City of Leipzig
A CULTURAL GIANT WITH A GREEN HEART

What is life like in Leipzig?

The area around Leipzig's Nikolaikirche church is where the Monday demonstrations began which heralded the end of the GDR era. The people of Leipzig’s pursuit of freedom is just as well known as their enthusiasm for art. An independent academy of the arts was founded just after German reunification, and the city has bubbled with creativity ever since: at the Baumwollspinnerei, the Tapetenwerk and the Kunstkraftwerk at the Karl Heine Canal. With 15,672 monuments – above all, its beautiful Wilhelminian and Art Nouveau buildings – Leipzig is Germany’s capital of cultural monuments. In GDR times, prefabricated housing estates appeared on the city's outskirts; after reunification, the centre was renovated. Today, two thirds of Leipzig’s historical buildings look as lovely as they did when first constructed

Although Leipzig is one of the largest German cities in terms of its area, everything is within easy reach and bike-friendly. Sports, culture and creativity can be found on every corner. Everyone can enjoy a good time together at Leipzig Zoo, with its highlights “Pongoland” and “Gondwanaland”, or at the dark wave music meet-up over Whitsun. The high quality of life in this green, leafy city attracts newcomers: every year, some 6,000 new citizens are welcomed, making Leipzig one of Germany’s fastest-growing cities. Apart from a few city-centre highlights, Leipzig’s housing is more affordable than in any other German city.

It is not just the growing number of children and students who give the city its dynamic feel. The well-known research institutes, the world-famous Leipzig trade fair and Media City, where the broadcasters and TV production studios are based, all add to the city’s international, urban atmosphere.

More than 150 schools offer a variety of educational concepts and specialisms, and more than 40 institutes of higher education, research institutes and scientific centres make Leipzig Germany's "youngest" city. An estimated 200 start-ups have ushered in a new era in Leipzig, their way paved by success stories such as the e-commerce company "Spreadshirt", which employs a workforce of 500. 

With its unique system of shopping arcades and courtyards, the area between the central station and St. Thomas’s Church has twice been voted Germany’s most attractive city centre. Instead of drab shopping streets, it offers a vibrant mix of shops, eateries and culture, and the streets are clean and safe. Shoppers stroll the Mädlerpassage shopping arcade as if they were in Milan, and just around the corner is "Auerbachs Keller", made world famous by its appearance in "Faust". Climb the 91-metre Battle of the Nations Monument or the 142-metre city-centre high-rise, look down on Leipzig and the first thing you will see is a sea of greenery. Not just the parks of various sizes that make up 15 per cent of the city’s area; one third is the allotments which have been found in Leipzig for more than 150 years.

What is it like to learn and work in Leipzig?

Leipzig is flourishing: in terms of being fit for the future, this city famous for its trade fair ranks a proud second among Germany’s 30 biggest cities. Over the last 14 years, 77,000 people have come to work in the city, mainly thanks to companies such as Porsche, BMW and DHL, which have settled in Leipzig since 1999 and created between 4,200 and 5,700 jobs.

Workers in the automotive industry or logistics are welcomed to the Leipzig region with open arms: these sectors have a constant high demand for skilled labour. But that is not all: renowned IT service providers have also arrived in Leipzig and are always on the lookout for qualified workers. People from all over the world come to Leipzig to live and work. That can be seen from the five bilingual early years childcare centres, where not only German is spoken but also English, French, Chinese and Russian. Leipzig is a child-friendly city and aims to support families, among other things by setting up 14 child and family centres (KiFaZ) so far. 

Today, Leipzig is teeming with micro-businesses and small enterprises developing ideas in emerging fields such as big data, energy infrastructure and mobility. Anyone wishing to live on the cutting edge should come to Leipzig.