Music & Concert Tour To Leipzig

Discover Leipzig’s musical heritage on foot by following the 5km Music Trail through the centre of the city. Each one of the 23 locations is marked by a steel insert in the road and has both German and English commentary.

This interactive museum presents the life and work of Johann Sebastian Bach and his family through a permanent exhibition and educational workshops. The historic building which houses the museum used to house the Bose family who were friends and neighbours of the Bachs. Photo: Andreas Praefcke CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

A visit to this museum at the Kulturforum presents a perfect chance for students interested in music to explore some of the 2200 instruments on display, some of which date back to the 16th century. Objects including a portable harpsichord once owned by Prussia’s Queen Sophie Charlotte, flutes from the collection of Frederick the Great and Benjamin Franklin’s glass harmonica.

Six distinct themed areas recreate the natural habitats of the 850 animal species you can see in the Zoo. The emphasis is on education and conservation through guided tours and keeper talks.

Enjoy a day of fun in the largest Amusement Park in the Saxony region. Situated just outside Leipzig, the park is a world of adventure with mythology themed rides such as The Flight of Icarus and The Curse of the Pharaoh. For the bravest, Huracan is a rollercoaster which features a 32-meter-free fall and 5 loops. Pirate performances, knight tournaments and shows take place regularly in the park.

The Monument commemorates the Battle of the Nations which took place here in 1813 between Napoleon and the unified Prussian, Swedish, Russian and Austrian forces. It ended with the defeat of Napoleon’s forces and cost over 100,000 lives. The Monument is 91 meters high and has large stone statues, and climbing 364 steps allows visitors to reach a viewing platform to enjoy spectacular views over Leipzig.

Started in 1556, the Old Town Hall houses the Museum of City History.  It contains a Ballroom which is 53 meters long and which is used for concerts and cultural events. The square is the location of the twice-weekly Farmers’ Market (Tuesdays and Thursday) and of the city’s Christmas Market.

This is the only Mendelssohn’s house that still exists and it was his last home. Visitors can really get a feel for his life on the second floor apartment and see original music sheets, watercolours and letters all written and painted by the composer himself. The Music Salon is still used nowadays for concerts. Photo by Mealisland CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Arguably the most famous of Leipzig’s shopping arcades, this is an L-shaped historic passage which contains a number of boutiques, restaurants, bars and exclusive shops. The famous restaurant “Auerbachs Keller” – which Goethe called his favourite wine bar – is also here.

Founded in 1743 by 16 cloth merchants, the Gewandhaus Orchestra is considered the oldest municipal orchestra in the world. Its fame was established in the XIX century when Mendelssohn became its music director in 1835. Nowadays, the orchestra performs over 200 concerts a year both in Leipzig and on tour. Its home is the Gewandhaus Concert Hall which was inaugurated in 1981 and which has exceptional acoustics.