GERMANY - Europe by Eurail 2015: Touring Europe by Train - page 228

Like many cities and towns in Europe, Leipzig has an old and a new section.
Leipzig's old town is located between three rivers: the Parthe, the Elster, and the
Pleisse. No doubt the site selection had much to do with safety, and the proximity
to three navigable rivers also indicates an early interest in trade. Leipzig has been
known for its great trade fairs that date from the Middle Ages and still attract busi-
nesspeople from all over the world.
The city's name is derived from Lipsk, the original Slav settlement named for the
lime trees ( lipa ) growing there. Leipzig was built as a walled city in the 11th century;
the walls surrounding the old town were replaced in the 18th century by a ring of
parks and promenades. Subsequently, Leipzig expanded in all directions by gradu-
ally incorporating the suburbs that were growing up around it—a tactic followed by
many American cities.
Reconstructed from 1996 to 1998, Leipzig's main rail terminal (Hauptbahnhof)
has 23 platforms (plus 4 outside platforms) and is the largest rail terminal in
Europe. The three-level station houses restaurants, shops, cafes, meeting rooms,
travel agencies, money exchange, and other tourist facilities. More than 800
trains move through the terminus daily, carrying an estimated 75,000 passengers.
There's no need to worry about navigating its size, since the Hauptbahnhof comes
well equipped with pictographs.
The Leipzig Card provides transport on trams and buses and on the city railway
to the New Trade-Fair Centre. There are also reductions on city tours, museums,
concerts, Bach Festival tickets, and in selected restaurants. There are three types:
one-day €9.90 (one person); three-day €19.90 (one person); three-day group
€37.90 (two adults + up to three children younger than age 15). Purchase at the
tourist office, rail station, and many hotels, or order online.