Things to see and do Leipzig

The Art Gallery of Leipzig is proposing located in an incredibly bright building, with a glass of glass, opened in 2005 in the heart of the old town. The main exhibition site of art recognized in Leipzig, the MDBK, whose existence dates back to 1848, exhibits major works of German art, from the Renaissance to today. The passionate visitor by German painting and sculpture dénichera countless wonders here. First, the works of the artists, the most famous Leipzig children. Among them, Max Beckmann, heir of expressionism and New Objectivity, who carried out a singular and uncategorized work, far from Leipzig; You can also admire his portrait of a carpet dealer. The other glorious child of the city is Max Klinger symbolism, who remained active in the city for most of his life. In particular, you can gaze at the Monument at Beethoven, one of its most appreciated sculptural works. Alongside the artists linked to this city - which has not just been a city of plastic art - you will be able to wander through major works of German art acquired by the museum: those of the expressionist painters of the Die Brücke and Der Blaue Reiter groups, including the beautiful loving couple of Otto Müller. There are many paintings from the German Impressionist, less known because in the continuity of their French peers, but often very talented; and also those of romantic painting which was the first to distinguish Germany in the th century. In this current, the masterpiece of the museum is the famous Lebensstufen (Ages of Life) of Caspar David Friedrich. One of the nails of the museum is the Salle Lucas Cranach, dedicated to the Renaissance master, including the famous Adam and Eve. You will still find a good collection of East-German and contemporary art, including paintings from the first two Leipziger Schulen who participated in the genesis of Neue Leipziger Schule.

Temporary exhibitions are always of high quality and very well thématisées. The glass building also allows you to admire Baroque houses across the street.

At the beginning of the 20th century, many alleys of the old town were transformed into fairground houses, like real Saxon caravanserais. To display the goods, depending on the sector, the city created real small commercial islands, with appropriate shops, offices and passageways. You can, in a fun way, as for the traboules in Lyon, cross the city in transit, as an alternative (and only pedestrian) way to the traditional streets. In all, the city centre has no less than 24 passages!

The Mädler-Passage is the most famous of them (Grimmaische Strasse / Neumarkt). Very Belle Epoque, with a luxurious interior decoration, it covers an old street. It is home to the famous Auerbachskeller tavern, the city's most prestigious restaurant, closely linked to Goethe and his hero Faust. The Mädler-Passage is a timeless place, magical for its decorations, and spectacular for the skylight that passes through it.

Barthels Hof (Markt 8 / Hainstrasse 1) is the oldest passage in the city (1750), and its appearance is typically Baroque, with its yellow colour and elegant facades. An exhibition space during the fairs in the 18th century, it was not transformed into a commercial passage as such afterwards (even if it includes some shops).

Specks Hof (Reichstrasse 4 / Nikolaistrasse 3/9) is the oldest strictly speaking commercial passage in Leipzig (1908). Typically Art Nouveau, it is very elegant and some consider it to be the most beautiful.

Städtisches Kaufhaus (Universitätstrasse 16 / Neumarkt 9/19) is a large through courtyard built between 1894 and 1901, formerly the town centre fairground. Today, it is no longer a commercial space, but a place that houses gastronomic establishments, small shops and offices. With its balustrades and paved floor, the passage is quite harmonious.

Hansahaus (Grimmaische Strasse 13/15) dates from 1906; this merchant courtyard, formerly a fairground house, is entirely tiled, in a Berlin style

The tradition of commercial passages has been preserved since then: the Theaterpassage was built in 1928 in a very Bauhaus style; the Königshof-Passage (Markt 17 - Petersstrasse 13) dates from 1932; the Messehofpassage dates from 1950... Then in the 1990s and 2000s, many other commercial passages were built in contemporary architectural styles. They are real shopping centres organised in passages, like a nod to the past: the Petersbogen, one of the most impressive in terms of space, dates back to 2001. It is located between Peterstrasse and Burgstrasse. The Marktgalerie, for its part, was inaugurated in 2005, between Markt 11 and Klostergasse 12.