Leipzig

St Nicholas church was built in 1165 in the center of town, at the junction of two important trade routes. The original architectural style was Romanesque and Gothic enlargements were made in the 16th century. The Baroque tower and portal were added in the 18th century. The congregation converted to Protestantism during the reformation and it is said that Martin Luther preached there. Johan Sebastian Bach was music director during the 18th century and several of his compositions debuted at the church. The Monday Demonstrations which ultimately led to the fall of the Berlin wall, started as prayer meetings at St Nicholas.

Nikolaikirche Leipzig, Nikolaikirchhof 3, 04109 Leipzig, Germany, Phone: +49-34-11-24-53-80

The old town hall is a Renaiisance building with a Baroque tower. It was built in 1556 and for 350 years was the seat of city administration. It is currently the city museum and has a 25 square meter model of Leipzig as it was in the 19th century. The permanent exhibition tells the story of the city through the lens of German history. The ballroom is used for festivals, weddings, craft fairs and concerts. It is the dominant feature of the Market Square. Weekly farmers' markets and annual holiday fairs are held in the square.

Old Town Hall - Stadtgeschichtliches Museum, Böttchergäßchen 3, 04109 Leipzig, Phone: 03-41-96-51-30

Activities and Attractions for Couples:

The Leipzig Art Association was founded in 1837. There were several generous donations of paintings and other artworks at the outset. The original Renaissance museum was constructed from 1854-1858, facing Augustusplatz. In 1937, under the Degenerate Art campaign, close to 400 Impressionist paintings and prints were confiscated by the Nazis. The building came under heavy fire from Allied bombs in 1943. Fortunately the art had been moved for safekeeping. The collection was itinerant for 61 years until the present glass 36m high 'cube' museum was built. It houses 3500 painting, 1000 sculptures and 60000 graphic sheets. The building is feted for its simplicity and the views over the city.

Museum Of Fine Arts Leipzig , Katharinenstrasse 10, 04109 Leipzig, Phone: 03-41-21-69-90

The Distillery is the oldest techno-club in the federal states. It is also one of the most famous and influential in Germany. It sprang up, illegally, in 1992, shortly after the reunification of Germany. Music enthusiasts occupied an abandoned brewery building, without power or water. They had two generators, one for the music system and one for the lights. The setup fell foul of the city's safety regulations and the club was forced to move to a disused railway building. From the outset, the club attracted local and foreign support and has become an institution and a symbol of liberal German culture.

Kurt-Eisner-Straße 108a, 04275 Leipzig, Phone: 004-93-41-35-59-74-00

What to do if you are traveling with kids:

The 'Round Corner' was the headquarters of the dreaded Stasi or German secret police during the soviet era. The building was occupied in 1989 during the Peaceful Revolution, in order to prevent the destruction of documentation. It is now a museum dedicated to the pursuit of freedom and democracy and creating awareness of the impact of dictatorships on civil and human rights. The museum exhibits material, hosts speakers, and shows films on the history and methods of the Stasi. There are guided tours to the bunker headquarters and along the route taken during the Peaceful Revolution.

Museum In Der Runden Ecke, Dittrichring 24, 04109 Leipzig, Germany, Phone: +49-34-19-61-24-43

This monument was erected on the site of Napoleon's defeat in October 1813. A coalition of soldiers from Russia, Prussia, Austria and Sweden took on Napoleon's French army, Italians, Polish and conscripted German soldiers. It was the beginning of the end of Napoleon's reign. He was sent to exile on Elba the following year, the year in which it was decided to create a colossal monument to his defeat. It took 50 years for the foundation stone to be laid and a full century to complete the 91m high monument. There are 500 steps to the viewing platform at the top.

Straße des 18. Oktober 100, 04299 Leipzig, Phone: 0-34-12-41-68-70

For four decades this building, constructed between 1968 and 1972, was the tallest structure in Leipzig. It was designed to look like an open book but earned the nickname 'Wisdom Tooth'. Both attributes are appropriate for a campus of the University of Leipzig. It is now owned by Merrill Lynch. The original cladding of aluminum has been replaced with granite during refurbishment in 2000. It is 36 stories high with a viewing platform at the top. On the floor below is the Plate of Art restaurant, the highest in central Germany. They serve a varied cuisine with a set business lunch, Sunday brunch, coffee and cake.

Augustusplatz 9, D-04109 Leipzig Phone: 0-34-17-10-05-90

At 40000 square meters, the Augustusplatz is one of the largest squares in Europe. It was laid out in 1785 and named after Frederick Augustus, the first king of Saxony. Prior to its destruction by bombs during Word War II, it was considered to be one of the most beautiful squares in Germany. Today, there is an eclectic mix of historic pre-war, utilitarian soviet era, and modern post-unification buildings lining the square. These include the Opera House (1960), the City Tower (1972) and the University of Liepzig's Paulinium (2007). It is on the inner city's ring road and is a terminus for the tram system.

The Leipzig Zoo is known as the 'zoo of the future'. It was established in 1878 and occupies 67 acres of which 4 acres is indoor rain forest. The zoo provides an overview of the world's animal kingdom, from prehistory to modern day. The animals and their habitats can be viewed from below, above and at eye level, through jungle trails, treetop pathways and on the water. The interactive ark stimulates all the senses. There are 850 animal species in total, including cats and bears of the world, reptiles in a terrarium, birds, bees and monkeys on their own island. The koalas live in an indoor eucalyptus forest.

Pfaffendorfer Str. 29, 04105 Leipzig, Phone: +49-34-15-93-33-85