Leipzig
Leipzig [1] is the largest city in the German federal state of Saxony, with a population of more or less 500,000. It is the industrial centre of the region and a major cultural center, offering interesting sights, shopping possibilities and lively nightlife.
Culture and History
First documented in 1015, and endowed with city and market privileges in 1165, the city of Leipzig has fundamentally shaped the history of Saxony and of Germany. Leipzig has always been known as a place of commerce and still has a large trade fair ground.
Leipzig acquired the nickname Kleines Paris ("Little Paris") in the 18th century, when it became a center of a classical literary movement under the leadership of German scholar and writer Johann Christoph Gottsched.
The city is also the home of the Nicolaikirche (Church of St. Nicolai or Nicholas) - the starting point of peaceful demonstrations against the communist regime which led to German Unification. The collapse of communism hit Leipzigs economy very heavily, but now it's on the mend again.
Travel to Leipzig, visa requirements
Leipzig is a transportation hub in Saxony.
By car
Leipzig can easily be reached by car, as it is very well connected with the Autobahn highway system. The nearest Autobahn highways are A14 (North, Northeast), A9 (West) and A38 (South).
By train
Using high speed InterCityExpress (ICE) trains, Frankfurt can be reached in 3.5 hours, Munich less than 4.5 hours, Hamburg in 3 hours and Berlin a little over an hour. Also good connections to Prague, requiring a change in Dresden. The largest terminal railway station in Europe, Leipzig's Hauptbahnhof is also home to a fairly large shopping mall, a good way to while away an hour or two between connections.
Flights to Leipzig, airtickets
The airport of Leipzig-Halle [2] is the second biggest airport in Eastern Germany after Berlin (Schönefeld) and offers direct connections to Paris, London (Stansted) and tourist destinations around the Mediterranean and Black Sea. Domestic destinations include Frankfurt, Munich, Dresden, Nuremberg, Stuttgart, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Dortmund and Hamburg. The airport of Altenburg-Nobitz is 50 km south of Leipzig and offers direct connections to Girona-Barcelona and London (Stansted).
Get around
Leipzig attractions and sightseeing
- Old Town Hall
Leipzig's Old Town Hall was built in 1556 in the Renaissance style and remains one of Germany's largest. Located on the pretty main square of the city, it's a good orientation point
The Old City Hall was built 1556 by Hieronymus Lotter on basements of two Patrician houses. It is a beautiful Renaissance style building, 90 metres long with arcades (1906 - 09), six gables and a tower. In the 18th century the tower was enlarged and it received a Baroque spire. Till 1904 the Old City Hall was home of the city administration. Then it became home of the city museum
Most impressive is the huge Banquetting Hall with Renaissance interior (open fireplaces). I was surprised by the many fine works of medieval religious art: altars, paintings, wood-carved sculptures etc. Most of them were saved from churches which were deconstructed in Leipzig's surrounding. Very impressive are the rooms with interior from old Patrician houses. I also liked the treasure chamber (steep and narrow staircase!). Entrance fee is 2.50 Euro
This Renaissance building was erected in just nine month in 1556/57 under the direction of the architect Hieronymus Lotter. The municipal government moved into the New Town Hall in the year 1909. If you have a bit luck you are allowed to visit the cellar of the building. Here you find the chamber of torture and the jail.
Old City Hall: Leipzig's Renaissance City hall. Contains a museum of city history which possesses the original of the only confirmed painting of Bach produced in his lifetime. Also contains interesting information regarding the public executions that previously took place in the market in front of the city hall. The most famous execution was that of Woyzeck later made famous by the Büchner play and the opera of Alban Berg.
The interior of the Old City Hall (built in 1556) was far more interesting of the outside view for me, however charming the latter may be. Inside there's an interesting museum covering the history of Leipzig from the very beginnings (in 12th century) till our days. One of the most touristy places of the whole city.
- Auerbach's Keller[3]
This pub has been around since medieval times - opened in 1525 it is among the oldest continuously operated pubs in Germany. The barrel cellar has been the background to a scene in one of Germany's most famous plays, "Faust" by Goethe[4]. The master of German literature himself used to drink his wine here, and the rooms are frequently the set for a live, around-the-city re-enactment of the play. (on the expensive side)
- Christmas Market
Every year in mid December there is a Christmas Market in the Old Market Square in front of the Old Town Hall. Booths are set up selling gifts, food and gluewein (a spiced heated wine). There are also carolers and Christmas themed events.
- Leipzig Zoo
The Leipzig Zoo is one of the largest and best known in Germany. It has a very long tradition, is currently undergoing a major re-design. Already finished constructions include the new elephants' enclosure, with a swimming pool where you can watch the elephants bathing from under the water level, the monkey house and a open-plan, safari-style Africa landscape. [5]
- Botanical Garden in Leipzig
This botanical garden belongs to Leipzig University. It's the oldest one in Germany and one of the first in the world. [6]
- Museum of Fine Arts [7]
- Museum of Applied Arts and Museum of Ethnology both under Grassi Museum [8]
- Schiller House, Mendelssohn House, Schumann House All used to live and create in Leipzig. Mendelssohn's concert hall, the Gewandhaus is still active today near Leipzig's market place.
- St. Thomas Church and Bach Museum [9] The church where Bach worked for most of his life hosts a museum to the greatest German composer of all times. This is also where Bach himself is buried.
- Museum at the Round Corner [10] An interesting museum documenting the Stasi (DDR secret police) headquarters in Leipzig.
- Voelkerschlachtdenkmal A huge monument first erected after the Napolean wars in Leipzig. It was later expanded to its present monsterous proportions. A must see!
- Hauptbahnhof
- The Mendelssohn Music College
- Nikolaikirche
- Naturkundemuseum The nature museum, filled with all kinds of taxidermy creatures. Only 2 Euro.
Shopping, Leipzig souvenirs
- lots of shops in the inner city (city centre)
- some bigger malls outside, e.g. "Paunsdorf Center" in the east
- The Hauptbahnhof is not only one of the biggest train stations in Europe, it's a great shopping mall as well!
Good restaurants and cheap meals
- Check out the inner city with many bars, pubs and cafés.
- and you also have to try a speziality of Leipzig: Lerchen (a sweet dough-wicker)
Leipzig nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
- Moritzbastei: very old and big student club; Universitätsstraße 9 (inner city)
- Barfussgaesschen: a small street with a lot of pubs and bars (inner city)
- Dark Flower: gothic music and dark wave, on thursday rock music; moved to Hainstraße 12 - 14 (inner city)
- Sixtina: select from the largest number of different brands of absinth in a building from the 16th century; Katharinenstraße 11 (inner city)
- Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse ("Karli"): the street starts in the south of the inner city and leads you to Südvorstadt and Connewitz (student and alternative quarters); along the street you can find a lot of pubs, bars, cafés and restaurants and also some smaller dance clubs; very international
- Try and find a bar that serves Gose, the world's most obscure beer. It's made with corriander and salt, and is very much an aquired taste.
Hotels, youth hostels, lodging
- a Youth Hostel is located in Volksgartenstr. 24 (for more information check the english pages of the German Youth Hostel Organization "DJH": http://www.jugendherberge.de/en/); prices range from 17.50€ to 26.50€
Get out
- Dresden is a MUST SEE with its old baroque centre, the Frauenkirche and its other attractions. Go there by train or car (both about 1,5 hours)
- If you take an ICE high speed train, you can reach Weimar in under an hour.
- Erfurt to the West.
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