Augustusplatz (Augustus Square), Leipzig

Augustusplatz (Augustus Square), Leipzig

Frederick Augustus III, King of Saxony and Duke of Warsaw in the early 19th century, struggled to establish Poland as an independent country. He failed. But in 1839, the main square of Grimma in Leipzig was renamed Augustus Square (Augustusplatz) in his memory.

The square, within the city walls in 1785, was designed by city architect Johann Carl Friedrich Dauthe. In 1928 a Socialist government named the site Karl Marx Square. Nazis renamed it Augustus Square. In 1953 it was Karl Marx Square again. In the 1990 reunification of Germany, it was restored to the memory of Frederick as Augustus Square.

Augustus Square is the largest square in Leipzig. Before World War II, it was one of the most beautiful squares on the continent. On December 4, 1943, the allied Air Force reduced the square to ruins. Restorations took place, but the site lost its stylistic unity. Buildings around the square show eclecticism rather than a unity of style.

The Opera House of Leipzig, with its fountain, dominates the northern part of the square. The Mendebrunnen, representing an obelisk and a fountain, stands in front of the New Concert Hall. University of Leipzig buildings, including the 36-story City-Skyscraper (City-Hochhaus), are on the west side.

An underground car park with eight illuminated glass stairwells looks like "milk bottles," locals say.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Leipzig. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Augustusplatz (Augustus Square) on Map

Sight Name: Augustusplatz (Augustus Square)
Sight Location: Leipzig, Germany (See walking tours in Leipzig)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Leipzig, Germany

Create Your Own Walk in Leipzig

Create Your Own Walk in Leipzig

Creating your own self-guided walk in Leipzig is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
A Walk on the Leipzig Music Trail

A Walk on the Leipzig Music Trail

The spatial density of historic locations associated with music in Leipzig is truly mind-boggling. But then again, this is hardly surprising, given the eclectic score of musicians who had left their mark on the city in various years.

Indeed, it was in Leipzig that Johann Sebastian Bach served as an organist and choirmaster at Thomaskirche as well as a cantor at Nikolaikirche; composer Robert...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Leipzig Architectural Jewels

Leipzig Architectural Jewels

Anyone who has ever wanted to delve into Leipzig's history could hardly imagine doing so without exploring the local array of architectural jewels. Indeed, Leipzig boasts one of Germany's most beautiful collections of Renaissance buildings.

Our first point of interest lies in downtown Leipzig at the intersection of Katherine and Bruhl Streets. Here, the stunning Baroque-style Romanus...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles
Leipzig Introduction Walking Tour

Leipzig Introduction Walking Tour

The name "Leipzig" may be derived from the Slavic word "Lipsk", meaning "linden trees place." The Nazi government renamed the city "Reichsmessestadt Leipzig" ("Reich Fair Trade City Leipzig"). In 1989, with the fall of communism, the city was "Hero City" - in recognition of the role that the Monday demonstrations there played in the fall...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles