Leipzig’s Old Stock Exchange, or Alte Börse, is a richly ornamented Baroque building on Naschmarkt, just behind the Old Town Hall. Built between 1678 and 1687 as a meeting place for merchants, it reflects the city’s long history as a centre of European trade. Its symmetrical façade and decorative gables give the small square an almost theatrical character.
A bronze statue of a young Johann Wolfgang von Goethe stands in front of the building, recalling the writer’s student years in Leipzig in the 1760s. The exchange is no longer used for commerce; its historic hall now hosts concerts and other events. Together, the building and statue make a rewarding stop for anyone interested in the city’s commercial and cultural past.
The exterior is free to admire, while access inside generally depends on the event programme. Naschmarkt is an easy walk from Leipzig Hauptbahnhof, and the Markt S-Bahn station is close by. Visit in the morning or late afternoon for softer light on the façade, then continue to the nearby Mädler Passage and Auerbachs Keller.