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German National Library closed during Easter

18 to 21 April 2025: The German National Library will be closed at both locations. The exhibitions of the German Museum of Books and Writing will open from 10:00 to 18:00.

Library tour in Leipzig

Guided tour

Besuchergruppe vor dem Eingang der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek in Leipzig Foto: DNB, Annett Koschnick

begin 27.03.2025, 10:00

end 27.03.2025, 11:30

location Leipzig

Visit the German National Library – the memory of the nation!

Take an informative tour of our premises in Leipzig to find out why the German National Library was given this name and what make it different from other libraries.

Join us to explore the listed library building that also houses the German Music Archive. Let us show you our old and new reading rooms and the music foyer.

One of the highlights of the tour is the Great Meeting Room (Großes Sitzungszimmer) with the fully preserved Library of the Reich (Reichsbibliothek) dating from 1848/49. This collection encompasses 4,600 volumes. Representatives of the German Book Trade donated it to the National Assembly in Frankfurt and recommended the establishment of a Library of the Reich. The National Assembly failed. Find out what happened to the collection during our guided tour.

Just drop in!

Information and contact

The event will be held in German.

Meeting point: Library foyer, German National Library in Leipzig

Duration: 90 minutes

Costs: Free admission.

Booking: Registration not required.

Cloakroom info: Please lock your bags and backpacks in the lockers.

Accessibility: The guided tour is barrier-free accessible.

Contact: Fuehrungen-Leipzig@dnb.de

Address and getting here

German National Library
Deutscher Platz 1
04103 Leipzig

Getting here

We advise you to use public transport.

1 / By public transport

By rail

From the main railway station, take S-Bahn S1 in the direction of Riesa, S2 in the direction of Markkleeberg-Gaschwitz, S3 in the direction of Stötteritz or S5/S5X in the direction of Zwickau. Journey time approx. 7 minutes, get off at “Leipzig MDR”. Exit onto Semmelweisstraße, then turn right and continue for 400 m to the intersection at Straße des 18. Oktober.

Alternatively, take tram line 16 from platform 2 in front of the main railway station (in the direction of Lößnig) and get off at “Deutsche Nationalbibliothek”. Journey time approx. 11 minutes.

By air

From Leipzig/Halle airport, take S-Bahn S5/S5X in the direction of Zwickau. Journey time approx. 30 minutes, get off at “Leipzig MDR”. Exit onto Semmelweisstraße, then turn right and continue for 400 m to the intersection at Straße des 18. Oktober.

2 / By bike

The German National Library in Leipzig can easily be reached by bike. You can get to the DNB by taking the cycle paths on Straße des 18. Oktobers, Semmelweißstraße, and Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße. A cycle lane also runs past the DNB's main entrance. Numerous bicycle parking spaces are available along this lane and at the main entrance to the German Museum of Books and Writing. The bicycle racks in front of the museum are covered.

Besides taking the cycle lane, you can reach the bicycle parking spaces via a passageway from the junction of Semmelweißstraße/Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße through the DNB's tower courtyard.

3 / By car

Approaching from the north

Take the A9 to the Schkeuditzer Kreuz intersection, continue on the A14 towards Dresden and take the Leipzig-Mitte (city centre) exit; continue on the B2 towards Leipzig city centre as far as the intersection at Prager Straße/Semmelweisstraße (follow the signs for “Deutsche Nationalbibliothek”).

Approaching from the south and east

Take the A9 or A14, change to the A38 and continue to the Leipzig-Süd exit; change to the B2 and continue to the Südvorstadt exit; turn right into Kurt-Eisner-Straße and continue to the German National Library.

4 / Accessibility

The German National Library in Leipzig has disabled parking spaces right in front of the building. The entrance for disabled visitors is signposted. The reading rooms and cafeteria are accessible by lift.

Last changes: 18.02.2025

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