Leipzig City Travel Guide - Business & Tourist Travel Information
Leipzig sightseeing Leipzig attractions Leipzig history Leipzig restaurants Leipzig nightlife Leipzig accommodation Leipzig hotels apartments and Leipzig weather
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Leipzig History Overview
The earliest record of Leipzig was recorded in 1015. Its reputation as a centre of commerce was confirmed as early as 1165 when it first recognized as a 'city'. and its market given special dispensation to trade. The Leipzig Trade Fair was established in the Medieval Ages and Its success influenced first Saxony and then German trading policy .
In the 15th century the City opened its own University which influenced German Law and eventually became the home of the German Supreme Court. Leipzig gained a reputation for being forward' thinking and throughout its history it attracted liberal movements especially post the Reformation. In 1813 it was the centre of the Battle Of The Nations which stopped Napoleons domination of Europe. In 1839 following the building of the the first inter city German railway (between Dresden and Leipzig) the city built the largest railway station in Europe. In the following years set it self up as one of the major rail hubs on the continent. With the rail links the city's industry and grew rapidly. The importance of the Trade Fair and the University in the creation of a vibrant urban life and city politics from the Reformation through the 19th century cannot be under estimated. Leipzig became a center of the German and Saxon liberal movements.
In April 1945 the city was captured from the Nazis by US troops. In July the Americans withdrew from the city as part of the agreed settlement with Stalin over the military division of Europe. Leipzig was occupied by Soviet forces and the city became part of the German Democratic Republic.
Before the fall of The Berlin Wall The Nikolaichirche was the scene of regular Monday demonstrations and prayers by the people of Leipzig who wanted to be reunited with West Germany. The peaceful demonstrations, served as an inspiration an example to other like minded citizens throughout East Germany are now fondly known as Mondays Revolution.
Leipzig City Guide - Business & Tourist Travel Information
Sightseeing and Attractions in Leipzig
The main square in Leipzig is The Markt. Locals refer to it as Herz Von Leipzig (The heart of the city). It is a very wide square and in summer is a popular venue for concerts and music festivals.
The main feature of the square is Altes Rathaus which is The Leipzig Council Town Hall. It was first built in the middle of the 16th century and is an interesting building to walk around (admission free). It also contains the local history museum Stadgeschichtliches. It has gained a reputation for putting on specialist music and religious exhibitions. It also has permanent exhibits of ceramics locally made between the 12th & 18th centuries.
Close to the main square is Peterstrasse a road with several pleasing architectural old buildings. Another interesting walk is Grimmaische Strasse a buoyant street which includes The Leipzig Opera House. The Leipzig Opera Company was established over 300 years ago. Its home is in a mid 20th century building which is one of the better examples of modern art.
It also boasts the 16th century church The ThomasKirche where J.S Bach was once the choirmaster and Martin Luther preached. Older still in the old town is The Nikolaichirche at Nikolaikirchof 3. Built in 1175 this church has had various parts added over the last 800 years. It contains a rare mixture of Baroque, Gothic & Renaissance architecture. see also Mondays Revolution below.
Leipzig a City With A Musical History
Hardly any other city in the world has a musical history which can quite match Leipzig's. Names like Johann Sebastian Bach (who headed St. Thomas's Boys Choir from 1723 to 1750) and Felix Mendelssohn (the house where he lived and died is not to be missed!) are inseparably linked to Leipzig.
The Gewandhaus Orchestra and the Gewandhaus concert hall have cultivated classical music in Leipzig for over 250 years and personify the city.
St. Thomas's Boys Choir emerged over 800 years ago from church services organised by the Augustinian Canons. Its most famous choirmaster was J.S. Bach. Cantatas and motets performed by the choir can be heard every Friday evening and Saturday afternoon at St. Thomas's Church (except when the choir is touring and during school holidays).For more information on the St Thomas Boys Choir go to their website.
Opera Leipzig fronts an unbroken tradition of opera dating back over 300 years. With manager and artistic director Professor Udo Zimmermann at the helm, it stages spectacular traditional and modern operas and ballets.
Close By
Outside Leipzig is one Europe's most imposing memorials. The Memorial To The Battle of The Nations ( Voelkerschachtdenkmal ) commemorates the defeat of Napoleon by Prussian, Russian & Swedish armies in 1813. It includes a 500 step stairwell leading to a viewing area on top of the 90mre high monument. It also has a museum room on the ground with large statues of warriors.
Crime in Leipzig see country profile
Restaurants in Leipzig
Visitors to Leipzig have an abundance of very clean and good restaurants to eat in. You could be forgiven for thinking that the place to eat was the shopping mall at the station but actually the main restaurant area is around Fleischergrasse Their are numerous restaurants here, many in the side streets which specialise in serving traditional Saxon dishes. For every restaurant there seems to be a cafe and the smell of fresh coffee is to be found everywhere. There is one cafe which is an absolute must - Cafe Zum Arabischen at Kkeine Fleisshgrasse 4 (Tel: 341 961 0060). It is one of the oldest coffee houses in Europe and it sells every type of coffee imaginable and it was often frequented by Liszt & Wagner. Above the cafe, which by the way serves beautifully cooked pork cutlets, is a coffee museum that has some very rare wood pannelling decor.
Apels Garten at Kolonnadenstr 2 (Tel: 0341 960 777) is a very attractively decorated restaurant which sells good food at very reasonable prices. It seems to specialise in some very good soups - the 'duck' being just one example. One of the best restaurants in Leipzig is The Averbachs Keller at Grimmaischestrass 2 (Tel: 341 216 1000). Serving extremely well prepared local food including Leipziger Lerche and Allere. This establishment also offers a very good wine last with some very agreeable local wines. On the face of it a trifle expensive but given its distinct quality it is money well spent.
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