We’re going to the city they call “Hype-zig” this week…but Leipzig has been making history for a lot longer than its recent reputation suggests.

The city sits in the heart of Saxony in central Germany, and its story as a significant city begins in the early Middle Ages. The city received its town charter in 1165 from Otto the Rich, Margrave of Meissen, though settlements in the area go back to Slavic tribes who called the place Lipsk; meaning “place of the linden trees.”

Leipzig’s position at the crossing of two major medieval trade routes, the Via Regia and the Via Imperii, made it a natural hub for commerce, and by the 15th century it had established itself as one of the most important trade fair cities in Europe. It held this role for centuries.

The city was as intellectual as it was commercial. Leipzig University, founded in 1409, became one of the most prestigious in the German-speaking world. Goethe studied here and set scenes of Faust in Leipzig’s famous Auerbachs Keller. Leibniz was born here. Friedrich Nietzsche studied here. The city became a place where ideas moved as freely as goods.

Perhaps Leipzig is most deeply associated with music. Johann Sebastian Bach arrived in 1723 as Thomaskantor, the music director of St. Thomas Church, and remained until his death in 1750. The music he composed here, including the St. Matthew Passion and the Mass in B Minor, is among the most celebrated in the Western canon. Felix Mendelssohn later founded the Leipzig Conservatory in 1843, one of the oldest music conservatories in the world and Richard Wagner was born there in 1813.

The 19th century brought conflict to the city’s doorstep. The Battle of Leipzig in October 1813, also known as the Battle of the Nations, was the largest battle in European history before World War I, involving over 500,000 soldiers across four days. Napoleon’s defeat here effectively ended French dominance over central Europe. The massive Völkerschlachtdenkmal monument you can still visit today was built a century later to commemorate it.

Then came 1989. As the GDR regime struggled to hold together, Leipzig’s citizens began gathering for Monday demonstrations at St. Nicholas Church. On October 9th, 1989, 70,000 people took to the streets in a peaceful protest that shocked East German authorities into restraint rather than violence. Two weeks later the Berlin Wall fell. Leipzig’s Monday demonstrations are widely credited as one of the decisive moments of the Peaceful Revolution that ended Communist rule in East Germany.

What you feel walking through Leipzig is the layering of all of this; the trade and intellect, music and resistance, history and an unexpectedly thriving contemporary art and culture scene. The locals call it Hype-zig with a knowing smile. They know what they have.

There’s definitely an energy there. It lives up to the “hype” with an inspiring feel. You have to go in expecting to feel something a bit different from the surrounding places in Saxony.

Leipzig might not be the first German city that comes to mind when planning a trip, but this city has a lot going for it.

Known as a city of music, art, and history, Leipzig is home to beautiful churches, historic buildings, interesting neighborhoods, and one of the world's most famous composers, Johann Sebastian Bach.

It is also a great city for travelers who enjoy exploring somewhere that feels a little less touristy than Munich or Berlin.

If you love classical music, Leipzig is a must.

As mentioned above, Johann Sebastian Bach arrived in Leipzig in 1723 after being appointed Thomaskantor, the music director and cantor of St. Thomas Church. He remained in Leipzig until his death in 1750, spending 27 years in the city. During that time, he composed an enormous amount of music, including the St. John Passion and St. Matthew Passion.

St. Thomas Church

This is the place to start your Bach experience. Bach served as cantor here, and his remains are buried inside the church.

Look for the Bach statue outside and, if your visit lines up with one, consider attending a concert or performance.

Take a good look at the Bach statue. The sculptor created it by making a cast mold of Bach’s skull. You can read the story behind it here.

Bach Museum

Located directly across from St. Thomas Church in the historic Bose House, the Bach Museum explores Bach's life and work in Leipzig.

The museum is interactive and includes original manuscripts, historical instruments, and even an organ console that Bach himself played in 1743.

The museum also has a treasure room where original Bach manuscripts are displayed.

Bach Coffee & Bachtaler

You can even eat your way through Bach's Leipzig.

Look for Bach Coffee and Bachtaler, a chocolate confection created in Leipzig to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Bach's death.

And if you're visiting in June, check the schedule for the annual Leipzig Bach Festival, which brings performances of Bach's music to venues throughout the city.

Leipzig Old Town

Start by simply wandering through the historic center. Leipzig's Old Town is filled with historic buildings, courtyards, cafés, shops, and passageways.

There are more than 30 passageways that allow you to cut over to the next street quicker. Each one has unique artwork in it. We loved being able to quickly get around this way.

The city has a long history as a major trade-fair center, and you can still see that history in its historic arcades and courtyards.

Markt Square & Old Town Hall

Leipzig's Markt Square is surrounded by historic architecture and is home to the Old Town Hall.

It's a great starting point for exploring the city center.

Augustusplatz

This huge square is surrounded by some of Leipzig's most important cultural buildings, including the Leipzig Opera House, Gewandhaus, and Leipzig University.

If you enjoy architecture and music, don't skip this area.

St. Nicholas Church

St. Nicholas Church is one of Leipzig's most historically significant churches.

It became an important meeting place during the Peaceful Revolution of 1989, when peaceful demonstrations in Leipzig helped contribute to the political changes that eventually led to the end of the GDR regime.

*Photos were not allowed inside when we visited.

Monument to the Battle of the Nations

The enormous Völkerschlachtdenkmal commemorates the 1813 Battle of Leipzig, one of the major battles of the Napoleonic Wars.

Leipzig Spinnerei

For a completely different side of Leipzig, head to the Spinnerei.

This former cotton mill has been transformed into a huge contemporary art complex with artist studios, galleries, exhibition spaces, and cultural venues. More than 100 artists' studios are located here.

It's a great reminder that Leipzig isn't just a city of historic music. It also has a vibrant modern art scene.

Refer a friend using your referral link at the bottom of this email so they can see it too. In addition, you’ll get a copy of our “Wonders of the World” eBook if it’s your first referral.

The easiest way to reach Leipzig is often by train.

Leipzig Hauptbahnhof, the city's main train station, has excellent connections to other German cities. High-speed trains connect Leipzig with places including Berlin, Dresden, Frankfurt, Munich, and Hamburg.

You can also fly into Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) and take public transportation into the city.

If you're already traveling through Germany, Leipzig makes an easy addition to a larger itinerary.

You probably won't need a car once you're in Leipzig.

The historic center is very walkable, and trams, buses, and regional trains make it easy to reach neighborhoods and attractions farther away.

The city's public transportation system includes trams, buses, S-Bahn trains, and regional trains.

The main train station is also conveniently located just a few minutes' walk from Augustusplatz and the center of town.

Capri by Fraser Leipzig - buffet breakfast available

Steigenberger Icon Grand Hotel Handelshof - 3 minute walk from St. Thomas Church

Sunday Hotel Leipzig - soundproof rooms, buffet breakfast available

Adina Apartment Hotel Leipzig - kitchen, washer and dryer included

Leipzig has several foods that are worth seeking out.

Leipziger Allerlei is the city's best-known savory specialty. Traditionally, it is made with young vegetables such as carrots, kohlrabi, asparagus, and cauliflower, along with morels, crayfish tails, and bread dumplings.

Leipziger Lerche is the city's famous pastry. It is a small shortcrust pastry filled with ingredients such as marzipan, almonds, nuts, and jam. The pastry replaced an older dish made with actual larks after lark hunting was banned in Saxony in the 19th century.

Try Leipziger Gose, a traditional top-fermented beer associated with the city.

And don't leave without sitting down for a good German coffee and cake.

Leipzig's coffeehouse culture dates back to the early 1700s, so grabbing a cup of coffee here is part of experiencing the city's history.

Leipzig is a city where you'll probably spend a lot of time walking, so pack for comfortable days exploring on foot.

If you're visiting in winter, add a warm coat, gloves, hat, and waterproof shoes. Leipzig can get cold, and you'll still want to explore the city on foot.

Don't visit Leipzig only for the major sights.

One of the best parts of the city is discovering how its different identities overlap. You can stand inside a centuries-old church where Bach worked, walk past buildings connected to the events of 1989, stop for a traditional pastry, and then spend the afternoon looking at contemporary art in a converted factory.

And if you're a Bach fan, give yourself enough time to really experience his connection to Leipzig.

Standing inside St. Thomas Church and knowing that Bach worked there for nearly three decades makes his music feel very different. You're not just learning about a composer from a textbook. You're standing in the place where he lived, worked, performed, and created some of the music that is still performed around the world today.

Here are a few of our affiliate links to help you when in Leipzig. It’s no extra cost to you and helps us keep this email free for everyone. 😀

See you next week,

Trisha & Bob