloody – battle. If you visit it, it is sure to leave a lasting impression on you. Its exterior is reflected in a pond in the middle of the park, whilst the interior is adorned with enormous statues of mythical heroes.

Wartburg Castle towers above the Thuringian town of Eisenach. It has been preserved in its late medieval form, perhaps partly because it is one of the landmarks of German history. Martin Luther even translated the New Testament into German here. This translation became the basis of standard German. To this day, his room, complete with period furniture and fittings, is on display at the castle.