But this wealth was in danger: in 1989, a television report asked the question: "Can Leipzig still be saved?" Shocking images of a decaying city with dreary streets and dilapidated Wilhelminian-era buildings went around the world. Of the 257.000 apartments, around 1990 were in need of renovation in 196.000, 103.000 of which were from the Wilhelminian era. Despite the housing shortage during the GDR era, around 25.000 old apartments were empty and uninhabitable. Over 80 percent of all Wilhelminian-era apartments have now been completely renovated. Gray city districts have become attractive and lively residential areas. Public green spaces have increased by 30 percent.
But how did it come about that today in Leipzig - like in almost no other city - large, intact Wilhelminian-era areas shape the cityscape? This architectural wealth is due to the city's astonishing growth between 1871 and 1914, when the population increased from around 100.000 to around 625.000. The resulting construction boom not only created extensive residential areas and villa districts, but also a completely new infrastructure: town halls, post offices, banks and hospitals. The architectural landmarks of this period include the New Town Hall, the former Reich Court and the University Library.
The real boom in large-scale industry began around 1865, after the restrictive guild system was abolished in 1861 and freedom of trade was introduced in Saxony in 1862. Major impulses for industrialization came from private individuals and joint-stock companies and land companies. With the flow of immigration caused by industrialization, the demand for housing increased. The response of the so-called Gründerzeit period to this was uniform development plans and private-sector apartment building. Social mixing in the newly created residential areas was guaranteed by setting up shop floors and merchant apartments in the front buildings, apartments for employees and craftsmen on the upper floors, and workers' quarters in the back courtyards. The legislation of 1889 made it attractive for insurance companies to invest in cooperatives and thus initiated a boom in this type of housing construction. By 1929 there were around 30 building cooperatives.
After the First World War, the municipality took over the role of building contractor for the many homeless. Small, functional apartments, uniformly large, simple building complexes, and communal facilities such as washhouses and green spaces were built.
Fortunately, the Second World War did not cause as much destruction to Leipzig as it did to other large cities. The post-war period was characterized by neglect of the preserved buildings, and there were rarely any demolitions. Today, former upper-class residential areas, such as in the southern suburbs, the music quarter and the Waldstrassenviertel, have been extensively renovated. The old buildings in Connewitz, Plagwitz and Reudnitz have become popular residential areas for students and young families. The Wilhelminian residential areas are close to the city center and are almost all surrounded by the Auenwald forest and large landscape parks. In good locations, demand now exceeds supply.
But that wasn't always the case. After German reunification, many Leipzig residents moved away, so that by the end of the 1990s the city had only 437.000 inhabitants. Due to the high vacancy rate and the abolition of special depreciation, prices and rents fell to a low level.
Leipzig is currently the fastest growing city in Germany. Around 600.000 people now live here. The metropolis is the center of the Central German economic region with excellent prospects. It is no wonder that international investors as well as private investors have discovered Leipzig.
There are many opportunities to follow the trail of fascinating Wilhelminian-era architecture in Leipzig, for example at the annual "Neustädter Frühstück" in the Neustadt-Neuschönefeld residential area or at the "Funkenburgfest" in the Waldstraßenviertel.
The Leipzig Erleben GmbH, for example, offers various thematic tours, including "The Waldstrassenviertel and its history(ies)".
More information about cycling in the Leipzig Region as well as more interesting routes: www.leipzig-erleben.com