Known as the City of Music, Leipzig was once home to Bach, Mendelssohn, Clara and Robert Schumann, Wagner, and more. And while there are countless traditional museums from which to unearth these historical stories, modern visitors can explore the art and music of Leipzig in a whole new way. From virtual orchestras to a renewed industrial scene, it’s all happening in Leipzig!
This story was created in partnership with Leipzig Tourism and Marketing GMBH.
Make History New Again with Leipzig’s Virtual Reality Movement
The Virtual Bach Experience
Instead of being threatened by a changing world, Leipzig has embraced new technologies to enhance its rich history and characters. Take for example Johann Sebastian Bach, one of Leipzig’s most celebrated composers. Bach spent 27 years working in Leipzig, during which he remarkably composed more than 150 cantatas in a span of four years. Today’s travelers can follow in Bach’s legendary footsteps along the Bach Music Trail in Leipzig, from his favorite coffee shop, Café Zimmermann, to St. Thomas Church where he rests today. Fugue fans won’t want to miss the Virtual Bach Experience, where Johann Sebastian Bach himself comes to life entertaining visitors through augmented reality headsets in a realistic presentation.
Photo by Andreas Schmidt
The Bartholdy Effektorium
Travelers will also enjoy the Effektorium at the Mendelssohn Haus. Here, visitors can take charge and conduct a virtual orchestra or choir with works by Felix Mendelssohn with a one-of-a-kind experience. Thirteen standalone posts (or steles) transform into a unique group of instruments, or vocal registers, completely controlled by you—the composer. For those who would rather leave the composing to the experts, the stage is set to enjoy unique interpretations of Mendelssohn’s work by a series of master conductors.
Photo by Philipp Kirschner
Discover the Leipzig Art Revolution
In the trendy districts just west of Leipzig, travelers can uncover a plethora of unique industrial areas that have undergone a full rebrand in recent years. The Spinnerei Art Center—formerly the largest cotton spinning mill in continental Europe—is now a hive of art and culture. Over 100 artists, designers, and makers hold studio space here, and 11 galleries and exhibition spaces welcome curious eyes during organized tours. Additionally, the Kunstkraftwerk venue (formerly a heating plant) features spectacular 360-degree digital and contemporary shows. And lastly, for those who want to taste and shop in a reimagined industrial zone, visit Kaiserbad or Westwerk in Plagwitz.
Photo by Philipp Kirschner
Of course, these areas also provide an opportunity to enjoy Leipzig’s striking industrial architecture: towering brick buildings with expansive steel casement windows and photogenic bridges spanning the Karl Heine Canal. Now filled with renewed purpose and energy, these iconic buildings will continue to withstand the test of time.
Photo by Tom Schulze
Explore a New Kind of Exhibit
With no shortage of classic museums that can compete with some of the best in Europe, Leipzig is also home to several more creative museums. The Panometer tops our list, with their 360-degree exhibit rivaling that of the Las Vegas Sphere. The main difference? The art in the Panometer is not digital, making it even more astounding. Clocking in at 105-feet (32-meters) high and 360-feet (110-meters) wide, it is the largest 360-degree panorama art work in the world.
Photo by Philipp Kirschner
The current exhibit, “The Cathedral of Monet” envelops the audience in the French city of Rouen at the end of the 19th century, while the next scheduled experience for early 2026 will showcase the icy wilderness of Antarctica.
Photo by Philipp Kirschner
Attend a Music Festival, No Matter the Season
There are so many music festivals in and around Leipzig that no matter when you visit, your trip is almost sure to overlap with one. The annual Bach Festival each June draws over 70,000 attendees from around the world, while the springtime week-long a capella festival highlights a range of styles from folk to pop. Jazz Days—occurring in the fall—is one of Germany’s longest running jazz celebrations. And the upcoming May 2027 Beethoven Festival held at the iconic Gewandhaus deserves a spot on every calendar. There is always a hum in the air in Leipzig.
Eager to experience the great outdoors in Leipzig in addition to its robust art and culture scene? Discover miles of hiking and biking trails, the unparalleled New Lakeland area, and more here.
