Museums and galleries in Leipzig

Museums and galleries in Leipzig

1. See

   Exhibition centre

   Leipzig has a long tradition of trade fairs, once having hosted the first and biggest sample fair in Central Europe. The modern exhibition centre was one of the major business investments and architectural innovations of the 1990s post-reunification period ("Aufbau Ost", i.e. "developing the East"). It consists of the distinctive glass hall (a landmark when entering Leipzig from the north), five exhibition halls and a conference centre. In addition to numerous exhibitions and conferences that are only of interest to businesspeople and experts, there is a number of popular fairs geared to the general public, namely the Leipzig book fair (March; cf. ), House–Garden–Leisure (February), Model–Hobby–Games (late-September/early-October), and Tourism & Caravaning (November).

2. See

   Grassi Museum

   Includes the Museum of Applied Arts, the Museum of Musical Instruments, and Museum of Ethnology.

   €4–5 per museum

3. See

   Leipziger Baumwollspinnerei

   A converted cotton mill in the Plagwitz industrial district, today providing work and exhibition rooms to artists.

4. See

   Museum der bildenden Künste

   Museum of Fine Arts, "Bildermuseum"

   Housed in a glass cube, this museum features paintings from the 15th century through today. Highlights include paintings by local artists Max Beckman and Max Klinger, as well as Caspar David Friedrich, Lucas Cranach the Younger, and Claude Monet.

   Permanent collection: €5 adults; temporary exhibitions: €8; combined ticket: €10; free entry every first Wednesday of the month

5. See

   Museum in der "Runden Ecke"

   Stasi museum

   Housed in the former headquarters of the GDR secret police, the Stasi, this is an interesting museum documenting the Stasi and its methods of controlling and manipulating the people. Displays are in German; there is not much English inside. €5 admission fee includes audioguide, English available.

   Daily 10:00–18:00·€5

6. See

   Naturkundemuseum

   Museum of natural history

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

   Tue-Sun 09:00-18:00

7. 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!

8. 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

9. See

   St. Thomas Church

   Thomaskirche

   The church where Johann Sebastian Bach worked as a cantor from 1723 until his death in 1750. His remains are buried under a bronze epitaph near the altar. The Bach Museum is next to the church. Regular concerts are given by the St. Thomas Boys Choir Fridays and Saturdays (see do section for details).

   Mon-Thu 10:00 - 18:00; Fri 10:00 - 16:00; Sat 10:00 - 13:30, 16:30 - 18:00; Sun 11:30 - 17:30; churchtower is open weekends only·Admission free, donations welcome

10. 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

11. 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

12. See

    Zeitgeschichtliches Forum

    Opened in 1999, this is a museum about East Germany (the GDR). There is one permanent exhibition about the life in the GDR and the fall of the GDR; the other exhibition changes about every two months and has similar topics.

    Tue-Fri 09:00-18:00, Sat Sun 10:00-18:00, Mon closed·Free

13. See

    Zum Arabischen Coffe Baum

    A museum about coffee and coffee culture in Europe's oldest continuously operating coffee house.

    11:00–19:00·Free

14. See

    Bach-Museum

    about the composer Johann Sebastian Bach.

    Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00·€8 adults, €6 concessions; free entry every first Tu of the month

15. See

    Deutsches Kleingärtnermuseum

    German Allotment Gardener`s Museum

    Aachener Str. 7, 04109

    Tue-Thu 10:00–16:00·€2

16. See

    Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst

    Museum of Contemporary Art

    Changing exhibitions of contemporary art.

    Tue–Fri 14:00-19:00; Sat Sun 12:00-18:00; free entry on Wednesdays·€8

17. See

    Sächsisches Apothekenmuseum

    Pharmacy museum.

    Tue Wed Fri-Sun 11:00–17:00, Thu 14:00–20:00

18. Do Not mapped

    Bach Festival

    Organized by the Bach Museum.

    Late May-early June

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