Lutzen Battlefield

At Lutzen Battlefield on 2 May 1813, Napoleon’s forces defeated the combined forces of the Prussian and Russian armies. This victory at the Battle of Lutzen was all the more remarkable given the depleted nature of Napoleon’s army following their incursion into Russia.

History of Lutzen Battlefield

During the Battle of Lutzen, Napoleon I of France halted the advances of the Sixth Coalition after the French Invasion of Russia and the massive French losses in the campaign. A hard-won battle involving over 200,000 men, Lutzen was a French victory over a Russo-Prussian army.

Napoleon lost 19,655 men killed or wounded, while the Prussians lost at least 8,500 men killed or wounded and the Russians lost 3,500 men killed, wounded, or missing, although casualties may have been much higher.

Lutzen Battlefield today

Today, the battlefield looks much as it did in 1813, though a mining operation has marred its southernmost side.

Lutzen Battlefield was also the site of an important battle in 1632 between Sweden and the Holy Roman Empire as part of the Thirty Years’ War. Sweden was victorious, but this was somewhat bittersweet as it was in this battle that the founder of the Swedish Empire, Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, was killed. There is a memorial to this battle just outside Lutzen.

Getting to Lutzen Battlefield

The battlefield is 22km (14 miles) south-west of Leipzig, and is a 25 minute drive. It is 61km (38 miles) north-east of Jena, and a 55 minute drive. It is 37km (23 miles) west of Auerstadt, and a 34 minute drive.