Christina

I just visited Leipzig last summer, but only on a day trip, and I really liked it a lot. I was staying in Dresden, and actually liked it more than Dresden (which did not seem beautiful to me, I thought it was rather unattractive in most parts, actually). Sure, Dresden has a few of those major museums and the Zwinger and everything (although one major place was closed when I was there), but I didn't really enjoy walking around the city much.

Question from someone above:
<<All I can come up with are the Auerbachs Keller, Ziltunnel restaurant, Passagen, Sankt Thomas church choir, the other church with the student protest history, Porsche & BMW tour, the giant train station/mall. Anything else to add to the list?>>

that's quite a few things to see, I think, but I guess it depends how long you are there. SOme of the major sites are missing from that list, so I'm not sure if it's because you aren't interested or what.

For example, I really enjoyed the museum of city history in the old Town Hall (and the Hall and a few buildings around it, that area in general). I visited the coffee baum, which was fun.


I'm very interested in classical music, so those were major sites for me and one of my main purposes (both the Bach Museum and Mendelssohn's house, didn't make it to Schumann's as it's farther out). There are quite a few other museums to visit which I didn't have time for, but there are lots. LIke the Grassi Museum complex and the Fine Arts museum.

I just found Leipzig a very pleasant and attractive city to walk around, at least in the center from the train station.

DAX

Thanks Christina, a second vote for Leipzig is reassuring. I can't say that I'm a fan of Bach's music. I actually enjoy Dresden quite a bit and have been there 3 times so I'm surprised to hear your impression. Nevertheless I'm glad to hear that Leipzig appealed to you as I've decided to go there for two days next month.

Christina

well, you will be able to decide for yourself, then. I am equally surprised at how many people rave about Dresden, so there you go. A lot of Dresden in the Old Town area is just new, modern ordinary buildings and shopping areas, I thought -- nothing special or attractive to me (eg, the "mall" between the train station and Old Town, the area around the main arts center or shopping mall before the river, etc. -- and there is a lot of construction going on which isn't very attractive. Several of the buildings were mostly reconstructed, and they did a good job, of course, but it wasn't even nice around them (like the Frauenkirche), just concrete and crowds, no greenery. They were closed anyway. Lots of desolate, bare areas or just new modern ugly buildings, not a lot of trees or green areas. Well, that's just my impression.

DAX

I agree with you, there's too much mess from the reconstruction of the area around the Frauenkirche in Dresden, which made it very inconvenient & annoying. I suppose I have a different perspective as I've seen the transformation of Dresden since 1999 so am quite impressed with the progress. You probably missed the nicer gentrified shopping street Koenigsstrasse in the Neustadt which is across the bridge, north of the oldtown. The Pragerstrasse towards the Hauptbahnhof is more of a funky modern mall with concrete architecture which I grew to appreciate over time. There's alot to do in the immediate surrounding of Dresden including the Saxonian Switzerland National Park, Radebeul (Karl May's hometown), Meissen (Porcelain & Castle), Moritzburg castle,& wine country. You may enjoy Dresden when all the construction is all done.

I am always a bit curious about Leipzig as my grandfather used to travel there for annual tradeshows.
I do have this tentative hesitation about Leipzig but your postings and others' makes me feel more sure about making a stop there. So thanks again.

Ingo

For Leipzig: the monument of the Battle of Nations is quite impressive. Also, don't miss the "Museum in der Runden Ecke", the Stasi museum, near Coffe Baum. Btw, the Café "Coffe Baum" has a nice small museum about coffee traditions in Saxony attached on the upper floor (free if I recall correctly).

Another sight worth a visit is the Russian-Orthodox church, built 1913 on occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Nations, a copy of the church in Moscow-Ostankino.

I guess you all know that I better don't reply to the above post regarding Dresden ;-) LOL!

I.

DAX

Thanks for the Leipzig tips Ingo! I didn't mean to sound negative about the reconstruction as you know how much I enjoyed visiting your city. My wife & kids actually voted to go to Dresden after Berlin to see Bastei etc. As luck would have it, I just found out that Swiss actually flies out of Dresden into Zurich nonstop, so it looks like we're heading to Dresden afterall!