Leipzig City Guide
Famous for Johann Sebastian Bach and Faust, the university city of Leipzig is crammed with historic sights. Enjoy a coffee in the oldest coffee house in Europe, sit in the seat of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and marvel at the animals in the wonderful zoo.
What to do and see in and around Leipzig
Old City Hall
This beautiful Renaissance building with its attractive Baroque-style tower, dates back to 1556 and stands proudly on Leipzig’s Market Square. Constructed by Hieronymus Lotter, former mayor of Leipzig, this wonderful building is now home to the Museum of City History.
St Nicholas’s Church
This magnificent 12th century church played an important part in 20th century German history. The Church was the site of the Monday Demonstrations of 1989, when the people of Leipzig held peaceful protests against the socialist government of the time, sparking a wave of similar demonstrations across Germany which eventually led to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Leipzig Gewandhaus
This fascinating, top-heavy contemporary building on Augustusplatz is the third Concert Hall to grace this site and was built in 1981. With excellent acoustics and a renowned orchestra, music lovers should definitely pay a visit.
Leipzig Opera House
Also gracing the somewhat musical Augustusplatz is the celebrated Leipzig Opera House. The impressive building dates back to the 1960s and stages opera and ballet as well as operettas and musicals.
St Thomas’s Church
Built in the 13th century, this pretty church had a very famous choirmaster during the first half of the 18th century, Johann Sebastian Bach. The grave of the illustrious German composer can be found in the church’s choir and his statue which stands in front of the church.
Zum Arabischen Coffe Baum
For those of you partial to a bit of caffeine Zum Arabischen Coffe Baum is likely to become your spiritual home whilst in Leipzig. This historic building is the oldest coffee house in Europe and was opened in 1694 by one Heinrich Schütze and has since been a meeting place for such notable figures as Wagner, Goethe and Bach. The third floor is dedicated to a fascinating coffee museum.
Leipzig Zoo
This magnificent zoo, which dates back to 1878, is one of the Europe’s finest. Not only is the zoo a haven for threatened species it is also dedicated to providing as natural a habitat as possible for its vast array of animals which range from lions to orangutans to elephants.
St. Alexei's Russian Memorial Church
Bringing a touch of Moscow to Leipzig this Russian Orthodox Church dates back to 1913 when it was built to mark the centenary of the Battle of Nations during which 22,000 Russian soldiers died whilst fighting with their European allies against Napoleon.
Monument to the Battle of the Nations
Yet another reminder of the war against Napoleon, this striking monument was built in 1913, 100 years after the Battle of Nations as a monument for peace. Standing at a height of over 90 metres the monument's viewing platform offers splendid views over Leipzig.
Leipzig Central Station
Leipzig Central Station is one of the largest railway stations in Europe and doubles up as shopping centre containing over 140 shops.
Auerbachs Cellar
Not only was Auerbachs Cellar frequented by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, it also features in his famous piece of work, Faust. This historic restaurant is a must for lovers of German literature.
Museum of Fine Arts
Fans of the 16th century German master Lucas Cranach should pay a visit to Leipzig’s Museum of Fine Arts which has an extensive collection of his paintings. Dating back to 1837 this wonderful museum displays paintings, sculptures and drawings from the late Middle Ages to the present day, spanning a wide variety of artistic movements and styles.
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