Leipzig smelling of coffee

In the distant past, Leipzig was a tiny Slavic settlement, while today it is one of the largest centers of industry and trade, not in Poland, not in Lithuania or even in Slovakia, but in the territory of today's East Germany.

Compared to other great German metropolises, Leipzig (German: Leipzig) was fortunate enough not to suffer too much during World War II. As a result, the 19th- and 20th-century architecture has been preserved in very good condition. Its old part each year attracts thousands of tourists to the city who want to get to know one of the first universities in Europe and two magnificent historic religious buildings, one of which houses the tomb of Johann Sebastian Bach. Near the church there is a museum commemorating the life and work of the outstanding German composer.

Leipzig used to be

Wandering the streets, we encounter history at every turn. There are many historic buildings from the Renaissance period in Leipzig, including the beautiful Old Town Hall and the cloth hall. The Old Libra building, where the city councilors used to meet, is also renaissance. Unfortunately, it was destroyed during World War II and today you can only admire its front, which was faithfully rebuilt. The rest of the design is significantly different from the original.

The Royal House , one of the most famous tenement houses in the city, is also magnificent. In the past, it served as the temporary residence of crowned heads and other important personalities. He lived there, among others Napoleon, the Russian Tsar Peter the Great and Augustus the Strong. Today, remembering the times of delicious parties, the building serves as a shopping center.

The famous "best" of Leipzig

In Leipzig you can admire one of the oldest railway junctions in the continent - in the past, the Hauptbahnhof was the largest Main Railway Station in the whole of Europe. Today, passengers can spend time in a huge waiting room (Wartesaal) with a glass roof, waiting for their train to stop on one of the 26 platforms.

Leipzig is also home to one of the world's oldest zoos. It was established in 1878, covering almost 23 hectares of around 900 species of animals from all over the globe. This is where we find Pongoland , the land of monkeys. It is home to chimpanzees and orangutans, and the large enclosures created for them, along with the rest of Pongoland, constitute the first stage of the Zoo of the Future project.

Musical Leipzig

Leipzig became famous years ago not only for its monuments, although they are undoubtedly captivating. He gained the greatest recognition as a city of composers - apart from the most famous cantor of the Church of St. Tomasz, or the aforementioned Bach, prides itself on being the birthplace of Richard Wagner and the city where Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy founded the first German conservatory.

One of the oldest boys' choirs in the world - the Thomanerchor - sang in Leipzig. Also here is one of the oldest music theaters in Europe, attracting with a rich repertoire of works from various eras - from baroque to modernism. And finally, in Leipzig, there is a great, powerful organ consisting of over 6,600 pipes .

Outstanding composers liked to relax in another Leipzig attraction, Zum Arabischen Coffe Baum . It is one of the oldest cafes in Europe, which today functions as a museum. It is worth visiting to enjoy the aroma of coffee from the exhibition consisting of over 500 exhibits.

And then you can go for a break at Campingplatz Auensee , a camp site set on approx. 9 hectares, surrounded by greenery, near the lake of the same name. All pitches are grassy and have access to power. Fresh bread is available for purchase in the campsite restaurant from 7.30 am - and much more. A day of stay costs about 6 euros, and a place for a motorhome about 9 euros.

A few kilometers away from the center allows you to sleep in peace, and at the same time, the main attractions are easily accessible thanks to frequent buses. After the rest, we will gain strength for further exploring Leipzig.