Leipzig

Leipzig (/ˈlaɪpsɪɡ/; German: [ˈlaɪptsɪç]) is the largest city in the federal state of Saxony, Germany. With its population of 544,479 inhabitants (1,001,220 residents in the larger urban zone) Leipzig, one of Germany's top 15 cities by population, is located about 160 kilometers (99 miles) southwest of Berlin at the confluence of the White Elster, Pleisse, and Parthe rivers at the southerly end of the North German Plain.

Leipzig has been a trade city since at least the time of the Holy Roman Empire. The city sits at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important Medieval trade routes. Leipzig was once one of the major European centers of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing. Leipzig became a major urban center within the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) after World War II, but its cultural and economic importance declined despite East Germany being the richest economy in the Soviet Bloc.

Leipzig later played a significant role in instigating the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, through events which took place in and around St. Nicholas Church. Since the reunification of Germany, Leipzig has undergone significant change with the restoration of some historical buildings, the demolition of others, and the development of a modern transport infrastructure. Leipzig today is an economic center and the most livable city in Germany, according to the GfK marketing research institution.Oper Leipzig is one of the most prominent opera houses in Germany, and Leipzig Zoological Garden is one of the most modern zoos in Europe and ranks first in Germany and second in Europe according to Anthony Sheridan. Leipzig is currently listed as Gamma World City and Germany's "Boomtown".

Leipzig (district)

Leipzig (official name: Landkreis Leipzig) is a district (Kreis) in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is named after the city Leipzig, which is partly surrounded by the district, but not part of it. It borders (from the west and clockwise) the state Saxony-Anhalt, the urban district Leipzig, the districts Nordsachsen and Mittelsachsen, and the state Thuringia.

Geography

The district is located in the Leipzig Bay and is rather flat. Individual hills are found in the north (Hohburg Hills) and south of the district. Its larger rivers are the Mulde, Pleiße and White Elster. Also worth mentioning are the many lakes of the Leipzig Neuseenland in the west of the county, that were formed by flooding old brown coal pits.

History

The district was established by merging the former districts Muldentalkreis and Leipziger Land as part of the district reform of August 2008.

Geography

The district is located in the lowlands around Leipzig. The main rivers of the district are the Mulde, the Weiße Elster and the Pleiße.

Leipzig (region)

Leipzig is one of the three former Direktionsbezirke of the Free State of Saxony, Germany, located in the north-west of the state. It coincided with the Planungsregion Westsachsen. It was disbanded in March 2012.

History

The Direktionsbezirk Leipzig came into existence on 1 August 2008, and succeeded the Regierungsbezirk Leipzig. The territory of Regierungsbezirk Leipzig was slightly larger, and included the former district of Döbeln. With the exception of the districts Altenburg and Schmölln, the territory of the Regierungsbezirk corresponded to that of the former Bezirk Leipzig which existed from 1952 to 1990.

A Regierungsbezirk Leipzig existed already from 1939 to 1943, when the former Kreishauptmannschaften in Saxony were renamed following the custom in Prussia.

Subdivision

See also

References

External links

Coordinates: 51°20′N 12°50′E / 51.33°N 12.83°E / 51.33; 12.83