Photo credit: Leipzig Tourism & marketing (LTM)
Ryanair – famous for low fares, charging for ‘extras’ and connecting us to places off the tourist map – recently announced plans to launch direct flights between Stansted (UK) and Leipzig in eastern Germany, from November.
For travellers keen to explore this lesser-known European city, TERMINAL U gives you a rundown of 10 key attractions in this vibrant city.
1. Shop in an historic arcade
Renowned for its beautiful baroque style architecture, Mädler Passage is one of Leipzeig’s most famous shopping arcades, lined with many boutiques, specialist shops and restaurants and bars. The upper floors are home to offices and a cabaret theatre.
2. See the world’s oldest fair
Leipziger Messe – the Leipzig Fair – is renowned as the world’s oldest commercial fair.
The city’s New Fair exhibition centre (pictured) was opened in April 1996, and hosts regular events among its five grand exhibition halls.
Leipzig also hosts the annual ‘Pop Up’ Fair catering for the independent music scene.
3. Head ‘Bach’ in time
Leipzig is a haven for lovers of classical music, with strong links to famous German composers, including Bach, who lived and worked in the city until his death in 1750.
The Bach Museum – perched beside St thomas’ church where Bach once headed the Boys Choir – is dedicated to the composer’s life and works.
Many of the items here were restored specifically for the museum, including a 1743 organ console from the St. John Church in Leipzig that Bach once played.
The annual Bach Festival in the summer draws in huge crowds.
4. Explore Germany’s most famous zoo
Leipzig Zoo is ranked highly on the list of things to do in the city. It has two big attractions: ‘Pongoland’, a modern enclosure for apes (chimps, gorillas and orang-utans) and the recently opened ‘Gondwana-Land’: a giant jungle landscape under covered glass with exotic plants and animals from Asia, South America and Africa.
5. Relax with an evening at the opera
Leipzig’s Opera House at the Augustusplatz is the second oldest musical stage in Germany, putting on magical operas and ballets.
It is home to one of the best ballet companies in Europe, as well as an opera choir, a children’s choir and ballet school.
6. Grab a hot drink at Napolean’s favourite coffee house
If you can pronounce the name, ‘Zum Arabischen Coffe Baum’ is a restaurant, café and museum in one, documenting the history of the Saxons’ proverbial love of coffee.
You could call it an institution. It was once frequented by famous names, including Bach and Napolean over the centuries.
It is also said to be the oldest surviving coffee house and restaurant in Europe, opening its doors back in 1694.
7. Marvel at the Old City Hall
Overlooking the city’s grand market square, the old City Hall was built in the 16th century, and its striking feature is a Baroque clock tower, constructed later in the 18th century.
The Old City Hall is also home to the Museum of City History.
8. Experience the Leipzig art movement
Once the largest cotton mill in continental Europe, the ‘Spinnerei’ has been reinvented as a cultural complex, with a buzzing art scene.
The Spinnerai has the highest density of art galleries in Germany and is also home to artists’ working studios.
9. Go on a bar crawl
Leipzig’s lively bar district of Drallewatsch is the place to be seen and soak up the atmosphere while on a bar crawl.
The area around Barfussgässchen, in the oldest part of the city is one of the most popular nightlife spots in the area, especially at weekends.
10. Wander through an ‘amazon rainforest’
Experience the Amazon and learn about its wildlife and ecology inside a 30m-high old gasometer at ‘Asisi Panometer’.
This unique attraction features a giant 360° panoramic recreation of the Amazon rainforest.
Visitors can also hire binoculars to look for animals in the ‘forest’.
Photos: Leipzig Tourism & marketing (LTM)
