Leipzig

Introduction

Leipzig or Kleines Paris ("Little Paris") has a legacy of being a cultural and historical centre of the German federal state of Saxony. It is a city that has its unique place in the German history due to the fact that it was fundamental in shaping the history of Germany and the state of Saxony. Though not densely populated, Leipzig is the main industrial centre of the region and has a bustling nightlife. There’s plenty to shop and sightsee as well, besides soaking in the historical monuments and museums that were witnesses to the folklores of yore.

The city of Leipzig was initially a Slavic settlement and became a major commercial centre due to its location near the major trade routes of that time. It also holds the distinction of being home to the great composer Bach and masters like Wagner and Mendelssohn. The famous Goethe studied at the well known Leipzig University and all of them had a big impact on the city’s cultural and literary development. It’s also known as a university town and has opera house, galleries and art institutions which have carried on the legacy of the past. It is also well known for the industrial and trade fairs that have been held here since time immemorial and thus have turned Leipzig into a shopper’s paradise.

History

Leipzig has a history that dates back to the 7th century when the first Slavic settlement took place in around the Elster and Parthe rivers. The first mention of the town called Urbs Libzi was documented in the year 1015, about a century later the city of Leipzig was awarded its city charter and market rights which helped it to develop into a major commercial centre. Its tactical position along Prague, Berlin and Frankfurt trade routes influenced the city’s infrastructure and turned it into and industrial town.

The 15th century was an important landmark in the history of this city as the University of Leipzig, that became the most famous University in the whole of Germany, was established in the year 1409. It also helped to establish the Law and publishing industry by the year 1480. In the year 1490 the city’s local markets were raised to the rank of Imperial fairs by the ruling emperor of that time, a tradition that stands till today.

The city was also a witness to the religious debate between Eck, Carlstadt and Martin Luther in the year 1519, which paved the way for reformation in the year 1539. The great 30 years war was fought near the city of Leipzig. In the year 1650 the world’s first newspaper was published and the stock exchange was established 20 years later.

The city of Leipzig reached its musical peak with maestros like Johann Sebastian Bach, who cantered at the church of St Thomas from 1723 till his death in 1750. Mendelssohn established the Leipzig Conservatory in 1842, which became on of the best musical academies in the world. He also helped the Gewandhaus concerts become internationally renowned. Other literary giants such as Gottsched, Gellert, Schiller and Goethe put the city on the world’s literary map.

In the year 1813, the Leipzig became the arena for the Battle of the Nations, which helped to end Napoleon’s conquest of Europe and led to his subsequent exile. Leipzig became a hub of the European railroad traffic due to the establishment of the terminal connecting it to distant Dresden in the year 1839. From 1938 – 1945, Leipzig faced the cruel rule of Hitler, World War II bombings and the arrival of the red army. The "Peaceful Revolution” against the communist rule in 1989, and later the unification of Germany, were initiated in the city of Leipzig .

Today the city has developed into a major tourist destination and a stylish city that is vibrant and alive with its musical and educational inheritance. The renaissance buildings, baroque churches and shopping areas along with the contemporary buildings make Leipzig a very attractive place for any visitor.

Getting into Leipzig

By Air

The Leipzig-Halle airport is the second largest international airport of Eastern Germany. It is well connected from many European cities and Britain. Most of the major cities in Germany like Frankfurt, Munich, Dresden, Nuremberg, Stuttgart, and many others have direct connections to Leipzig.

By Train

Fast intercity trains have reduced the travelling time between many major cities when travelling to Leipzig. From Frankfurt, it’s about 3.5 hours journey, while Berlin is only an hour away. The Leipzig terminal is the largest in Europe.

By Car

The network of roads is excellent in and around Leipzig city. The Autobahn Highways provide easy access to Leipzig.

Getting around

Public transportation system is excellent in Leipzig. It consists of buses, rails and trams. The bus routes are many and the network of buses ensures that you can get to any part of the city and the suburbs quite easily. The buses run every hour and are available through out the night and the day. The S-Bahn is a well connected railway network throughout Germany and parts of Austria and Switzerland as well. It is an excellent transport system and has different tracks so that more trains can travel every hour.

The Taxis are mostly owned by private companies and are available anywhere in the city. From the airport to any tourist spot, you’ll find taxis waiting outside to carry you to your destination. These have metered fairs but it’s an expensive way to travel around the city. You can also hire cars; many hotels will offer this service as well. Trams are still quite popular here and are connected to quite a few tourist spots. You can buy one ticket to use on both the trams as well as the buses.

Things to do

Leipzig has many attractions; there are many museums, monuments and churches that relive the past history of the place. Besides that there is the opera house, musical centres, restaurants and a lively nightlife to keep a visitor entertained in Leipzig. There are plenty of sport activities and shopping is a delightful experience in the city of Leipzig. The popular tourist spots are

Battle of Leipzig Monument

This monument was build to commemorate the battle of Leipzig. It is the largest monument is Germany. In the Hall of honour, you’ll find exhibitions, concerts and information about the battle. It offers a stunning view of the city from the top.

Leipzig Zoo

This an amazing place for the entire family. It houses many primates who are given their natural habitat to give them a feel of being in the wild. There is an enormous Aquarium there as well as Pongoland, the world’s largest facility for anthropoids. There is also the Lions Savannah and a sloth bear’s gorge. The Asian section has huge elephants.

Old Town Hall

It has been constructed in the Renaissance-style in 1556 and houses the Museum of City history. The council chamber has the old model of the city, portrait of Bach and prison cells. It also houses an enormous banquet hall which is popular for concerts.

St Thomas Church

This church is famous for the great composer Bach, who worked as a cantor here. The architecture is Gothic and it’s a Lutheran church now due to the preaching of the reformer Martin Luther. The church was built in 1537. It is also known for the choir of Thomaskirche, founded in 1212, which is the oldest and most popular choir in Germany.

Mendelssohn House

Mendelssohn House is the residence of the composer Mendelssohn Bartholdy, and the place where he breathed his last. It has now been converted to a museum, where the original pieces of furniture are on display.

The Leipzig Opera House

It was the venue for Goethe’s plays, before it was bombed down in the 2nd world war. Dedicated to Wagner, this opera house stages events on a very large scale.

There are many other popular places to site see, like the Bach’s museum, City-Hochhaus, Auerbach's Keller, the trade fair, the Christmas market and the Coffee Baum, the oldest coffee shop and museum in the area.

Leipzig also has plenty of cafes and pubs around the city for people to meet up over a drink. The city is a shopper’s delight for those looking for up market clothes, jewellery, and souvenirs. The town centre offers an array of specialist shops for people who want to shop their heart out in Leipzig.

If you are tired of visiting museums during the day, the nightlife in Leipzig will be a very different experience. Home to the hoards of students of the Leipzig University, the city has plenty to offer by way of night time entertainment.

Moritzbastei, is popular both with the students and the tourists. It organizes exhibitions, concerts, plays in its underground vaults. The bars come alive after 10 pm and are a perfect place to sample the local flavours

Werk II on Connewitzer Kreuz is another famous centre for dance recitals and jazz concerts. There are plenty of discos and smaller clubs play rock or jazz through out the night. The Honky Tonk festival is very popular and much awaited event, over 100 bands participate in the festival that’s held in May and November. The fanciest of restaurants and the smallest of pubs come together to make this the biggest pub festival in the entire world. There are many other theatres and the Opera house, all of which make every night in Leipzig a memorable one.

(Thanks for this excellent description to professional writer Neena Wright!)

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