MarktThe Market is a square in the historic center of Leipzig. Until 1500, knightly tournaments were held here. The square is surrounded by many old buildings, in the east the market is bordered by the arcades of the Old Town Hall from 1556. The beginning of the modern Leipzig Trade Fair was laid in 1190 by the Margrave Otto of Meissen, who confirmed the right of Leipzig to host spring and autumn fairs. Since then, merchants from many countries with their goods began to gather in Leipzig for the annual fair.
In the center of the approximately 10,000m² large area, the Leipzig coat of arms is embedded in the mosaic pavement. East of the market are the arcades of the Old Town Hall (1556), the oldest surviving building on the square. On the north side, some historic buildings have been rebuilt after being destroyed in the war, including the so-called Old Scale. On the south side, the market square is lined with the royal family as well as new buildings and conversions of recent years, which are intended to remind of historical building silhouettes. The marketplace formed the center of public life early on. A large part of the goods turnover at the Leipzig Trade Fair took place here. Before 1500 knight games took place on the market as cultural highlights. At the same time, it was also the scene of public executions and the first political demonstrations. Today, the market is the venue for city festivals, market days, festivals and of course the Leipzig Christmas market, which is one of the most traditional in Germany.