The Economization of the Knowledge Society
Places of Interests
10 good reasons for visiting Leipzig
There are of course far more than 10 good reasons for visiting Leipzig, a city dating back over 800 years and a major centre of both commerce and the arts to boot. Its countenance is changing day by day, and the atmosphere of growth underlined by the slogan "Leipzig kommt!" can be felt throughout the city. Old exhibition buildings and shopping arcades are adjacent to earthworks heralding new architectural masterpieces. In fact Leipzig is now more lively and exciting than ever before.
1) City of music
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.
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The Gewandhaus Orchestra and the Gewandhaus concert hall have cultivated classical music in Leipzig for over 250 years and personify the city.
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| Gewandhaus Orchestra Source: LTM-Schmidt |
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St. Thomas's Boys Choir emerged over 800 years ago from church services organized 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).
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| St. Thomas's Boys Choir Source: Bach-Archiv Leipzig |
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Oper 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.
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| Oper Leipzig at night SOurce: LTM-Schmidt |
2) Major commercial centre
Leipzig has long been a major commercial centre. In 1997 it celebrated the 500th anniversary of the imperial trade fair privileges granted by Emperor Maximilian, and the Leipzig Fair is regarded as the "mother of trade fairs". Leipzig's future commercial development was given a boost by the construction of the ultramodern Leipzig Fair Exhibition Centre with its fascinating architecture.
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| New Exhibition Centre Source: Leipziger Messe GmbH |
3) City centre
Leipzig's mostly pedestrianized compact city centre is ideal for a stroll and window-shopping. Since it is located inside the central ring road with a length of 3½km/2 miles, many of Leipzig's sights are within walking distance.
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| Barthels Hof Source: LTM-Schmidt |
Church St. Thomas Source: LTM-Schmidt |
4) Leipzig Central Station
Leipzig Central Station is one of Europe's largest railway terminuses in Europe, and also one of its most beautiful since its conversion into a modern shopping centre.
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| Central Station Source: LTM-Schmidt |
5) Goethe and Auerbachs Keller
J.W. Goethe, the father of German literature, studied in Leipzig between 1765 and 1768. Auerbachs Keller is a tavern which was immortalized by a scene in Goethe's national drama "Faust".Goethe selbst studierte in Leipzig 1765-1768. Der Auerbachs Keller ist weltbekanntes Lokal durch die Szene “Auerbachs Keller in Leipzig” in Goethes Nationaldrama “Faust”.
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| Auerbachs Keller Source: LTM-Schmidt |
6) Monument to the Battle of the Nations
The Monument to the Battle of the Nations ("Völkerschlachtdenkmal): a vast edifice with an observation platform at a height of 91 meters built to mark the centenary of the 1813 Battle of Leipzig where Napoleon was decisively defeated.
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| Monument to the Battle of the Nations in Leipzig Source: LTM-Schmidt |
7) Old City Hall
The Old City Hall is one of the finest Renaissance town halls in Germany.
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| Old City Hall Source: LTM-Schmidt |
8) Drallewatsch
A collection of bars and restaurants in the heart of Leipzig which is ideal for a pub crawl or "bar-hopping".
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| Barfussgässchen Source: Michael Bader |
9) City of Peaceful Revolution in 1989
Leipzig was the cradle of 1989's Peaceful Revolution, and visitors can follow the trail of the democracy movement which toppled East Germany's communist regime by visiting 'venues' such as St. Nicholas's Church, Augustusplatz, the ring road and the Stasi Museum in the "Runde Ecke", the Stasi's county headquarters.
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| Church St. Nikolai Source: LTM-Schmidt |
10) Auenwald
The Auenwald is a swathe of parks, woodlands and floodplains which cuts right across the city and is unique in Europe.
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| Auwald Source: LTM-Schmidt |