Leipzig

Leipzig
From top: Skyline of Leipzig centre, Monument to the Battle of the Nations at night, Federal Administrative Court of Germany, New Town Hall, City-Hochhaus Leipzig and the Augusteum of the Leipzig University
Flag Coat of arms
Leipzig
Coordinates: 51°20′N 12°23′E / 51.333°N 12.383°E / 51.333; 12.383Coordinates: 51°20′N 12°23′E / 51.333°N 12.383°E / 51.333; 12.383
Country	Germany
State	Saxony
District	Urban districts of Germany
Government
• Lord Mayor	Burkhard Jung (SPD)
Area
• City	297.36 km2 (114.81 sq mi)
Population (2015-12-31)
• City	560,472
• Density	1,900/km2 (4,900/sq mi)
• Metro	1,001,220 (LUZ)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	04001-04357
Dialling codes	0341
Vehicle registration	L
Website	www.leipzig.de

Leipzig (/ˈlaɪpsɪɡ/; German: [ˈlaɪptsɪç]) is the largest city in the federal state of Saxony, Germany. With a population of 570,087 inhabitants (1,001,220 residents in the larger urban zone) it is Germany's tenth most populous city. Leipzig is located about 160 kilometres (99 mi) southwest of Berlin at the confluence of the White Elster, Pleisse and Parthe rivers at the southern end of the North German Plain.

Leipzig has been a trade city since at least the time of the Holy Roman Empire. The city sits at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important Medieval trade routes. Leipzig was once one of the major European centers of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing. Leipzig became a major urban center within the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) after the Second World War, but its cultural and economic importance declined.

Leipzig later played a significant role in instigating the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, through events which took place in and around St. Nicholas Church. Since the reunification of Germany, Leipzig has undergone significant change with the restoration of some historical buildings, the demolition of others, and the development of a modern transport infrastructure. Leipzig today is an economic center and the most livable city in Germany, according to the GfK marketing research institution.Oper Leipzig is one of the most prominent opera houses in Germany, and Leipzig Zoological Garden is one of the most modern zoos in Europe and ranks first in Germany and second in Europe according to Anthony Sheridan. Since the opening of the Leipzig City Tunnel in 2013, Leipzig forms the centerpiece of the S-Bahn Mitteldeutschland public transit system. Leipzig is currently listed as Gamma World City and Germany's "Boomtown". Outside of Leipzig the Neuseenland district forms a huge lake area by approx 300 square kilometres (120 sq mi).