It lies at the meeting point of the White Elster River and its two tributaries, the Pleiße and the Parthe. Leipzig’s Slavic origin is seen in the name of the city and some of its districts.
Since the days of the Holy Roman Empire, the city has been a bustling trade center, positioned at the crossroads of two vital medieval trade routes – the Via Regia and the Via Imperii. Its trade fair dates back to 1190. Between 1764 and 1945, Leipzig had a major presence in the publishing industry.
Following World War II and the German Democratic Republic, Leipzig’s economic and cultural prominence dwindled. However, the city still houses one of the oldest universities in Europe, the Leipzig University.
It also serves as the location of the German National Library and the German Federal Administrative Court. Leipzig was rated the most livable city in Germany in 2013 by GfK.
