Leipzig: vibrant city full of tradition, history and culture
In this blog I, Jetty ter Haar - Manager of Operations at Uniglobe Alliance Travel, will take you to a relatively unknown but very interesting (business travel) destination: the city of Germany's Leipzig. One of the most important trading cities and 10e largest city in Germany!
Leipzig, then and now
Leipzig is located in the state of Saxony, in eastern Germany. For years Leipzig was isolated from the West thanks to the Iron Curtain and belonged to the German Democratic Republic (GDR) until 1990. After German unification, a new heyday dawned for the city. Since the reunification of Germany, Leipzig has done much to give the city a more modern look. Many historic buildings have been refurbished, much has been done to stimulate art and culture, and in the city center much old and new comes together. I found surprising the city's green appearance thanks to its many parks and wooded areas. I also liked the extensive shopping opportunities and nightlife.
Accessibility
Leipzig is easily accessible by car, train and plane. By car from Amsterdam you can reach the city in about 6.5 hours and by train it can be reached in 7.5 to 8 hours. I chose to travel to this East German city by car. After all, driving on the German autobahn is perfectly doable, and if you travel outside rush hour, you can drive well. For travelers from the eastern part of the Netherlands who prefer to travel by plane, there are also several direct flight options of about an hour's time from the airport in Düsseldorf.
Comfortable overnight stay
Through one of our hotel providers, I booked the Westin Hotel. A comfortable 4-star hotel located on the outskirts of the center of Leipzig. The city center and the main train station can be reached in about a 10-minute walk. The modern rooms offer stunning views of the city. Highly recommended for both business and leisure tourists who appreciate comfort. The hotel has three noteworthy restaurants, a fine bar and lounge and several meeting rooms for small and large groups. All in all, perfect for a business stay!
Top 5 attractions in Leipzig
Number 1: Thomaskirche
This is one of the two largest churches in Leipzig and is world famous because Bach was the leader and conductor of the boys' choir there. In addition, the beautiful Romantic and Baroque architectural style make the Thomaskirche well worth a visit.
Number 2: Leipzig marketplace
The marketplace in Leipzig is a huge outdoor square with several stores and restaurants. A historic building is located at this square, which today is used as a museum about the city's history.
Number 3: The old city hall
The beautiful Old Town Hall is one of the most beautiful Renaissance buildings in Germany. Much of the city's history is told through exhibitions here.
Number 4: Runde Ecke
I would definitely recommend visiting the museum "Runde Ecke. This building belonged in the GDR era to the Stasi, the notorious intelligence service of the GDR. The current museum still contains the files containing intelligence on the citizens of Leipzig. The Stasi's methods and organization are explained in detail.
Number 5: Clara Zetkin Park / Rose Valley
This largest park in Leipzig covers about 125 hectares. It is a popular resting place for locals. It is also a good place to be during hot summer days.
Number 6: Augustusplatz
On this largest square on the east side of the center are a few special buildings. These include the Opernhaus, Gewandhaus where the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra plays and the buildings of the University. The glass tubes which locals call "milk bottles" are stairwells to the parking garage below. A notable building on Augustusplatz that used to belong to the university is the Panorama Tower. Today, this tower houses several businesses. Be sure to go to the top (31st) floor: there you will find a restaurant including a roof terrace, with a 360-degree view of the surroundings.
All these sights are great to explore on foot, because of the compact city center. However, if one wants to explore the beautiful green parks outside the city, renting a bicycle is recommended.
Combination with other cities
The center of Leipzig is not very big and if you don't like spending your days in museums, it is nice to combine your city break with another city. For example, Berlin is about 2.5 hours away, Dresden is 1.5 hours away and Prague in the Czech Republic is about 3 hours away.
Would you like more information about travel options to Leipzig or another German city? We would be happy to help you put together a (round) trip, business trip or incentive trip to Germany!
