Leipzig (pop 493,000) became known as the City of Heroes following the peaceful protests of 1989 which culminated in the fall of Communism. It has a great cultural tradition with many famous musicians and composers linked to the city.

Bach spent the last 27 year of his life in Leipzig, and Mendelssohn lived here for 12 years. Wagner and Goethe also lived here.

See some of Bach’s original manuscripts in the Bach Museum, Leipzig, along with other memorabilia. There are also museums dedicated to Mendelssohn and the Schumanns.

The Forum of Contemporary History (Zeitgeschichtliches Forum) in Leipzig gives the history and daily life of the GDR from division to reunification.

Train lovers should take a look at the Bavarian Railway Station (Bayerischer Bahnhof), in Leipzig. Built in the 1840s, it’s Europe’s oldest working railway station.