The dark legends of the famous Auerbach’s Cellar in Leipzig
Auerbach’s Cellar, located at Grimmaische Strasse 2-4 in the Saxon metropolis of Leipzig, is not only the second most famous restaurant in Germany after Munich’s Hofbräuhaus, but also a place of dark legends and ghost stories. This place, with its historic ambience, is a real magnet for anyone seeking the supernatural and mysterious. Auerbach’s Cellar is one of the oldest wine cellars in Germany. It was first mentioned as a wine bar in 1438. The name of this famous location derives from its builder and owner, the physician and university professor Heinrich Stromer, who was known simply as Dr. Auerbach in his birthplace of Auerbach in the Upper Palatinate. In 1519, he purchased the property for 3,500 guilders, on which he built Auerbach’s Hof between 1530 and 1538. He set up a wine bar in its cellar. Since then, the wine cellar has served as a meeting place for the citizens of Leipzig. But the cellar is not only known for its culinary delights, but also for its dark legends. One of the best known is the story of Doctor Faust, who is said to have made a pact with the devil here. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the German poet laureate, took up this legend in his famous work “Faust,” making Auerbach’s Cellar world-famous. Today, Auerbach’s Cellar, in front of which the two groups of figures “Mephisto and Faust” and the “Enchanted Students” by sculptor Mathieu Molitor have stood since 1913, is a popular tourist destination. Many visitors come to experience the spooky legends up close. Guided tours are held regularly, during which the mysterious side of the cellar is examined closely. During the tours, everyone learns how the devil is said to have wreaked havoc here and how Doctor Faust breathed his last in this vault. Other ghost stories, such as those of the spirits of the old cellars, are also told here. A visit to Auerbach’s Cellar is truly an experience, whether on a ghost tour or simply to enjoy the historic atmosphere paired with delicious food. In any case, a visit to this cellar will remain in your memory for a long time to come.
Post Comment