German Cities Leipzig

One of the most well-known German cities for its academic and artistic life, Leipzig is located in the former East German province of Saxony. The city covers an area of 114.9 square miles (297.6 sq. km.) and has a population of 511,252 as of April, 2008, making it the largest city in Saxony. The name of the city comes from the Slavic word Lipsk, which refers to the lime trees that once stood on the city grounds. The first recorded mention of Leipzig was in 1015, and it became a market town in 1165, which made it one of the most important German cities. The Leipzig Trade Fare was established during the Middle Ages, a gathering which became a central point of contact for many European countries, and which continues today. Also, the University of Leipzig, one of the most famous universities in Germany was founded in 1409.

Like many other German cities, Leipzig has been the site of many notable events throughout its history. During the early nineteenth century, Napoleon was defeated at Leipzig in The Battle of Nations, after which he was exiled to Elba for the first time. This event is commemorated by the Völkerschlachtdenkmal, a monument that was erected on the one hundredth anniversary of the historic battle. With the establishment of a railway line in 1839, Leipzig became an important city for railway travel, servicing people from all over Central Europe.

Leipzig is also unique among German cities for the events it has survived during the twentieth century. The mayor of the city during the 1930s was a noted opponent of the Nazi power structure, and resigned over the destruction of a historically significant synagogue on Kristallnacht. The city was extensively damaged during the Second World War, and was turned over to the Soviet Union’s forces following the end of hostilities. From 1945 to 1990, Leipzig was one of the most important cities in the German Democratic Republic. During this time, the Leipzig Trade Fair became a point of contact between the nations of Western Europe and those countries behind the Iron Curtain.

Leipzig is also similar to other major German cities in that a number of different companies are headquartered or have branch offices established there. DHL, Porsche, BMW, and Amazon all have significant presences there. The business of education is also very important in Leipzig, as the university and other schools around the city are the largest centers of monetary traffic, both in terms of investments and expenditures.

Some important annual events in Leipzig include the Auto Mobil International car show, Bachfest, a festival dedicated to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, and the Games Convention, a convention for video game companies and developers.