Leipzig

From World travel guide

Leipzig is the largest city in the German federal state of Saxony, with a population of more or less 500,000. It is the industrial centre of the region and culturally not as attractive as Saxony's capital Dresden. It still offers some interesting sights, shopping possibilities and evening distractions.

1 Get in
2 Get around
3 Buy
4 Eat
5 Drink
6 Sleep
7 Get out
8 External links

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Get in

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Get around

Leipzig's Old Town Hall was built in 1556 in the Renaissance style and remains one of Germany's largest. Located on the pretty main square of the city, it's 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 metres long with arcades (1906 - 09), six gables and a tower. In the 18th century the tower was enlarged and it got a Baroque spire. Till 1904 the Old City Hall was home of the city administration. Then it became home of the city museum

Most impressive is the huge Banquetting Hall with Renaissance interior (open fireplaces). I was surprised by the 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. I also liked the treasure chamber (steep and narrow staircase!). Entrance fee is 2.50 Euro

This Renaissance building was erected in just nine month in 1556/57 under the direction of the architect Hieronymus Lotter. The municipal government moved into the New Town Hall in the year 1909. If you have a bit luck you are allowed to visit the cellar of the building. Here you find the chamber of torture and the jail.

Old City Hall: 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. Also contains interesting information regarding the public executions that previously took place in the market in front of the city hall. The most famous execution was that of Woyzeck later made famous by the Büchner play and the opera of Alban Berg.

The interior of the Old City Hall (built in 1556) was far more interesting of the outside view for me, however charming the latter may be. Inside there's an interesting museum covering the history of Leipzig from the very beginnings (in 12th century) till our days. One of the most touristy places of the whole city.

Leipzig acquired the nickname Kleine Paris ("Little Paris") in the 18th century, when it became a center of a classical literary movement under the leadership of German scholar and writer Johann Christoph Gottsched.

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Buy

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Eat

Check out the inner city with many bars, pubs and cafés.
and you also have to try a speziality of Leipzig: Lerchen( a sweet dough-wicker)

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Drink

Moritzbastei: very old and big student club; Universitätsstraße 9 (inner city)
Dark Flower: gothic music and dark wave, on thursday rock music; Ritterstraße 44-48 (inner city)

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Sleep

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Get out

If you take an ICE high speed train, you can reach Weimar in under an hour.
Erfurt to the West and Dresden to the East are both just one hour away by train.

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