Leipzig Europe's Largest Railway Station

Thursday - After a reasonably comfortable flight we arrived at Frankfurt International Airport at 06:15, The train to Leipzig was on time as expected in Germany and after shoveling our heavy suitcases around we were able to settle down to a comfortable trip, arriving in Leipzig at 12:15. Brigitte and Andreas waiting on the platform welcomed us with bear hugs. The car trip to the apartment was very quick as Leipzig is not a big city and it is possible to walk from the train station to their apartment. Lunch was chocolate biscuits followed by a walk into Leipzig city center. We visited the two main churches, the Nikolai church and the Saint Peters church, and then wandered around the streets until dark. Mind you it gets dark at 17:00 in winter and very cold so we returned home for a light meal and friendly dialogue. We’re all tired and Sylvie fell asleep at the table, something she has never done before. Early night today.

Leipzig Origins
Leipzig was first documented in 1015 in the chronicles of Bishop Thietmar of Merseburg as urbs Libzi and endowed with city and market privileges in 1165 by Otto the Rich. Leipzig Trade Fair, started in the Middle Ages, has become an event of international importance and is the oldest surviving trade fair in the world. There are records of commercial fishing operations on the river Pleiße that, most likely, refer to Leipzig dating back to 1305, when the Margrave Dietrich the Younger granted the fishing rights to the church and convent of St Thomas. There were a number of monasteries in and around the city, including a Franciscan monastery after which the Barfußgäßchen (Barefoot Alley) is named and a monastery of Irish monks (Jacobskirche, destroyed in 1544) near the present day Ranstädter Steinweg (the old Via Regia). The University of Leipzig was founded in 1409 and Leipzig developed into an important center of German law and of the publishing industry in Germany, resulting, in the 19th and 20th centuries, with the Reichsgericht (Imperial Court of Justice) and the German National Library being located here. During the Thirty Years' War, two battles took place in Breitenfeld, about 8 km (5 mi) outside Leipzig city walls. The first battle took place in 1631 and the second in 1642. Both battles resulted in victories for the Swedish-led side. On 24 December 1701, when Franz Conrad Romanus was mayor, an oil-fueled street lighting system was introduced. The city employed light guards who had to follow a specific schedule to ensure the punctual lighting of the 700 lanterns.Read more