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Leipzig : Saxony state’s most populous city with a notable great deal of Renaissance style buildings

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Leipzig city is located at the trident shape confluence of Elster, Parthe, White and Pleisse rivers. It is a city that seamlessly marries modernization with its history by embracing aspects from both sides. It forms a nice place for sightseeing and historical education as it houses contemporary arts and artifacts with age ranges of a couple millennia. Below are some of the awesome places one can tour in this city:

1. Leipzig Zoo

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For a city that is generally dotted with lime trees and climate that is somehow oceanic, it comes as no surprise that wildlife can be a worthy sightseeing place in it. The zoo is composed of both indoor and outdoor habitats, making it a worthy visit regardless of the weather. The interior habitats are well decorated, simulating the natural setting of the respective animals. At the Gorilla Ape Complex, various breeds of primates can be seen such as gorillas, bonobos, chimps and orangs. There is also a volcano themed tunnel, housing fossils dated to approximately thousands of years.

2. The Panometer

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Panoramic views are taken to the next level in the panometer, forming perfect indoor sightseeing spots. Displayed here are rare and phenomenal 360 degrees panoramic pictures. The pictures are as large as basketball fields in dimensional descriptions. To make it more worthwhile, light and sounds are mimicked in synchrony with these pictures to arouse a near-life experience. Perfect representations of famous landmarks and events are on display here, such as Mount Everest, the Great Barrier Reef underwater experience and the Battle of Nations in Leipzig. The panometer is a nice effortless sightseeing experience in Leipzig.

3. Wildpark Leipzig

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This forms a nice semi sightseeing experience on the outskirts of Leipzig city. It can be easily accessed by the tram commuter system and entrance is free. It features walkways into the woods and opening up to expensive green spaces. This nature trail also forms a good spot for cycling, proving to be worth hiking experience. Some of the animals present are wild pigs, duck, foxes, geese, bison and deer. Feeding of these animals is allowed. The park also has a playground suitable for children and providing thrill outside the city.

4. Adventure Rooms Leipzig

Sightseeing aside, the Adventure Rooms is one of the city’s that can be visited by thrill seekers. Visitors get to play thriller flick inspired sets. In teams, they are locked in strange rooms and are given a deadline to find the exits, which are usually hidden doors. Bars and salons are part of the adventure. Visitors get to choose their preferred game-play: either original movie derived game-play, vintage or selected them inspired settings. For individuals who fail to find the hidden exits within the deadline, a big surprise is usually on the way.

5. Battle of The Nations Monument

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This is Europe’s largest war museum. It was built in this city, which was one of the major fronts for the Battle of The Nations, which successfully defeated Napoleon’s regime. Statues of some heroic soldiers surround the monument. Inside the monument is a chamber on the upper floors where spectacular views of the monument are a given. Below the monument, there’s a museum housing military equipment and educational articles on military life during the battle. The area is not far from the city, approximately fifteen minutes on the traffic unbothered tram system.

6. Mädlerpassage and Naschmarkt

Leipzig city is a major commercial hub in Europe, from a couple of centuries back. This place is made of avenues of stores and shops in the tunnel pathways of the ancient city. The tunnel shops were mostly used by tradesmen during hostile weather periods and during the winter. Presently, they have been revived as shops oozing elegance, thanks to captivating decorations such as leather ceilings and artworks on the floor tiles. The Faust and Mephistopheles statue is also housed here, adjacent to the Naschmarkt square. The Naschmarkt square forms a nice sightseeing spot, unique as it features man-made settings, away from the usual green monuments.

7. Museum of Fine Arts

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Leipzig city is not only a commercial hub; it is also an art hub hosting various major festivals, art and musical galleries. The Museum of Fine Arts hosts close to four thousand paintings whose timeline is majorly the antique periods to the subsequent Renaissance periods. The artworks trace their origins to various European nations majorly from Dutch, German and Italian principal artists. The artworks are also arranged in a manner that shows the evolution and transition of European artists from Classical to Symbolism, with Romantic and Impressionism in between.

8. Mendelssohn House

In Leipzig city, classical music composers found fame and a home that appreciated their displays, from Bach to Mendelssohn and Wagner. This house is the former residence of Felix Bartholdy, one of the classical music composers. The home is preserved in the same way he arranged it and in its original plans and furnishing is in the then-popular Biedermeier style. Visitors get to see his music sheets, paintings and belongings. The most memorable add on to the building is the Effektorium, a conductor’s podium, where visitors can conduct a virtual orchestra.

9. Leipzig Cotton Mill

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Located on a vast site is the place aimed at Leipzig’s city place in the cotton trade. To avoid monotony during the sightseeing outing, the place incorporates workshops, art galleries, art studios and exhibitions. The cotton mill site is also a breeding ground for budding artistes ranging from: sculptors, porcelain manufacturers, fashion designers, goldsmiths and potters are housed here. A film club is also found here, adding entertainment onto the reasons to visit the Leipzig cotton mills. For refreshment cafes are present. Restaurants are also available, should one feel famished during or after a sightseeing tour to the Leipzig cotton mill.

10. St. Nicholas Church

As if to serve as a reminder that old is gold, this 1700 neoclassical church is still a remarkable sight and a case study of the city’s roots of religion. Its interior decoration is one to easily make one turn a church to a new hangout and sightseeing place. The white interior is made of pillars, with grooved columns, rising to the roof and converging into palm leaf supporting cast for the groined ceiling. The church was Johann Bach’s workplace, where he was a composer for its choir. A beautiful square with monuments erected in remembrance of the anti-communist demonstrations, which rocked East Germany during the late 1980s.

◎ Closing

A major city in Europe’s most industrialized nation, Leipzig city still sticks to its roots, thus being a great sightseeing spot as well as major art and film center. Just like the old days, the city still hosts a variety of arts and film festivals, both contemporary and classical ones, the main one being the largest Gothic festival. Leipzig city is a definite recommendation for any tour enthusiast who wants to have a dose of both sightseeing and historical education.