GERMANY WORLD CUP 2006
Leipzig
It was in Leipzig where the beginning of the end of division began. In 1989, over 70,000 people held a peaceful march in what was then East Germany. The event paved the way for reunification of the two Germanys. The largest city in the state of Saxony,
Known as a cultural centre, there is much to see and do for art lovers, with numerous art festivals, concerts, operas and cabarets to visit. But it is also a thriving commercial and industrial centre, boasting some wonderful buildings, such as the Crystal Palace built in 1996.
Leipzig also offers some wonderful meadows, woods, parks, and small gardens that form a green belt along the city, and make up about a third of its surface area.
Getting there
By air
Leipzig-Halle (LEJ) airport is 12 miles from the city and offers regular shuttle buses to the city's main train station.
By rail
Leipzig links to Berlin (2-3 hours); Frankfurt (3 hours 45 mins); Munich (7 hours); Hannover (3 hours 45 mins); Hamburg (4 hours 30 mins) and Dresden (90 minutes). Leipzig is also easily accessible from Prague in the Czech Republic.
Links :
Deutsche Bahn
European Rail
By road
Autobahns connect Leipzig to Berlin (A-9) and Dresden (A-14).
All main German cities are serviced by Eurlolines and tickets can be purchased at Deutsche Bahn (representative agents), which you'll find in main railway stations. If travelling by private car, you'll find information on the German motorway network at autobahn-online.de.
Accomodation
The most central place to find a room is Fifaworldcup.com. The majority of listed hotels are located close to the venue which will save you a lot of time on match day. Searching for the right place to stay is made simple for bookers - just name which team you are supporting and a list of hotels will appear for you to select in each city that they will play in.
The stadium
Leipzig's old Central Stadium was once the largest in Germany, with a capacity of 100,000. The new futuristic-looking stadium, commissioned especially for the World Cup 2006 to architect Michael Wierderspahn is already being dubbed a great architectural achievement.
Getting there : Leipzig's Central Stadium is a 20-minute walk from the main railway station and 15 minutes from the city centre.
Official website
If you don't get a ticket
If you don't get a ticket, join everybody else on the street. You can watch 56 of the 64 games on a big screen on Augustusplatz in central Leipzig. There will also be live music, celebrity appearances, as well as food and drink stalls to entertain the half times.
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