Leipzig Travel Guide, Germany

Leipzig in Germany is the largest in the federal state of Saxony. The name is taken from the Slavic word Lipsk which means settlement where the linden trees stand. The city of Leipzig is important to the history of Saxony and of Germany in general.

The name of the city was first documented in 1015 and when it entered the consciousness of the nation, this city was given both city and market privileges. As a testament to the fact that the city is a player in terms of commerce, its Leipzig Trade Fair still stands to this day. This trade fair began in the Middle Ages and this is now considered as the oldest remaining trade fair in the world and for this reason, this has become an important international event. The development and the emergence of the city into a center of German law and publishing were facilitated by the foundation of the University of Leipzig. This university was founded in 1409 enabled the city to become a center of the country in terms of law since the High Court was founded here and the German National Library made the city as its home. The university is known for its product, the philosopher and mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. Simply put the establishment of the University of Leipzig and the Trade Fair enabled the city to move as one of the centers of Germany.

Visitors of the city will find Leipzig as a great city thanks to its many notable sights and architecture such as:

Ø The St. Thomas Church is an important church in the city and this is noted as the place where Johann Sebastian Bach worked as the cantor.

Ø The Battle of the Nations Monument is a must-visit and this monument is considered as the largest war monument in the continent. This monument in the city was constructed to remember the victorious battle against the Napoleon’s troops.

Ø The city also plays host to the Mendelssohn House and this residence is the only surviving residence of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. A museum can be seen in the residence.

Ø The second oldest German opera house can be seen in the city - the Leipzig Opera House. This opera house traces a tradition worth more than 300 years. The opera is dedicated to the heritage and the memory of Richard Wagner.

Thinking of the city of Leipzig will not be complete if the visitor will not think about Johan Sebastian Bach. Leipzig is considered as the hometown of the great musical director. He was also the choirmaster of the St. Thomas Boys Choir and he was at the helm of the choir between 1730 and 1750. The St. Thomas Boy’s Choir is an internationally renowned choir which had been performing for more than 800 years. Thanks to the reputation created and cultivated by Bach, the city of Leipzig has made sure that it will maintain the legacy of Bach with the maintenance of the Bach Archives, the museum, the St. Thomas Boys Choir and the Gewandhaus Orchestra.