LEIPZIG

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FACTS

Leipzig is the largest city of the federal state Saxony and one of the economically strongest areas of the new federal states. The Demonstrations in Leipzig in 1989 were an important impulse for the German reunification.

First official documentation of Leipzig goes back to 1015, in this document it was called "urbs Libzi". But yet, the city’s official founder year was 1165, when it was awarded the city right. The year 1813 was historically significant, not only for the city, as they won over Napoleon´s troupes. Afterwards, Napoleon had to go into exile. In the 19th century population grew enormously especially due to industrialisation. After World War II Leipzig´s economic importance decreased, also its population number. In 1989, Leipzig should go into history again: The Monday Demonstrations, starting at Nokalai church, were the beginning of the end of the GDR( German Democratic Republic). Today, Leipzig is one of the cities of the new federal states, that are economically strong, although it still needs many subventions to get the city back to its former status.
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FIGURES

Leipzig is famous for its annual fare, one of the oldest in the world. And for its university, one of the oldest in Germany, founded in th 15th century.

Name in national language
Leipzig
State
Germany
Geographical position
51° 20' N, 12° 23' O
Altitude
113 m
Inhabitants
507.095 (Zensus 2007)
Area code
+49 (0)341
Currency
Euro
Time difference of UTC
+ 1 h (summer time + 2 h)
Time difference of CET
+ 0 h
Official website
www.leipzig.de
Surface
297,60 km²
Population density
1.704 inhabitants/km²
Language
German
Most famous composer
Richard Wagner
Most famous publisher
Anton P. Reclam
Most NONfamous inventor
Daniel G. M. Schreber
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GET AROUND

Airport
The airport Leipzig/Halle (www.leipzig-halle-airport.de)is located north-westwards of Leipzig, half ways between the two cities. To get to the city, take a taxi, train or a private transfer service.

Airport transfer
The airport has its own station, you have trains any 30 minutes towards Leipzig main station. It takes about 14 minutes.
Taxis are waiting outside the hall of terminal B. A ride to the centre takes about 30 minutes and costs € 30,–.
Infos on numerous private transfer services: www.leipzig-halle-airport.de/de/2_1/f2_1_7.html

city traffic
The Leipzig traffic company covers the whole city with many bus and tram lines. Find timetables: www.lvb.de. Most important taxi numbers:: 86 32 97 77, 24 33, 48 84, 251 12 11

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SIGHTSEEING

Saint Thomas Church
The renovated Gothic St.Thomas Church is one of the most important sights of Leipzig. The 800-year old history is linked with famous names: Johann Sebastian Bach was cantor there, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart gave a concert, Richard Wagner was baptised and Martin Luther preached from the lectern. Today, you still have the sarcophagus of Bach in St.Thomas Church. The visit a must in the Saxon metropolis.
Thomaskirchhof 18, Tel.: 212 46 81,
www.thomaskirche.org

Bach-Museum
The Bach-Museum is dedicated to the great composer of Leipzig Johann Sebastian Bach, who worked as a cantor and music director in Leipzig for 27 years.
Thomaskirchhof 15-16, Tel.: 913 72 00,
www.bach-leipzig.de

The museum in the round corner
This museum´s building was home to the main quarter of the nototrious Stasi (Ministry of State Security)in the GDR
You can visit the former bunker. There are special tours like "on the traces of the peaceful revolution" where you get more familiar with the recent city history at original sights.
Dittrichring 24, Tel.: 961 24 43, www.runde-ecke-leipzig.de

Saint Nicolas Church
Saint Nicolas Church is the largest church of Leipzig (63m) and most important in history. In 1989, it was first site of the peaceful demonstrations which meant the beginning of the GDR´s end. It is worth seeing due to its mix of Gothic, Romantic and Classicistic elements as well as its neighbouring building, the former Nicolas school, nowadays home to the Antiquity Museum.
Nikolaikirchhof 3, Tel.: 960 52 70,
www.nikolaikirche-leipzig.de

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INSIDER TIP

Leipzig Card
The Leipzig-Card is a must for anyone who wants to explore the many museums and expositions of the city. This card allows you free public transport, reduced or free entrance for many exhibitions and even reductions in numerous shops. www.leipzig.de/de/tourist/angebote/lcard

Panometer Leipzig
Visit the world’s largest panorama picture in the old gasometer. First, it was Mount Everest being showed there, recently the Antic Rome.
Richard-Lehmann-Straße 114, Tel.: 121 33 96

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EAT & DRINK

Everyone will find the right thing in the more than 400 restaurants in Leipzig. Enjoy the local speciality: " Leipziger Lerche". Also vegetarians will like it as it is made from marzipan. "Gose" beer (over fermented beer) is as famous but less sweet, already Goethe enjoyed it for relaxation. Leipzig also has a very long café tradition, the first coffee house was opened in 1694. At that time, they already had the typical coffee mixes as "Bliemch'ngaffee" and "Muggefukk", that are still offered.

Auerbachs Keller
The Auerkeller is the most famous cellar of Leipzig: It was already one showplace of Goethe’s "Faust". Originally, the bar used to be a beer cellar, existing since 1538. Today, it is home to a restaurant with traditional Saxon dishes. You should not miss this place of literary fame.
Mädlerpassage/Grimmaische Straße 2-4, Tel.: 21 61 00,
www.auerbachs-keller-leipzig.de

Ratskeller
The Ratskeller (Council’s cellar) is one of the city´s largest restaurants with a 100-year old history. The name has simply come from its location, under the new town hall. On the menu, you mostly find local specialities and delicatessen, cosy atmosphere.
Lotterstraße 1, Tel.: 123 45 67,
www.ratskeller-leipzig.de

Zum Arabischen Coffee Baum
Founded in 1694, this café is the worlwide oldest of its kind. Already Richard Wagner, Goethe, Bach and Grieg had their coffee there. There is even a coffee museum in the café.
Kleine Fleischergasse 4, Tel.: 961 00 60, www.coffe-baum.de/kontakt-frame.htm

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HOTELS

Hotel "Fürstenhof"
This 5-star hotel is centrally located, for more than 100 years it stands dor quality and luxury.
In total it offers 80 rooms of different size, 12 exclusive suites as well as a great wellness-area. With 3 seminar rooms it is also suitable for meetings and conferences.
Tröndlinring 8, Tel.: 14 00, DZ ab € 185,–, www.arabellasheraton.com

Best Western Premier Victors Residence
Best Western Premier Victors Residence is located in Leipzig´s centre in front of the Promenade- main station.
It is one of the most elegant hotels of the city, but prices are still ok. The hotel offers 100 rooms and 4 exclusive suites.
Georgiring 13, Tel.: 686 60, DR from € 121,–,
www.bestwestern.de

Hotel "Am Ratsholz"
3-star hotel located in the southern part of the city centre of Leipzig. It offers 113 apartments in different sizes as well as seminar- and conference rooms.
Anton-Zickmantel-Straße 44, Tel.: 494 45 00, DR from € 77,– www.hotel-am-ratsholz.de

Etap Hotel Leipzig north-east
The low-cost hotel chain "Etap" has got a hotel in the city.
Föpplstrasse 7, Tel.: 245 84 01, DR from € 30,–,
www.etaphotel.com

Youth hostel
The youth hostel chain "Hostelling International" has got a hostel in Leipzig,central location in Schönefeld. There is room for 170 guests and it is accessible by public transport. One of the cheapest accomodation options of the city.
Volksgartenstrasse 24, Tel.: 24 57 00, DR from € 21,40, www.hihostels.com

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NIGHTLIFE

Entertainment districts
Leipzig´s nightlife is very busy, where everyone finds the right music or bar. Numerous in-bars are located in Drallewatsch, the city´s oldest part in the pedestrian zone, is the heart of Leipzig´s nightlife. During the last years, many bars have developed around the so called "actor´s district", at the Südmeile and in the Münzgasse. For many, those former unimportant places have become the hotspot.
The actor´s district around the Gottschedstraße has developed in the 1990ies in the more or less close parts around the theatre of Leipzig. Many scene bars have opened here which attract very young, hip clients especially due to its cheap prices. Recently, even several clubs and speciality restaurants have settled here and made the district even more diverse. The street festival "Zinnober" is one of the main spots of the event calendar in the actor´s district, twice a year.
The area, that is situated around the Karl-Liebknecht-Street is called Südmeile. Here, you mostly find alternative people.

It is the place for people who do not like hit parade style. During the last years, more scene- bars, pubs and restaurants have settled here. From 2001 on, many bars and pubs have opened along the Münzgasse (from the corner of Peterssteinweg onwards. This area has got the nickname Leipzig´s small bar mile".

Honky Tonk
Twice a year, up to 50000 visitors come and enjoy this pub festival, which is the world´s largest of its kind.
www.honky-tonk.de

Stattstrand Leipzig
Beach parties, sand and deckchairs no longer remain utopia in a city. Like many other cities, Leipzig has created a beach bar. 300 tons of finest sand from the Baltic Sea guarantee beach party- atmosphere far away from the coast. Their slogan "Weather varies, drinks are always good." www.stattstrand.com

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SHOPPING

The city of Leipzig with its numerous shopping passages offers most unexpected shopping possibilities, where everyone´s taste will be satisfied. Find exclusive boutiques and designer shops especially in the Mädler-Passage, and the close Messehofpassage. Also go and see the relatively recent Strohsack-Passage und the one in Speckshof.
If you look for souvenirs and books, you will find them in the arcades of Altes Rathaus (old cityhall). Every first weekend of the month there is a Antiquitätenmarkt (antiquity market) at the station (platform 24), even every Sunday there is one at the old fare centre. If you want to buy fresh fruits and vegetables on Sundays, enjoy the market close to the main stadium of Leipzig.




Further shopping addresses: www.leipziginfo.de/shopping-lifestyle

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SOUVENIRS

During the football world championship 2006, Leipzig was one of the venues. Therefore, sport lovers still appreciate souvenirs from this event.
The sweet Halloren Kugeln from the oldest chocolate factory of Germany are a popular souvenir of Leipzig. Others souvenirs are miniatures of the famous buildings, small stannous solders or kitschy T-shirts and caps.
Many souvenir shops you find in the city centre and at the tourist information (Richard-Wagner-Straße 1, Tel.: 710 42 60)

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