Historic places in Leipzig

Historic places in Leipzig

1. Drink

   Auerbachs Keller

   This pub has been around since medieval times. Opened in 1525, it is among the oldest continuously operated pubs in Germany. The barrel cellar (only opened for private parties) has been the background to a scene in one of Germany's most famous plays, "Faust" by Goethe. 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.

   Expensive

2. See

   Naturkundemuseum

   Museum of natural history

   The museum of natural history, filled with all kinds of taxidermy creatures.

   Tue-Sun 09:00-18:00

3. See

   Old Town Hall

   Altes Rathaus

   Built in 1556 in the Renaissance style and remains one of Germany's largest. The position of the tower follows the ancient ideal of "golden mean". Located on the pretty main square of the city, it is 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 m long with arcades (1906–09), six gables and a tower. In the 18th century the tower was enlarged and it received a Baroque spire. Until 1904 the Old City Hall was home of the city administration. Then it became home of the city museum. The first floor deals with the history of Leipzig from early times to the 1813 Battle of the Nations - while the second floor continues from industrialisation to the present. Most impressive is the huge Banqueting Hall with Renaissance interior (open fireplaces). 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. Also interesting: the treasure chamber (steep and narrow staircase!) This Renaissance building was erected in just nine months in 1556–57 under the direction of the architect Hieronymus Lotter. The municipal government moved into the New Town Hall in 1909. If you have a bit of luck you are allowed to visit the cellar of the building. Here you find the chamber of torture and the jail. 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. It contains interesting information regarding the public executions that used to take place in the market in front of the city hall. The most famous execution was that of Woyzeck, which was made famous by the Büchner play and the opera of Alban Berg. The interior of the Old City Hall (built in 1556) is far more interesting than the

   Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, Mon closed·Free. Although you still have to obtain a ticket!

4. Do

   Oper Leipzig

   The opera house of Leipzig. Though the building was opened in 1960, the company looks back at more than 300 years of history.

5. See

   Plagwitz

   An industrial district whose time of glory has passed. Many of its factories died a slow death during the GDR years, which suddenly became visible with the reunification of Germany. Today it is a mixture of old industrial buildings, some in ruins and others repurposed; fallow land; and new developments. Walk around Karl-Heine Straße between Felsenkeller and the railway station Bahnhof Plagwitz, Weißenfelser Straße and Gießerstraße to get a feeling for the place, or walk the path alongside the Karl-Heine Kanal. May appear a bit spooky at night.

6. See

   Propsteikirche St. Trinitatis

   Modern architecture in the style of New Objectivity, covered with a traditional red porphyr stone. Easily to be confused with a modern office building, this church dedicated in 2015 is the largest newly built church building in Eastern Germany since unification. The location is almost on historical ground, as the neighbouring New City Hall is on the spot of the medieval Pleissenburg, where Martin Luther defended his theses in the "Leipzig Debate" of 1519. The steeple, 50 m high, contrasts the (still much higher) tower of the New City Hall. During construction the official entrance had to be switched to the back side of the church, as otherwise the postal address would have been "Martin-Luther-Ring", which the Roman Church considered not appropriate and after an attempt to rename the street failed to the opposition of the city administration.

   09:00 - 18:00, outside services·Admission free, donations welcome

7. See

   Reichsgericht

   Bundesverwaltungsgericht

   Located across the ring southwest of the New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus), the appearance of this building resembles the original look of the Reichstag in Berlin. It was built from 1888 to 1895 for the Court of the German Empire (Reichsgericht), the highest court of the Reich. During the GDR years the building served a variety of uses and hosted the Museum der Bildenden Künste. After refurbishment, the Federal Administrative Court (Bundesverwaltungsgericht) moved into the Reichsgericht building in 2002. You can visit the entrance hall, the large courtroom, and the Reichsgerichtsmuseum with an exhibition on the history of the building. Visitor access may get restricted without prior notice if the work of the court requires it.

   Mon–Fri 08:00–16:00·Admission free; €1 for cloakroom or locker which is refunded

8. See

   Straßenbahnmuseum

   Tram museum

   Dozens of historic trolleys that once ran on Leipzig's tram network.

   May-Sep: 3rd Sun of the month 10:00-17:00·€3

9. See

   Torhaus Dölitz

   Exhibition of pewter figures in historically themed dioramas. The location, the gatehouse and only remainder of an old manor, was one of the hotspots in the battles of the Napoleonic wars.

   Wed Fri Sat 10:00–16:00 - subject to change, please call before·€3

10. Do

    videoSightseeing Leipzig

    In addition to the comments of a live guide in English or other languages, on-screen historic film footage and photographs give you a deeper insight into Leipzig's history and life today. The standard length of the tour is 2 hours. You can also combine it with a walking tour through the historic centre.

    individual starting time for small groups·from €25

11. See Not mapped

    Stalin era architecture

    Curved to follow the street, huge like a castle -- Leipzig's most prominent relic of the Stalin era sits at the Ring next to the Gewandhaus.

12. Do Not mapped

    Wave-Gotik-Treffen Leipzig

    World's largest goth festival includes a pagan village, medieval market, and goth music.

    Date follows Pentecost, late May or early June

13. See

    Schulmuseum

    History of schooling.

    Mon–Fri 09:00–16:00·Free

14. See

    Sächsisches Psychiatriemuseum

    History of psychiatry.

    Wed-Sat 13:00-18:00

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Leipzig (CC BY-SA 4.0).