Places of Interest – Leipzig

The Renaissance Old City Hall is where Johann Sebastian Bach signed his employment contract as cantor of nearby St Thomas' Church. St Nicholas' Church became known throughout the world in 1989 as the starting point of the "peaceful revolution" which paved the way for the reunification of Germany. Visitors can follow in Goethe's footsteps at Auerbachs Keller restaurant.

Old City Hall

The Old City Hall, one of the finest buildings of the German Renaissance, is home to the Museum of City History. Its banqueting hall is used as a venue for concerts and gala events. Definitely worth seeing are the council chamber, the 1823 model of the city, the prison cells and the portrait of Bach. The extensive building was erected in a period of only nine months in 1556/1557, in between two trade fairs.

St Thomas' Church and St Nicholas' Church

St Thomas's is a late-Gothic hall church. The famous St Thomas' Boys Choir traditionally perform here and it is also where Johann Sebastian Bach is buried. St Nicholas's, Leipzig's largest and oldest church, is where the "peace prayers" were said in 1989. Along with St. Thomas's, it is another place where J.S. Bach did a great deal of work. It has a large, four-manual organ. Many of Bach's important compositions were first performed here.

Monument to the Battle of the Nations

This is Germany's largest monument. It has a 91-metre-high observation platform and was built to commemorate the Battle of Leipzig between the allies and Napoleon's troops in 1813. It is being rededicated as a monument to European peace. There are guided tours, choral concerts, open-air events, special exhibitions and an exhibition about the history of the monument to the Battle of the Nations in the hall of honour.