Leipzig's sights at a glance - these are our top 11

Are you looking for a destination for your next city trip? In Germany, Leipzig in particular is currently enjoying great popularity. With its historic old town, the diverse art and culture scene and a modern, cosmopolitan atmosphere, the Saxon metropolis magically casts a spell on visitors from near and far. Here you can understand the history of the German turnaround, stroll through magnificent passages or experience one of the most famous orchestras in the world in the Gewandhaus. We will show you which sights in Leipzig are particularly worthwhile: You can find offers for your short break in Leipzig at 5vorFlug.de Market and Old Town Hall: the heart of the city Only 600 meters or one S-Bahn station away from the main train station you are already in the heart of Leipzig. There is a lot to experience all year round on the approx. 1 hectare market square. On Tuesdays and Fridays, the weekly market offers all kinds of delicacies from the region. Jugglers and comedians entertain you here at Easter and in December you can stroll through one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Germany. The old town hall with its magnificent Renaissance façade flanks the market square on the east side. Today it serves as a museum and, in addition to a permanent exhibition on the history of the city, also contains a festival hall worth seeing and an old vaulted cellar with prison cells. A 25 square meter city model shows Leipzig in the 19th century. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free for children and young people, adults pay 6 euros. Thomas Church: in the footsteps of Johann Sebastian Bach It is one of the most famous sights in Leipzig and is only a few minutes' walk from the market square. The St. Thomas Church has been home to the famous St. Thomas Choir since 1212, which was once conducted personally by Johann Sebastian Bach. The great composer found his last resting place in the chancel of the church. On the 250th anniversary of Bach's death in 2000, the church was completely restored and received a second organ, which is mainly intended for playing his works. Also worth seeing are the neo-Gothic Jesus altar, the Thomas window and the baptismal font made of marble and alabaster with its impressive reliefs. Music lovers can look forward to a motet performance on Fridays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 3 p.m. The Bach Museum right next to the church gives interesting insights into the life and work of the composer. Mädler Passage: Shopping in a stylish ambience One of the most magnificent shopping arcades in Germany is located on Grimmaische Strasse at the southern end of the market. It was built in the early 20th century by the leather manufacturer Mädler in a classic style and has a bright, friendly atmosphere thanks to its glass roof. In addition to the impressive entrance portal, the architectural highlights also include a ceiling painting with scenes from Goethe's Faust. Every hour on the hour a glockenspiel made of Meissen porcelain sounds in the arcade and more than 20 classy shops and restaurants tempt you with exclusive offers. We particularly recommend a visit to the historic Auerbachs Keller, where Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is said to have frequented as a young student. Together with the Messehofpassage and the Königshauspassage, the five-story Mädler Passage forms a system with a very unique character. Old Stock Exchange: cultural events in Leipzig's oldest baroque building The Old Stock Exchange is located on the Naschmarkt directly behind the Old Town Hall. The decorative building dates from the 17th century and is one of the sights in Leipzig that were built in the Baroque period. During an extensive renovation in the 1990s, the color scheme and window glazing were deliberately retained in the original style. The pavilion-like building, with the Leipzig coat of arms emblazoned above the entrance, was once used by merchants as a meeting place for their auctions and transactions. Today, congresses, lectures, theater and concert performances are held here. The stylish exchange hall can also be rented for conferences, company parties or private celebrations. An imposing Goethe monument dominates the square in front of the Old Stock Exchange. Current information about cultural events in the Old Stock Exchange can be found on the website of the Leipzig Museum of City History. Nikolaikirche: probably the most famous landmark of the city In the 1980s, the largest and oldest church in Leipzig was the nucleus of the peaceful revolution that led to the collapse of the GDR and ultimately to the reunification of Germany. Built in the 12th century, the church, which appears Gothic from the outside, has been redesigned and expanded several times over the course of time. The magnificent ornaments in its interior come from classicism. Martin Luther preached here and Johann Sebastian Bach performed his famous St. John Passion for the first time. With well over 6000 pipes, the organ in the Nikolaikirche is the largest in all of Saxony. There are free church tours four days a week, and there is an organ tour on Fridays at 4:30 p.m. for 5 euros. If you want to enjoy the view from the bell tower, come to the tower excursion on Saturdays at 2 p.m. A ticket costs 2.50 euros. Augustusplatz: culture, panorama and history of the revolution Less than 100 meters further is Augustusplatz at the tram stop of the same name. Surrounded by a magnificent ensemble of buildings in the Renaissance style in the 18th century, it was destroyed in World War II and later redesigned by the SED. Today it is shaped by the Leipzig Opera House, the New Gewandhaus and the Paulinum and Augusteum university buildings. On the upper floor of the 142.5 meter high city skyscraper you will find not only the breathtaking viewing platform but also an exclusive panorama restaurant. The Mende fountain in front of the Gewandhaus with its water-spouting bronze figures and an 18-metre-high obelisk dates from the 19th century. Every Monday at 6:35 p.m., the democracy bell rings twelve times on Augustusplatz. The egg-shaped bronze monument commemorates the October 1989 demonstration that heralded the collapse of the GDR and the fall of the Wall. Monument to the Battle of the Nations and Forum 1813: Victory over Napoleon The Monument to the Battle of the Nations is one of the most important sights in Leipzig. It stands where the alliance of Prussia, Austria, Sweden and Russia won against Napoleon and his allies in 1813 and commemorates the countless victims of that battle. The entrance to the 91 meter high monument is guarded by a 20 meter tall sculpture of Saint Michael the Archangel. The imposing dome is decorated with 324 life-size equestrian figures and the viewing platform (accessible via stairs or elevator) offers a fantastic view over the city. At the foot of the monument, you can find out everything about the history of the Battle of the Nations in the Forum 1813. You can easily reach the monument in the south-east of Leipzig by S-Bahn. It is open every day, the entrance fee for adults is 8 euros (museum included). Asisi Panometer: the largest walkable panoramas in the world A unique experience awaits you in the former gasometer in Leipzig. Artist and architect Yadegar Asisi creates walk-in 360-degree panorama pictures in the imposing rotunda, which was once a gas storage facility. Modern printing methods, light and sound effects give you the feeling that the 32 meter high and 105 meter long landscape of images is real around you. Many of the panoramas, which take visitors to fascinating landscapes or to the scene of historical events, have their world premiere here. An accompanying exhibition helps to delve even deeper into the respective topic. The best way to get from the city center is to take the S-Bahn to the Panometer (Leipzig MDR stop, a 2-minute walk from there). You should allow about two hours for the visit, a single ticket for adults costs 11.50 euros. Gohliser Schlösschen: a gem of rococo architecture The former summer palace of councilman Johann Caspar Richter is located in the Gohlis district near the Auwald forest and the famous Leipzig Zoo. Built in the middle of the 18th century, the palace, which is divided into three wings, is one of the sights in Leipzig and one of the highlights of Saxon baroque and rococo architecture. As a venue for concerts, exhibitions and private festivities, the complex with the idyllic castle garden is something like the city's "Court of Muses". A guided tour through the historical premises (ticket price 5.50 euros) gives you exciting insights into bourgeois life On the upper floor, a magnificent ballroom with paintings by Adam Friedrich Oeser awaits you. After the visit, we recommend a breather with regional delicacies in the Restaurant & Café Gohliser Schlösschen. Schillerhaus: a visit to the poet prince Less than 500 meters from the Gohliser Schlösschen is the house where the then 25-year-old Friedrich Schiller wrote his famous Ode "To Joy". A permanent exhibition with around 100 exhibits commemorates the months of May to September of 1785, when the Poet Prince lived and worked here. You will learn interesting details about the friends of the young rebel, his literary works, the performances of his plays in Leipzig and the building history of the typical small-scale three-sided farm. Summer concerts, theater performances and readings take place regularly in the garden of the house. The opening hours of the Schillerhaus vary depending on the season. The entrance fee for adults is 3 euros, for children and young people up to the age of 18 the entrance is basically free. Plagwitz: the Leipzig neighborhood for artists, bohemians and students About five kilometers south-west of the old city center is the trendy district of Plagwitz, sometimes affectionately and ironically called "Hypezig". Here, a charming mixture of pubs, shops, residential buildings and art galleries has developed from an abandoned industrial site with half-ruined houses in the 1990s. Attractive Art Nouveau buildings alternate with spacious green areas and a whole network of waterways invites you to paddle. Ambitious young start-ups and artists with alternative lifestyles characterize the complex atmosphere of this district, which you should definitely experience for yourself. One of the highlights of a walk through Plagwitz is a visit to the former cotton mill with its factories and art projects. For 11 euros per person there is a one-hour tour of the entire site and lots of exciting background information.