Industrial Heritage in Leipzig and the Region

Thanks to the successful renovation and conversion of former Wilhelminian style buildings, many magnificent brick structures can still be admired in the west of Leipzig today. Exclusive lofts and cultural centres have been created in former factory buildings.

For example, theSpinnerei, which was once the largest cotton mill in Europe, now offers an enormously wide range of attractions for art lovers while remaining a creative home for Leipzig artists. 

Would you like to explore other industrial buildings with unique charm? You will also find what you are looking for in the neighbouring district of Lindenau, where the Tapetenwerk (wall paper factory) and the Kunstkraftwerk arts centre await your visit.

"Experience industrial heritage in a different way – for example, during a ride on the over 125-year-old Döllnitz railway. The roots of the "Wilder Robert" narrow-gauge railway go back a long way in history. For decades, its main purpose was to transport china clay and agricultural products With its steam and diesel locomotives, the light railway is one of the most important tourist attractions in the region today.

Further south in the Leipzig region, the "Historic Coal Railway" is fitted with a diesel engine and traverses the border between Saxony and Thuringia. You can experience real mining tradition, enjoy idyllic landscapes and also visit sights along the way. 
 
If you have never ridden a horse-drawn tram, we strongly recommend visiting Döbeln, also known as Stiefelstadt or "Boot City". Here, Germany's only inner-city horse-drawn tram has been rolling again since 2007. Visit the German Horse Tramway Museum to learn about the history of horse trams.

In past centuries, the mills were always an important part of life . They provided people with food and work and were considered a meeting place for conversation and interaction. They also reflected the latest technology and inventions.

Today, mills are once again enjoying renewed popularity thanks to their old-fashioned technology and traditions as well as the romance of an age long gone. Every year, these technical monuments attract interested visitors to the German Mill Day on Whit Monday. Between April and October, you can attend numerous events. You can visit mills – alone or guided – and experience various cultural highlights. From time to time, you may even hear the traditional miller's greeting "Glück zu" (may good fortune be with you).