Sun. Plenty. Summer in Leipzig.

Plenty of sunshine – that's what many Leipzig residents have always longed for in the summer. Finally, their yearning for light, fresh air, and a relaxed atmosphere is fulfilled. Long days and balmy nights define this special feeling between the awakening of spring and the beginning of autumn. Summer also means vacation, whether at home or abroad. The memories once captured on postcards, Super 8 films, and video cassettes now fill memory cards and hard drives.

Summer promises light and cheerful fashion, ice cream, barbecues, festivals, and outdoor concerts. And above all, it promises swimming fun. People have always swum, whether in the numerous local bodies of water or in natural and outdoor pools, some of which have now been forgotten. Swimwear and swimming styles change, just like outdoor sports.

But this sunny, cheerful view of Leipzig's summer history would only tell half the story. Extreme heat waves, droughts, and severe weather are also part of this time of year and present Leipzig's residents with particular challenges – and these are becoming increasingly common. Rethinking urban planning and adding more greenery to squares, buildings, and roofs are exemplary tools for ensuring that future summers in Leipzig remain pleasant and bearable. If this fails, we'll all quickly grow tired of the summer sun.

And so the exhibition meanders through 400 years of changeable summer feelings – light-footed, but not frivolous. Packed with cheerful, cheeky, and evocative objects, it invites visitors to reconsider this season of love and joie de vivre.