Did you know that Leipzig is teeming with lions? Not the roaring kind but the stone kind. The Leipziger Löwe is everywhere. Today we focus on one of the five Leipziger Löwe statues. Let’s explore the story behind this symbolic figure.
The Leipziger Löwe represents more than just a fierce animal. It embodies Leipzig’s history and identity. The city adopted the lion in the 14th century for its town seal. This powerful emblem reflects Leipzig’s integration into medieval Saxony. The lion symbolizes the courage and authority of the Wettin dynasty.
But where does Leipzig’s connection to the lion come from? Leipzig’s name actually originates from Libzi meaning Linde. Yet the lion became an inseparable part of Leipzig’s cityscape.
The Leipziger Löwe statue we see here is not the only one. There are five Leipziger Löwe statues created from a 1982 competition. Architect Wolfgang Müller designed these iconic figures. Since 1998 the city’s Traffic and Civil Engineering Office maintains them. Four of the Leipziger Löwe statues are made of Werkstein. The other one is made of sandstone. The core columns are likely concrete. They are clad in sandstone panels.
The Wettin coat of arms featured an upright lion in a gold field around 1240. The city of Leipzig adopted this lion in the 14th century for its town seal. Around 1475 the coat of arms changed. The left side displays the Meissen lion. The right side shows several vertical bars called Landsberger Pfähle. These bars are blue on gold in the Leipzig coat of arms. Thus the Leipzig coat of arms unites two old Wettin coats of arms. Dresden and Chemnitz also share this feature.
Interestingly a 17th-century legend tells a different tale. Locals said the lion once faced the other way. It supposedly reached for the bars with its paws. As punishment it was turned around. Indeed coins from the 15th century show the lion facing the bars.
One of the five Leipziger Löwe statues once stood on Merseburger Straße. However due to city boundary changes it was removed. The statue is now stored at Berliner Brücke awaiting a new location.
So as you explore Leipzig keep an eye out for these Leipziger Löwe statues. They tell a story of power history and local legend. Each Leipziger Löwe statue connects us to Leipzig’s rich past and enduring spirit. They are silent guardians of Leipzig’s legacy.