Discover Leipzig, an historically rich city in the Bundesland Sachsen, not far from Berlin, on a day trip!
If you are thinking of taking a trip outside of Berlin for a day or for the weekend, you do not have to travel too far or too long. You can take a trip to Leipzig, which lies just two hours south of Berlin in Bundesland Sachsen and is a perfect little getaway. The city in recent history is known to be a key contributor to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the German Democratic Republic.
Today the city has the second-largest population in Eastern Germany after Berlin and is known for its university and alternative cultural scene, some even claim it to be the new Berlin. In order to see if this claim is true, you will have to see the city for yourself!
First Things First on your trip to Leipzig
Most likely, you will make your way to Leipzig by train and arrive at the Leipzig Hauptbahnhof. From there I recommend, if it is a Saturday, to head to Richard Wagner Platz. About a five to ten minutes walk is needed from the Hauptbahnhof and there you can catch breakfast or lunch, whatever it may be, at the weekly market. Typically, you will find lots of stands rather intended for a grocery shop, like fruits and vegetables, cheeses and meat, but there are also plenty of imbiss stands where you can grab a bite to eat before touring the city.
A Trip through History
Near Richard Wagner Platz in the old city is the Altes Rathaus or old town hall and the old Marktplatz. If you are in Leipzig over the Christmas holidays, this is where the Christmas market takes place. If coming at any other time of the year, the Marktplatz is a good place to orientate yourself. There is also where you’ll find the old city hall. Built in 1556, the building counts as one of the most important profane builds of the Renaissance. Inside, you can take a tour of a replica of the original city hall on the main floor and then head upstairs to tour the city history museum, which gives an oversight of the city of Leipzig from its founding to present day.
Just around the corner you can find the Zeitgeschichtliches Forum, the museum of contemporary history. If you aren’t very well acquainted with German history after the second world war, this is a great place to start, tours and entrance are free and you can gain insights into the government and ordinary life in the German Democratic Republic or as often referred to East Germany.
When you head out of the Zeitgeschichtliches Forum, directly in front of you will stand the Alte Börse, the old stock exchange. This is the oldest baroque building of the city and for those who have already had enough of the museums and the history, this is the perfect spot to stop for a photo.
Johann Sebastian Bach and the Thomaskirche
The next place to check out on your trip to Leipzig should be the Thomaskirche, especially for classical music fans. This gothic church has been built or rebuilt and added to time and time again, with its origins in dating all the back to 1160. However, the church is not known for being old. Instead, the Thomaskirche is known as the place where Johann Sebastion Bach had ended his career. For nearly 30 years Bach had been found in this church working as a cantor and music director. This is also where, after his death, Bach was placed to rest. For one euro, you can enter the church and visit his gravestone.
German Cuisine at Thüringer Hof
If you decide to follow my suggestions, it is definitely time to eat again. I recommend stopping at the Thüringer Hof zu Leipzig. For decent prices, but with big portions, you can fill up on German cuisine. There they have all the stereotypical foods you imagine when you think of Germany, like Bratwurst and Sauerkraut, but they also have wild pig dishes, Gulasch, Spätzle, and more. Also stereotypical, but nevertheless delicious, I have to recommend the apple strudel.
At this point in the day, if you’re only making a day trip, it might then be time to make your way back to the Hauptbahnhof to catch your train home. If you are planning to stay for the weekend, why not spend your evening at the Leipzig Opera House. Built in 1960, this may have been one of the newer buildings you have explored. Then not only is it fun for its ballet and orchester, but the building is also a great example of the German Democratic Republic’s more grand builds.
However, whatever you decided to do, Leipzig is worth the trip! The city is not big, but there is plenty to do. Not mentioned, but also worth checking out are the Völkerschlachtdenkmal, the Panorama Tower, and the Karl-Heine Canal.
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