WORLD URBAN FLAIR AND CITY TRADITIONS.

Who thinks of Leipzig since ancient times, has in his mind's eye the image of a city of free burghers, which is dominated by trade and commerce and live and let live. Already early Leipzig received municipal rights and privileges of the market – very important for the establishment as trade fair location. The university Alma Mater Lipsiensis was founded in 1409. That gave strong and coordinated boosts to the development of letterpress printing and bookselling as well as to science and research and the manifestation of several academies. Now the university "Alma Mater Lipsiensis” has an international standing. Leipzig’s standing according to its musical significance is basically undisputed. It goes back to the artistic creation of Johann Sebastian Bach, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy and the Gewandhaus Orchestra, which is established in the Gewandhaus concert hall on Augustusplatz and the St. Thomas' Boys Choir, too. – In the fall of 1989 Leipzig got the reputation as a city of heroes. Then the "Monday demonstrations" were the catalyst for the peaceful revolution, whereby Germany's separation ended.