In this list of streets and squares in Leipzig, the meanings and circumstances of the naming of streets and squares in the saxon city of Leipzig in Germany and their history are shown. Currently valid street names are given in bold letters, names that are no longer valid after renaming or development are in italics. As far as possible, existing or former institutions, monuments, special buildings or well-known residents are also listed.
A
Albrecht-Dürer-Platz – the square green space is located in the Südvorstadt and was initially nameless after its creation at the end of the 19th century. On the occasion of the 400th anniversary of his death, it was decided to name the complex after Albrecht Dürer in 1928.
Alfred-Kästner-Strasse – in the Südvorstadt. The street initially had the designation "Straße F" on the development plan of the Südvorstadt. In 1876 it was named after the Prussian general Moltkestrasse and on 1 August 1945 it was renamed Alfred-Kästner-Strasse, after the resistance fighter Alfred Kästner, who had lived in house no. 20 on Moltkestrasse.
Alte Salzstrasse - road with interruptions in Lindenau and Grünau. It consists of three sections and was the chaussee to Lützen in the west of Leipzig before 1793. The name means Old Salt Road, it is a reminder that heavy loaded freight wagons from the saltworks west of Markranstädt and later also from the Dürrenberg saltworks went to Leipzig via the road.
Andreasstrasse – in the Südvorstadt. It connects Scharnhorststrasse with Hardenbergstrasse at the level of Alexis-Schumann-Platz and is named after the Andreaskirche (St. Andrew Church), which stood there from 1893 to 1958. Until November 1899, it was simply called Strasse hinter der Andreaskirche (Street behind the St. Andrew Church).
Arno-Nitzsche-Strasse - connects the localities of Connewitz and Marienbrunn in the south. It is named after the gasworks employee Arno Nitzsche (1897–1948), who himself died while trying to save a colleague in an accident at work.
Arthur-Hoffmann-Strasse – in the localities of Zentrum-Süd, Südvorstadt and Connewitz. Until 1945, the street was divided into two parts and consisted of Bayrische Strasse (also spelled Bayersche Strasse) from Bayrischer Platz to today's Richard-Lehmann-Strasse and Äußere Bayrische Strasse from Richard-Lehmann-Strasse to today's Wiedebachplatz. Both streets were merged in 1945 and named after the resistance fighter Arthur Hoffmann, who had lived in this street.
August-Bebel-Strasse – in the Südvorstadt. The street runs in a north-south direction and connects Dufourstrasse in the north with Windscheidstrasse in the south. From 1876 to 1945 it was called Kaiser-Wilhelm-Strasse. The street is named after the master turner August Bebel, who was also a co-founder of the Social Democratic Workers' Party of Germany.
Augustusplatz – the largest square in the city, east of the city centre. The square was initially called Grimmaischer Thorplatz and was named in 1839 after Frederick Augustus I of Saxony, the first king of Saxony. From 1945 to 1990 it was named Karl-Marx-Platz after the German philosopher Karl Marx.
B
Barfußgäßchen - short pedestrian street in the city centre. It connects the market with the Dittrichring. It is named after the Franciscans, who were also called discalced or barefooters because they wore no shoes or at most sandals.
Bernhard-Göring-Strasse – in the localities of Zentrum-Süd, Südvorstadt and Connewitz. It was called Elisenstrasse after Princess Elisabeth of Saxony from 1843 and has borne the name of the SPD politician Bernhard Göring since 1950.
Blücherplatz – in the city centre in front of Leipzig Hauptbahnhof, was the name of today's Willy-Brandt-Platz from 1870 to 1945, named after the Prussian field marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher.
Blücherstrasse – in Möckern, was founded in 1950 in memory of the Battle of Möckern (Battle of Leipzig), Blücher was commander-in-chief of the Prussian troops. Furthermore, from 1870 to 1945, Blücherstrasse was the name of today's Kurt-Schumacher-Strasse in the centre.
Bornaische Strasse - in Connewitz, Lößnig and Dölitz-Dösen as well as in the Markkleeberg locality of Markkleeberg-Ost, begins at the Connewitzer Kreuz and ends at the Markkleeberger See. Historically part of the Via Imperii. Named after the town of Borna. In Leipzig, not in Markkleeberg, from 1950 to 1991 Fritz-Austel-Strasse.
Brandvorwerkstrasse – in the Südvorstadt, named after the former Brandvorwerk, which was set on fire in 1593 during the Leipzig Calvinist storm.
Brühl – in the city centre. Brühl refers to a swampy terrain – north of the Brühl was originally the Parthenaue (meadows of the river Parthe). The Brühl was part of the Via Regia and until the Second World War the busiest street in Leipzig.
Burgplatz – in the city centre. It was built around 1900 on parts of the Pleissenburg site, when it was demolished in 1897 to make room for the New Town Hall. The town hall was deliberately built a little out of town to create a new town square.
Burgstrasse – in the city centre. The former Burggasse was already the connection between the city and Pleissenburg in the Middle Ages.
D
Denkmalsallee – in Breitenfeld. The translation is Monument alley, but in reality it is a path leading across the field to the monument that commemorates the Battle of Breitenfeld (1631) and the victorious Gustavus Adolphus.
Dieskaustrasse – in the southwestern localities of Kleinzschocher, Großzschocher and Knauthain-Hartmannsdorf, main connecting road in a north-south direction through the aforementioned localities. The street was built between 1896 and 1904 after the Dieskau family as former owners of the manors of Kleinzschocher, Großzschocher and Knauthain. From 1950 to 1991 it was called the Street of the Komsomol.
Dittrichring – western part of the inner city ring road, named after the mayor of Leipzig, Rudolf Dittrich (1855–1929). Previous names were An der Pleiße and Thomasring.
Dreilindenstrasse – in Lindenau, leads from Lindenauer Markt to Zschochersche Strasse. It formed the eastern access from the Via Regia to Lindenau. Until 1874 it was called Herrenstrasse, then until 31 December 1907 Lindenstrasse. Its current name is derived from the Gasthof Drei Linden (The three lime trees inn), which was first mentioned in 1495 and has borne this name since 1700. The inn was located at the junction with the Via Regia at the time, and today the theatre venue Musikalische Komödie is located there.
E Eisenbahnstrasse - in four eastern localities Neustadt-Neuschönefeld, Volkmarsdorf and Sellerhausen. The street name means in English: Railway Street. From 1835 to 1879, the tracks of the Leipzig–Dresden railway were located here on an embankment. After the line was relocated, the railway embankment was replaced by a connecting main road, which was given the name Eisenbahnstrasse in 1901. From 1945 to 1991, it was called Ernst-Thälmann-Strasse, after the communist politician Ernst Thälmann.
F
Faradaystrasse – in Möckern. Named in 1950 after the chemist and physicist Michael Faraday. Today's street was previously referred to by two names: first as Carolastrasse and extended Carolastrasse and from 1905 Königin-Carola-Strasse and Mecklenburgstrasse.
Ferdinand-Lassalle-Strasse – in Zentrum-West, on the edge of the Bachviertel, named in 1947 after the German writer and social politician Ferdinand Lassalle. From 1884 to 1947 it was named Bismarckstrasse after the first Reich Chancellor Otto von Bismarck.
Feuerbachstrasse – in the Waldstraßenviertel, named in 1947 after the German philosopher Ludwig Feuerbach. From 1884 to 1947 it was called Sedanstrasse after the Battle of Sedan on 1 September 1870.
Floßplatz – between the Musikviertel and Südvorstadt, named in 1873 after its historical function as a storage and trading place for firewood and timber from the 17th to the 19th century for the city of Leipzig. Floss means in English raft. In 1873, the square was converted into a park. Previously, the square had been called Am Floßplatz since 1839.
Friedrich-Bosse-Strasse – in Möckern and Wahren. 1966 named after Friedrich Bosse (1848-1909); Co-founder and chairman of the Arbeiterfortbildungsverein (Workers' Training Association) in Leipzig, founded in 1878. Previously, the street was called Fuchs-Nordhoff-Strasse and Königstrasse.
Funkenburgstrasse – in the Waldstraßenviertel, named in 1888 after the folwark Grosse Funkenburg, which was located on this site.
G
Georgiring – northeastern part of the inner city ring road from Augustusplatz to Willy-Brandt-Platz, named after the mayor of Leipzig Otto Georgi (1831–1918), previously Bahnhofstrasse between 1839 and 1909.
Georg-Schumann-Strasse – in the localities of Zentrum-Nord, Gohlis-Süd and Möckern. Named in 1945 after the communist and resistance fighter Georg Schumann. In the past, this street was called Hallische Strasse or Hallesche Strasse, depending on the period. Laid out in 1818 as Hallesche Strasse (coll. often only as "Die Chaussee").Möckern. Eine historische und städtebauliche Studie. Pro Leipzig, Leipzig 1998
Georg-Schwarz-Strasse – in Altlindenau and Leutzsch, named in 1945 after the resistance fighter Georg Schwarz, he lived here in house no. 24. Earlier names of the street or its parts were Hauptstrasse, Friedrich-Ebert-Strasse, Leutzscher Strasse, Leutzscher Weg, Barnecker Strasse, Gundorfer Strasse and Schlageterstrasse.
Gerberstrasse - main road in the Nordvorstadt. Its name goes back to the former tanners' quarter. As part of the Via Imperii, the Gerberstrasse, which was located in front of the Halle gate, was paved early on and was therefore called Hallischer Steinweg (Halle stoneway).
Goerdelerring – northwestern part of the inner city ring road, named after the mayor of Leipzig, Carl Goerdeler, since 1992. Originally, the sections south and north of the junction of the Ranstädter Steinweg with Fleischerplatz and Schulplatz were called differently. In 1945, the squares were merged as Friedrich-Engels-Platz, named after the German philosopher Friedrich Engels.
Gohliser Strasse – in the localities of Zentrum-Nord and Gohlis-Süd, named after the old village of Gohlis. From 1887 onwards, the name initially only referred to the road from Leipzig in the direction of Gohlis, and from 1901 also to the former Leipziger Strasse in Gohlis.
Gottschedstrasse - in Zentrum-West. The residential street is named after the writer, literary and theater theorist Johann Christoph Gottsched (1700–1766).
Goyastrasse – in the Waldstraßenviertel. Named in 1950 after Francisco de Goya, Spanish painter. Previously, it was named Kolmarer Strasse from 1936.
Grimmaischer Steinweg - runs in the locality of Zentrum-Ost in an east-west direction and connects Johannisplatz with Augustusplatz. In the late Middle Ages, the path between the Grimma gate and the purlieu was paved with stone paving, which led to the name Grimmaischer Steinweg (Grimma stoneway).
Grimmaische Strasse – pedestrian street in the city centre. Named after the Grimma Gate. The former Grimmaische Gasse connected the Markt with the city gate in the direction of Grimma. It was thus part of the Via Regia. Until 1951, the tram ran through Grimmaische Strasse.
H
Hainstrasse – in the city centre. First mentioned in 1390 as plata Ranstetensis, since the 15th century Hainstrasse or Hagenstrasse, Heunstrasse or Hoynstrasse. The Hainstrasse was for a time part of the Via Imperii.
Hans-Oster-Strasse – in Gohlis. Named after the resistance fighter Hans Oster. Before that, since 1904 Treitschkestrasse and from 1945 Jonny-Schehr-Strasse.
Harkortstrasse - main road in Zentrum Süd. It leads from the inner city ring road in a southerly direction to Wundtstrasse. The street is named after the entrepreneur and railway pioneer Gustav Harkort (1795–1865).
J