Enjoy a travel to Leipzig: classical music, culture, shopping and good food

 in the world, known as Passage, was built in
 When planning a trip to Berlin, always considerLeipzig in the beginning of the 20th century.
short travels to beautiful destinations around. A 
visit in Potsdam is the traditional choice, but here The passage was actually the predecessor of
is another great offer: Leipzig. Actually, why notthe modern mall. Leipzig developed this kind of
both?salesmanship into an art, and created an exclusive
 Passages' architecture.
 In many ways, Berlin and Leipzig complement 
each other. When speaking about Leipzig, it is, first At least a dozen of these elegant shopping
of all, its unique architecture, music, and shoppingcenters is active there until today and worth
that make it attractive.visiting. Window shopping in the Passages is
 possible at any time, but if you really want to buy
Like Berlin, Leipzig (pronounced ly'pe-tsig) is a citysomething do not go there Sundays, when most
in East Germany, but in a different federal state,shops are closed.
Saxony. 
 Luther and Napoleon
Most important tour sites are in the Leipzig's 
center, and may be visited in one day. That 
means it's possible to go there from Berlin andSpeaking of history and of Thomas Church
return to Berlin the same day. Going one way by(Thomaskirche, in German), this building was the
train takes one hour and 20 minutes only.place where Martin Luther, founder of the
 Reformation movement, addressed at Leipzig
 residents 1539 and convinced them into
Tourist Information Bureau in Leipzig is locatedProtestantism.
near the main train station, and is open every 
day.In addition to the Thomas Church, the Nikolai (St
 Nicholas) Church is another tourists' attraction. The
 If you plan to stay in Leipzig more than a day,church was the first base of the quiet protests in
go to the bureau and buy a "Leipzig Card" that1989, which ended in toppling the Berlin Wall.
gives you free travel on public transportation and 
discounts in most major city's attractions.10 minutes drive from the city center by tram
Three-day ticket price is 18.50 Euros per person,(line 15) another historical site is located: the
or 34 Euros for a couple with two children.monument commemorating the defeat of
 Napoleon at the "Battle of Nations", 1813. The
Boys who sing BachGerman Kaiser Wilhelm the 2nd unveiled the huge
 monument, the largest in Europe, on the battle's
So what's so special about Leipzig?100th anniversary.
First of all, it's the "City of Music". Leipzig is 
regarded as the city of Johann Sebastian Bach. For a small entrance fee, you may climb to the
The great composer was not born in Leipzig, buttop of the monument for observation. There is a
definitely created his wonderful music there.museum as well.
  
 Representing Bach more than anything else isA communist point of view
Thomas Church, where he served as musical 
director and played the organ almost 30 years, The best view of Leipzig is available from the
until the day he died. The famous boys' choirtop of the tallest house in town, which is located
which he conducted, more than 250 years ago,in Augustus Square. The edifice is a remnant of
sings Bach until now, in the same church. Listeningthe Communist spectacular building style. Today it
to a concert of the choir, called in Germanis leased to the German Broadcasting Company
"Thomanerchor", is a wonderful experience forMDR.
music lovers. 
 Leipzig was devastated by the allied bombings in
  Bach's music is also played often elsewhere inWorld War II, and was not much of a city during
Leipzig. For example, in the City's Opera hall and inthe communist regime. However, since the
Bach's Museum.re-unification of Germany, it has been renovated
 and restored.
  
Musicians and museums 
 Food and literature
Speaking of classical music, Leipzig is not only the 
city of Bach. It is also the city of Felix 
Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, the great romanticIn Leipzig center, there are an abundance of
composer. The house where he lived and died, atrestaurants, pubs and bars. The food is good and
Goldschmidt Street 12, is now a museum honoringthe prices are not high. The most famous
the composer and work.restaurant is "Auerbach's cellar", located in
 Grimmaische street 2.
 Another famous composer, Richard Wagner, 
was born in Leipzig, and the composer Robert The place attracts many tourists, especially
Schumann lived there. Both are memorialized byGerman literature lovers, because it is mentioned
museums as well.in Goethe's play Faust. However, it serves a
 delicious traditional Saxon menu as well.
Where do malls come from? 
    In addition, there are a lot of greenery and
Besides music, what makes Leipzig unique is beingwater, a walking distance from midtown.
a pioneer in commerce. The first shopping arcade