Leipzig Trade Fair facts for kids
The Leipzig Trade Fair (called Leipziger Messe in German) is a huge event where businesses show off their products. It has a history that goes back almost a thousand years! After World War II, Leipzig was part of East Germany. The Leipzig Trade Fair became a very important meeting place for business people and politicians. They came from both sides of the "Iron Curtain" – meaning from both East and West during the Cold War. Since 1996, the fair has been held at a new location. It's about 7 kilometers north of the city center.
Contents
History of the Leipzig Trade Fair
Early Days of Trade
The story of the Leipzig fairs began a very long time ago, in the Middle Ages. The first time a fair in Leipzig was mentioned was in the year 1165. A ruler named Otto the Rich gave special protection to the Leipzig fairs. This meant no other fair could be held within about 7.5 kilometers of Leipzig.
In 1268, another ruler, Theodoric of Landsberg, promised safety to all merchants traveling to Leipzig. They were safe even if their own ruler was fighting with him. This encouraged many merchants to settle in Leipzig. They traded things like herring, cloth, wine, and pepper.
Growing Through the Centuries
Over time, Leipzig started having two big fairs each year. Then, in 1458, Frederick II allowed a third fair to start: the New Year's Fair. Later, in 1497, Emperor Maximilian I confirmed all three Leipzig fairs. He also made sure no other fairs could start in nearby areas.
In 1507, Maximilian I made Leipzig even more important. He banned any fairs within a 15-mile (about 24 km) area around the city. This made Leipzig a top marketplace. Merchants also had to sell their goods in Leipzig, which was called the "staple right." By the 18th century, Leipzig was a major center for trade with goods from Russia, Poland, and England. People even called it 'the marketplace of all Europe'!
The Modern Era of the Fair
The fair's importance led to the building of the beautiful Leipzig synagogue in 1855. In 1895, Leipzig held its first "samples fair." Here, exhibitors showed samples of their goods instead of the full products. Many special "fair-houses" were built in the city center between 1893 and 1938. These buildings had shops, storage, and places to live. Leipzig became the main German fair for books and everyday products.
In 1920, a new area for technical fairs opened. This place is now called Alte Messe Leipzig. During World War II, parts of the fairgrounds were damaged.
The Fair During the Cold War
After the war, in 1946, the first "Peace fair" took place. When East Germany joined Comecon (a group of communist countries), the fair became a place to show off products from East Germany and its allies. It was also a rare meeting spot for people from both East and West.
The fair played a big role in the Cold War. It allowed important people from countries like the United States and the United Kingdom to visit East Germany. East Germany hoped that more trade would help other countries recognize it as a real state. British politicians often visited in the 1950s and 1960s. The fair was so important that when the Berlin Wall was built in 1961, Willy Brandt (the Mayor of Berlin) even called for a boycott of the fair. This shows how crucial the Leipzig Trade Fair was in the struggles of the Cold War.
The Leipzig Fair Today
In 1996, a brand new trade fair ground was opened. It also includes the Congress Center Leipzig. The old fairground is now used for shops, events, and other activities. Today, some of the most important fairs held here are the Leipziger Buchmesse (Leipzig Book Fair), PaintExpo, and the Auto Mobil International car show.
Facts About the New Fairground
The new Leipzig Trade Fair was built between 1995 and 1996. It has six large halls. Five of these are exhibition halls, each about 20,000 square meters in size. The sixth hall is the world's largest glass hall that seems to float! It was designed by Ian Ritchie Architects. The fairground has about 14,000 parking spaces. You can get there easily by tram, train, bus, or car.
About the Company
The company that runs the fair, Leipziger Messe GmbH, was started in 1996 after Germany became one country again. It is owned equally by the state of Saxony and the city of Leipzig. The company employs about 400 people.
The leaders of Leipziger Messe GmbH are Mr. Martin Buhl-Wagner (the CEO) and Mr. Markus Geisenberger (the CTO).
The company also has several smaller companies that help run the fair:
- FAIRNET (which builds the booths for exhibitors)
- Leipziger Messe Gastveranstaltungen (which organizes special events)
- LMI Leipziger Messe International (which organizes international trade fairs)
- MaxicoM (which helps bring foreign companies to Germany)
- Fairgourmet (which provides food and drink services)
Leipziger Messe GmbH also has about 22 offices in other countries around the world.
See also
In Spanish: Feria de Leipzig para niños
