Situated on the banks of the Auer River, Leipzig is located in the state of Saxony in north eastern Germany and was once one of Europe's richest and most artistic cities. Some of the great names of German music, literature and science like Bach, Goethe, Leibniz, Mendelssohn, Nietsche, Schiller, Schumann and Wagner lived in the city at some point in their lives. Leipzig's early growth and wealth was based on book publishing, trade fairs and its famous university which attracted scholars from all over Europe.

Reunification role

The first references about Leipzig date from 1015 AD. Around 1165, Leipzig received its town charter and rights as a market town. Due to its strategic placement along the market routes to Prague, Berlin and Frankfurt, it became a commercially active city. In 1497, Leipzig was granted the right to hold trade fairs. In 1813, Napoleon was defeated to the south of Leipzig. This Völkerschlacht (Battle of the Nations) claimed 85,000 dead and 100,000 wounded.

The recent history of Leipzig is first and foremost marked by the Wende or 'change' of 1989. With leading role in the 1989 democratic revolution, Leipzig has experienced tremendous change and has become one of the most modern cities of Germany.

Gewandhaus, Bach, Goethe...

Leipzig's international reputation as a city of music is closely associated with the Gewandhaus Orchestra, which was founded in 1743 and is Europe's longest-established orchestra and was once conducted by Mendelssohn. The church Thomaskirche, which became a focal point during the early days of the Reformation, has a world-renowned choir, which has been in existence since the 13th century, and was once directed by Johann Sebastian Bach.

Intellectuals-R-Us

The University of Leipzig also enjoys a long tradition. It was founded in 1409, which makes it one of Europe's oldest universities. It boasts a whole host of famed former students such as Thomasius, Gottsched and Gellert, and more recently the philosophers Hans-Georg Gadamer and Ernst Bloch. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe arrived in Leipzig in 1765 to study law and his famous drama Faust is partly set in Auerbachs Keller, in Leipzig. The city also has its fair share of wonderful museums and ancient architecture which hark back to those artistic times and beyond.

Mecca for bookworms

With more than 800 years of history, Leipziger Messe is one of the world's oldest trade fairs. The trade fair gives support to exhibitors and visitors of the world, who are looking for new business relationships. One of the most important fairs in Leipzig is the book fair. More than 100,000 visitors visit the Leipzig Book Fair every year.

German soccer roots run deep

Leipzig has a great soccer tradition. The German Football Association (DFB) was founded in the city in 1900. Before unification, Leipzig was the sports center of the former East Germany. Now as one of the host cities for the FIFA Soccer World Cup 2006, Leipzig is a venue for five World Cup matches.