Have you ever gazed upon a landscape shaped by centuries of history? Welcome to Mockau a Leipzig district rich with tales. Standing before you Mockau boasts a history stretching back to 1000-800 BC. Evidence of early settlement comes from urn graves found along the Parthe River. Around 1200 AD Mockau emerged as a village. Its name derived from the Slavic word “mokry” meaning wet or damp reflecting the marshy Parthe River valley where it was built.
The heart of early Mockau was its Stephanus Church. Built in the 12th century this Romanesque church served as a fortified church. It has undergone several transformations. Its eastern tower reveals its original form as a chancel tower church. The church’s interior displays a classical character after restorations in the years 1968 to 1971.
Mockau’s history is interwoven with major conflicts. In 1813 parts of the Silesian army crossed the Parthe here during the Battle of Leipzig. Field Marshal Blücher even headquartered in a Mockau windmill. The Thirty Years’ War heavily impacted Mockau. Plague struck in 1636 and parts of the village burned in 1640 during a battle between Saxon and Swedish troops. Later Mockau’s northern boundary became the border between Saxony and Prussia after the Congress of Vienna in 1815.
Industrialisation dramatically altered Mockau’s character starting in the mid-19th century. A short-lived sugar factory operated from 1852 to 1862. The Leipzig wool combing mill though located just outside Mockau spurred development. It prompted the construction of worker housing. This new area was called Neu-Mockau. A yeast and grain spirit factory opened in 1886. It later merged. It employed 150 workers at its Mockau plant. The plant continued operations even under East German rule.
A significant development was the opening of Leipzig-Mockau Airport in 1913. King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony inaugurated it. The airport was the largest airship hangar in the world then. It housed two Zeppelins. The airport served as a military airfield during World War I. It later saw civilian and military activity until its closure in 1991.
Today Mockau’s former airport area houses logistics companies. Momox one of Europe’s largest used book and media warehouses operates there. Despite these changes Mockau retains a green character. Over 1200 allotments in six allotment associations occupy 41.4 hectares. Twelve hectares of woodland add to Mockau’s green spaces. These combined with the Parthe valley and gardens enhance Mockau’s distinctive atmosphere. Mockau’s history is a compelling reminder of Leipzig’s transformation. It’s a story etched in its streets buildings and the spirit of its people.