Unmistakably Leipzig
The hometown of Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was Leipzig’s musical director – director ‘musices lipsiensis’ – and choirmaster of St. Thomas’ Boys Choir between 1723 and 1750. The city has dedicated itself to maintaining Bach’s heritage with the Bach Archives, the Bach Museum, the St. Thomas’ Boys Choir, and the Gewandhaus Orchestra.
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The Leipzig Fair – “trade fairs made-to-measure”[/b]
The Leipzig Fair is also known as the “mother of all trade fairs” and opened its new exhibition centre in 1996. In 1997 the trade fair celebrated the 500th anniversary of its endowment wth the “Imperial Right to Hold Trade Fairs”. The slogan of the Leipzig Fair: “trade fairs made-to-measure”.
St. Thomas’ Boys Choir
St. Thomas’ Boys Choir emerged more than 800 years ago from the practice of music making during services at the former Augustinian Canons. Today, the choir enjoys an exceptional international renown.
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The Gewandhaus Orchestra and the Leipzig Gewandhaus[/b]
The Gewandhaus Orchestra and the Leipzig Gewandhaus have been cultivating classical music for over 250 years. They are an epitome of the city and today world-famous.
The 19th Gewandhauskapellmeister is the international star conductor Riccardo Chailly. The Gewandhaus Orchestra plays in the Gewandhaus just as in the performances in the Opera House and at the stagings of the Bach cantatas joint with the St. Thomas’ Boys Choir in St. Thomas’ Church.
The Leipzig Opera House
Leipzig Opera - comprising Opera, operetta and the ballet of Leipzig - is the third oldest bourgeois music theatre stage of Europe. It owes its jutting international reputation to important soloists, the Gewandhaus Orchestra, an award-winning choir and the ballet of Leipzig in the continuity of the choreographies of Uwe Scholz.
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Mendelssohn House[/b]
Mendelssohn House is the only remaining residence of the composer Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. He died here in 1847. Today, Mendelssohn House is a museum with many an intersting exhibit on display, including his original furniture.
Goethe and Auerbachs Keller
Between 1765 and 1768, Johann Wolfgang Goethe studied in Leipzig. A scene from his celebrated “Faust”, “Auerbach’s Cellar in Leipzig”, made the restaurant world-famous.
Leipzig – the City of the Peaceful Revolution of 1989
Leipzig was the starting point for the events which led to the Peaceful Revolution of 1989. You can visit the original locations, e.g. St. Nicholas’ Church, where - after the Prayers for Peace every Monday - the demonstrations started along Augustusplatz and the central ring road to the headquarters of the secret police (Stasi). The former Stasi headquarters have been turned into the Museum in the “Round Corner”.
The Old City Hall
Leipzig’s Old City Hall is one of the most beautiful Renaissance town halls in Germany. It was built between 1556 and 1557 in just nine months.
Zum Arabischen Coffe Baum
This is the oldest surviving coffee house and restaurant in Europe which has been continuously in operation. Today it is a restaurant, cafe, and museum in one, documenting the history of the Saxons’ proverbial love of coffee.
Leipzig Central Station
Leipzig Central Station is one of the largest terminus train stations in Europe. A few years ago part of the station was turned into a state-of-the-art shopping mall and service centre.
Monument to the Battle of the Nations
This largest memorial complex in Europe, with a viewing platform 91 metres above ground, was erected to commemorate the Battle of the Nations of 1813.
Spinnerei – from cotton to culture
Formerly the largest cotton mill in continental Europe, Spinnerei is today the site with the highest density of galleries in Germany. The appeal of this old factory complex lies in its heterogeneous conversion: Beside 80 artists, 14 galleries and exhibition spaces, creative professionals like architects, designers, craftspeople, retailers and printers have found a home in the Spinnerei. A restaurant, theatre and dance groups, several cultural initiatives, small shops and individual loft apartments create a charming urban flair.
Wilhelminian-style architecture – Waldstrassenviertel
Like hardly any other city, Leipzig is home to a unique district of listed buildings from the Wilhelminian era. A major example of this particular style from the late 19th century can be experienced in the Waldstrassenviertel district.
Auenwald floodplain forest
Auenwald is a park and floodplain landscape unique in Europe, stretching in a green belt of ca. 1,800 hectares all the way through the city.
Drallewatsch
The ultimate experience for a night out, hopping from restaurant to restaurant, from pub to pub in the heart of Leipzig.
The name “Drallewatsch” is an old Saxon term for going out and having a great time.
Leipzig Zoo
Leipzig Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the world and has one of the largest collections of species. It is therefore one of the most popular destinations in the city. Visit “Pongoland”, the world’s largest zoo facility for anthropoids, “Makasi Simba”, the lions’ savannah, a sloth-bears’ gorge, a Tiger’s taiga, an African savannah. And much much more.
Belantis Leisure Park Leipzig
Leipzig has its own amusement park in the south of the city. The park covers an area of 25 hectares including 60,000 square metres of water and a four kilometre trail which takes visitors on a journey through time.
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Asisi Panometer Leipzig[/b]
An old gasometer houses the biggest panometer of the world. After the exhibitions “Mount Everest” and “Rome CCCXII”, artist Yadegar Asisi has realized another panorama in the Leipzig gasometer. The panorama “Amazonia - Yadegar Asisi’s magical picture of nature” takes you on a visual journey into the middle of the tropical rainforest scenery at the Amazon.
The world’s largest freestanding advent calendar
Erected in December 1997 for the first time, the world’s largest freestanding advent calendar is one of the major attractions of Leipzig Christmas market every year. With more than 250 twinkling stalls, Leipzig Christmas market is one of the largest Christmas markets in Germany. It is beautifully set against the magnificent historical backdrop of the Old City Hall on Market square.
More - source leipzig.de/int/en/stadt_leip … enswertes/
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